cabin heating advise?

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
what do people use to heat their cabins with on smaller boats... when I had my powerboat and stayed on it, it was always cold in the evenings and mornings... then I installed the diesel heater... problem solved.
a diesel heater is not even a consideration in a small boat. but what is? are there options?...... I plan to take the boat on weekend jaunts and would like to be able to get in and warm up in the cool evenings.....
 

geehaw

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May 15, 2010
231
O-day 25 shoal keel Valdez
Buddy Heater

I use the little Buddy Heater. Bought the hose and a little tank. Holds like a gallon of propane. Keep the tank outside. The little Coleman type tanks only last about 2 hours on high. Maybe 4 or 5 on low. It gets cold where I sail and use mine a lot. Greg
 
Dec 20, 2011
101
Cal 28 Eagle River
I use an Origo Heat Pal , Burns 8 hours on a fill ,runs on Denatured Alchol , Can be put out with water! Down side; cost 7.00 per fill ....Dale
 
May 10, 2004
254
Hunter MH 37 Manitowoc, WI
If you have shore power, I use a West Marine Cabin heater on my H33, it works Ok down to about 40 degrees. I used it during the winter when checking out the boat. On our H23.5 and H26, I used a Coleman Propane Lantern. Not only did it take the chill out of the cabin, but it provided lighting on the hook. You do have to keep a hatch cracked because of CO buildup. I had laways considered a Heat Pal, but never got around to getting one. I have read in many books that a good oil fed trawler lamp will also do the same thing.
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,082
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
If you look through the WM or Defender catalogs you'll find most of the options.

Add to the ones already mentioned:

--- flower pot upside down on the stove
--- catalytic heaters run on green gas canisters (we have one, think it's great)
--- bulkhead mounted heaters (kerosene - we have one, don't like ti becaue of the noise and need to have a fan running on top of it to blow the heat around; propane or wood or coal)
 

tsheie

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Jan 9, 2012
52
San Juan 7.7 Bayfield WI
heater..

I use an Origo Heat Pal , Burns 8 hours on a fill ,runs on Denatured Alchol , Can be put out with water! Down side; cost 7.00 per fill ....Dale
Amen to the Origo, it's great-- doesn't kick out as much moisture as propane, either--and you can even put a coffee pot on the top to get it started heating in the morning before you crawl out..
 
Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
If you look through the WM or Defender catalogs you'll find most of the options.

Add to the ones already mentioned:

--- flower pot upside down on the stove
--- catalytic heaters run on green gas canisters (we have one, think it's great)
--- bulkhead mounted heaters (kerosene - we have one, don't like ti becaue of the noise and need to have a fan running on top of it to blow the heat around; propane or wood or coal)
the catalytic heaters sound like the safest option.... I had a dickinson newport diesel heater in my powerboat..... I loved it and it never made a sound.... i liked it so well I installed one in my converted toyhauler trailer.... and as far as I can see, its the best option as its way more cost effective than forced air propane.. it will keep the 24ft uninsulated trailer at 60 degrees in 34 degree weather..... if ya keep the door closed. on a boat they seem to be more efficient... maybe better insulation with the lack of aluminum siding....
but i dont have the room or need for something that will run that long term.... ill check out the little buddy heaters.... thanks
 

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,712
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
I have always used an electric space heater when shor power was available. No problem even into the high 30s.
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Down to about forty degrees just adding a sweater is enough. Kerosene lanterns are about 300 btu's per quarter inch of wick.
 
Oct 31, 2009
41
Islander 28 Blaine, Wa.
We have both the kerosene bulkhead heater and the Coleman catalytic heater. Both work but the Coleman is your quickest, cleanest, and cheapest fix. Then go check out the recent thread about storing the little green bottles. The responses range from "Preparing for an Asteroid Striking the Earth" to "Whoopee We're All Goin' to Die Sometime". There's some good info embedded there if you choose the Coleman route but I'm sure that like the rest of us, you have already defined your personal level of risk tolerance.
 
Sep 25, 2008
385
Harpoon 5.2 Honolulu, HI
Does your boat have an alcohol or propane stove in your galley? We used to put a flowerpot upside down over one of the burners, it helps radiate the heat and if you leave it on low it will take the edge off of the chill. At the dock, a little plug in ceramic heater does wonders.
 
May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
in Florida, I've used a W&P oil lantern to take the chill out of the cabin. it really helps.

but I'm talking from 50's > mid 60's so its just taking the chill out.

the propane's through off moisture, if you use them a lot.

-lanterns or alcohol stove and the clay flower pot is what I'd try 1st,,,

at the dock, the 110v ceramic heater is the way to go..
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
There is more hydrogen in alcohol than in propane. 50 to 60 degrees is too warm for a sweater around my house.
 

John

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Jun 3, 2006
803
Catalina 36mkII Alameda CA
flower pot

If you look through the WM or Defender catalogs you'll find most of the options.

Add to the ones already mentioned:

--- flower pot upside down on the stove
--- catalytic heaters run on green gas canisters (we have one, think it's great)
--- bulkhead mounted heaters (kerosene - we have one, don't like ti becaue of the noise and need to have a fan running on top of it to blow the heat around; propane or wood or coal)
If you have a stove, the upside down flower pot works great to knock the chill out of the air. Make sure it's clay, though! And "cure" it by soaking it in water a few days.
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Re: flower pot

If you have an oven make muffins. If you only have a cook top make english muffins. or make biscuits they can be baked in the oven or on top of the stove.
 
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