I'm planning a trip to Maine in late August and expect chilly nights. A proper marine cabin heater is almost $500 when you consider installation costs. Has anyone used a small camping propane heater onboard to take the nip out before lights out (and then turn the heater off). A Coleman SportCat heater designed for tents (1100 BTU) costs $28.00 on Ebay. Any ideas if this is feasible or are there too many risks?
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With proper ventilation it should be fine.
Dan: If you can keep the companionway partially open and maybe a window up forward, you should be fine with one of these while you are awake. If you start getting a headache you may want to turn it off. If they are safe in a tent, they should be fine in a well ventilated area. I would not feel safe using any heater at night other than electric either.
Dan: If you can keep the companionway partially open and maybe a window up forward, you should be fine with one of these while you are awake. If you start getting a headache you may want to turn it off. If they are safe in a tent, they should be fine in a well ventilated area. I would not feel safe using any heater at night other than electric either.
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Eric
A ceramic pot
Not sure if you have a propane stove on board but a cruiser gave me this idea recently. Purchase a decorative (optional) ceramic pot (heat-rated) with a hole in the bottom. Fire up your burner on the galley stove with the pot upside down over the flame. Within minutes, your cabin will be toasty warm (and propane is so cheap it is also cost effective). Follow the proper ventilation advice below as well. We also have an 18-wheeler heater installed in our Hunter 30 that runs off the hot water from the engine. Gets it TOO hot TOO quick (but requires the engine being run). Nice little unit with a fan ... very WARM indeed. Hope this helps.
Not sure if you have a propane stove on board but a cruiser gave me this idea recently. Purchase a decorative (optional) ceramic pot (heat-rated) with a hole in the bottom. Fire up your burner on the galley stove with the pot upside down over the flame. Within minutes, your cabin will be toasty warm (and propane is so cheap it is also cost effective). Follow the proper ventilation advice below as well. We also have an 18-wheeler heater installed in our Hunter 30 that runs off the hot water from the engine. Gets it TOO hot TOO quick (but requires the engine being run). Nice little unit with a fan ... very WARM indeed. Hope this helps.
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David Michaels
I second Eric on the pot, but...
...you can also use an unglazed garden variety Walmart flowerpot. As long as it has been fired once, it should be fine and they throw off quite a bit of heat even with a non-pressurized alcohol stove. Just stay away from "greenware" (unglazed pots for decorating and firing as a hobby). All ceramic pots have the potential to explode when heated, even glazed and rated for the oven. Usually they will just crack and still be usable. This happened a few months ago to some friends of mine that are first-time sailboat owners (Hunter 24, mid 80's vintage). I shared this inexpensive heating system tip with them and they tried it. The unglazed pot cracked right off, but has continued to be servicable. This is the first time I have heard of (or experienced) a crack in a flowerpot heater first hand, but it obviously happens, and I have read of it happening. The first time you fire it up (so to speak) you might want to be outside the cabin, just in case (I've started adding this advice since my friend's incident). I'll be adding a flowerpot heater to my new (to me) '79 H27 this fall and I'll season the pot while in the cockpit, just in case.
...you can also use an unglazed garden variety Walmart flowerpot. As long as it has been fired once, it should be fine and they throw off quite a bit of heat even with a non-pressurized alcohol stove. Just stay away from "greenware" (unglazed pots for decorating and firing as a hobby). All ceramic pots have the potential to explode when heated, even glazed and rated for the oven. Usually they will just crack and still be usable. This happened a few months ago to some friends of mine that are first-time sailboat owners (Hunter 24, mid 80's vintage). I shared this inexpensive heating system tip with them and they tried it. The unglazed pot cracked right off, but has continued to be servicable. This is the first time I have heard of (or experienced) a crack in a flowerpot heater first hand, but it obviously happens, and I have read of it happening. The first time you fire it up (so to speak) you might want to be outside the cabin, just in case (I've started adding this advice since my friend's incident). I'll be adding a flowerpot heater to my new (to me) '79 H27 this fall and I'll season the pot while in the cockpit, just in case.
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Eric
The pot expert ...
Thank you David Michaels, for this additional (much needed) information. Since I hadn't even tried the idea myself ... I wasn't aware of this situation. Is this where the phrase "crack pot" comes from? PS - Personally, I would rather just take the boat to the Keys.
Thank you David Michaels, for this additional (much needed) information. Since I hadn't even tried the idea myself ... I wasn't aware of this situation. Is this where the phrase "crack pot" comes from? PS - Personally, I would rather just take the boat to the Keys.
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Clayton
No heat needed...
I spend 20-30 nights aboard per year, from May through October. I use a non-pressurized alcohol heater at the beginning and ends of the sailing season. I don't remember a time when heat was needed in August. Night temperatures are usually 65 degrees or better on the water and quite comfortable. If your stay extends into September then all bets are off. Often soon after Labor Day Mother Nature throws the switch and nights can drop to the 40's where some supplemental heat is welcome. Unless you were born and bred in Florida, I wouldn’t sweat the lack of a heater for an August trip. Enjoy your trip! Clayton Bittersweet
I spend 20-30 nights aboard per year, from May through October. I use a non-pressurized alcohol heater at the beginning and ends of the sailing season. I don't remember a time when heat was needed in August. Night temperatures are usually 65 degrees or better on the water and quite comfortable. If your stay extends into September then all bets are off. Often soon after Labor Day Mother Nature throws the switch and nights can drop to the 40's where some supplemental heat is welcome. Unless you were born and bred in Florida, I wouldn’t sweat the lack of a heater for an August trip. Enjoy your trip! Clayton Bittersweet
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Dan Grosz
Great responses!
Thanks I'll have to give the pot a try..I'm off to Wal-Mart! -Dan P.S. I have two solar powered vents that run constantly so I think the ventilation should be OK.
Thanks I'll have to give the pot a try..I'm off to Wal-Mart! -Dan P.S. I have two solar powered vents that run constantly so I think the ventilation should be OK.
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David
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Dan Grosz
FYI
My experience even on Cape Ann and southern New Hampshire is that it can get quite nippy at night. In addition to getting a pot at Wal-Mart, I also put in a bid for a Coleman Powercat heater on Ebay for $59.00. Should keep everyone toasty.
My experience even on Cape Ann and southern New Hampshire is that it can get quite nippy at night. In addition to getting a pot at Wal-Mart, I also put in a bid for a Coleman Powercat heater on Ebay for $59.00. Should keep everyone toasty.
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David
Nippy?
Hey Dan, I live at the end of Cape Ann, never had heat in July or August but if you have to have it I like the pot too.
Hey Dan, I live at the end of Cape Ann, never had heat in July or August but if you have to have it I like the pot too.
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Dan Grosz
Nippy is right!
Well, I've been out there in 35+ knot blows in the rain and I guess its just my old bones....
Well, I've been out there in 35+ knot blows in the rain and I guess its just my old bones....
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Keith
How about pressurized alcohol
Propane and non-pressurized alcohol were mentioned. Is pressurized to hot or not hot enough?
Propane and non-pressurized alcohol were mentioned. Is pressurized to hot or not hot enough?
Pressurized is not very safe.
Keith: I think that the trend is to go away from pressurized alcohol. They are difficult to deal with and tend to flare up creating a safety issue.
Keith: I think that the trend is to go away from pressurized alcohol. They are difficult to deal with and tend to flare up creating a safety issue.
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