Cabin heater for a trailerable boat

Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Winter is coming at us fast and I am curious what type of portable style heaters you sailors are using.

I have a Mr. Heater that works OK but no temperature control and I do not like that.

I use an electric, temp. control unit in port but no good at anchor.

Last I have an alcohol heater that I have not tried. Has anyone used one of these and is there oxygen depletion or other problems with using them?

Please advise, Chief
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
A kerosene lantern with a 3/4 inch wick is good for about 1200 btu's/hour.
 

Pat

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Jun 7, 2004
1,250
Oday 272LE Ninnescah Yacht Club, Wichita, Ks.
We used an origo 'heat pal' (sm. portable alcohol heater) sailing from Grandpappy's YC to Cedar Mills (Texoma) one night when the temp was 28 degrees....about a 3 hour sail with a lot of islands and obstacles to watch for.....the heater did fine both below on an O'Day 302 and in the cockpit....was a night to remember. This was about 9 years or so ago....it was not a rousing sail shall we say...very light winds but memorable. The little heater
did fine !
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,348
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Trawler lamp and catalytic heater that uses the green bottles like your BBQ. Has temp control too. Remember: ventilation is important.
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,214
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Chief, the Mr. Heater Big Buddy (sounds like what you have now) is about perfect.. I like mine.. but it does not have temp control and requires a little vent .. It has an oxygen depletion cut-off, and a tip-over switch .. To get a real furnace with a thermostat ya just about have to go to a diesel heater with an electric fan that runs off the battery; something like this works like a home furnace .. but these are expensive.. I think there are a couple of other brands but all are close to the same price. I'd stick with the Big Buddy and some sleeping bags.
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/webas...e=&network=g&gclid=CIm299fspcECFYZzMgoduFYA5g
EDIT: and this is the Chinese knock off.. Not sure about this one, but with sufficient fire alarm and CO alarm, it might be OK..??
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2KW-...ucks-Caravans-Camping-Trailers/722946873.html
 
Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Thanks guys, reaffirms my experience with this issue. Guess I'll stick with my Mr Heater. I was hoping for a temp control unit but guess they are not available at a reasonable price.
Chief
 

chp

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Sep 13, 2010
440
Hunter 280 hamilton
I used to have one of these for my tent trailer when we would go moose hunting. Worked great and has a thermostat. Only thing is it works with a larger propane tank. Guess you could get a smaller tank than a 20 lb. Has a long hose. Just have to make sure you have good ventilation.
http://www.lebaron.ca/pdf_files_sp13/martin_heaters.pdf
 

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
..... Has anyone used one of these and is there oxygen depletion or other problems with using them?

Please advise, Chief
I don't care how many alarms I had I wouldn't go to sleep with any of these. I wouldn't want to count on a sensor/alarm and me waking hearing it to assure that I really did wake up in the morning.

What worked for us in 30 degree nights on the boat was extra covers, sleeping with long underwear on or nude but with cloths under the covers so they were warm when you wanted to put them on. Ruth was a California girl and didn't discover long underwear until she moved to Utah and then would wear it from about November to May. She loved it :).

Then get up and start the stove and make some coffee or breakfast and things will warm up quickly. Still whenever the stove or ....



.... Mr. Heater Little buddy was running we were up and awake and the companion way was open some and if the pop-top was down it was propped up in one corner. The small cabin on the Mac heats quickly with the pop-top down even with the ventilation.

Good things can come out of being on the boat when cold. I purposed to Ruth one cold night at 3 in the morning as we lay there...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/FL-fall-2010/FL-Fall-10-15.html

Sumner

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Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Thanks guys; chp that thermo unit looks like what I have been looking for. I have a 2 lb tank I could use with it or tap my existing Princess stove system. Sumner, I never run any heating at night. It's just not worth it even with the alarm system. Chief