Ceramic heater on board?

[john6206]

Am I overthinking this?

Im committed to spending October 8th and 9th onboard, possibly a few days later in the month.
the forecast for this weekend is mid-summer, but the forecast for the 8th is safely above freezing … but COLD.

We’ve always gone October sailing in our trailer boat. I think we packed a coffee can and a candle once, but we didn’t use it.

Ok, the question…. Ceramic heater (1500w) on shore power - would that be ok?

The answer gets into math pretty quickly, and I don’t know any of the variables. I think the biggest shore power draws are the water heater and battery charger. We usually don’t plug anything into the outlets except a phone charger or something. No microwave or toaster or hair dryer or anything crazy.

do you ever heat your cabin?

 

[Davidasailor26]

Assuming you have a 30A traditional Hubbell style shore power connector, I’d probably be comfortable with the 1500W heater, but I’d probably turn off the water heater breaker so it can’t run at the same time. Power inlets are notorious for overheating and generally aren’t trusted to carry the actual 30A that they’re rated for. For me staying at 1500W would be enough safety margin, but others may have different risk tolerance. I wouldn’t leave it running when not at the boat, and I would probably check the outside of the shore power connector with an infrared temperature gun after running the heater for a little while the first time. On the heater end I’d be careful that it’s not in a place where anything could fall in front of it if the boat rocked.

 

[FastOlson]

We have used one of those for years, at the dock. Being cautious I always set the heat for about half off the potential output.
For added reassurance put your hand on the plug and the outlet once in a while to check for warmth.

 

[dlochner]

We have frequently used a ceramic heater on board. As @Davidasailor26 said, keep other electrical loads at a bare minimum while running the heater, especially the water heater.

 

[Allan12210]

We used a ceramic heater for a while. It was only warm in the direct area of the airflow. The rest of the boat felt cold. We switched to an oil filled radiator type heater that seemed to heat the interior more evenly. It was nice because it had three heat settings (low, medium and both). When combined it was a total of 1500 W. There was also a built in 24 hour timer that was nice. Sometimes at night our elevated V-berth area would get too hot. We would set the timer for a few hours and then it would shut off automatically. Nice that I didn't have to get up and turn it off. it would also come back on in the morning before time to get up. It was quiet. It's a little large so storage might be an issue. We left it on in the aisleway with nothing immediately above or next to it. We followed the suggestions above about limiting power usage of other devices when it was on anything but low or medium.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

I sleep on board frequently until mid-october. When connected to shore power I have an electric heater that has 3 settings: fan, 750 Watts and 1500 Watts. I sleep in the V-berth of the bow so I generally shut-off the stern cabin door and the head door to minimize cubic area to be heated. I turn on the heater to 1500W about an hour before going to bed then bring it down to the 750W setting for overnight which keeps the temperature at around 68. Not to overload the system, I turn off the water heater breaker and do not keep anything else plugged up except the battery charger. Works fine for me.

 

[kloudie1]

Same here, on those three cold nights in January down here in Louisiana, I have used a ceramic heater many years. I do not run the water heater when the ceramic is on. I do check the connectors for heat.

 

[john6206]

Thanks everyone,

follow up question would be ”how do I turn off my water heater?”

my electrical panel (Catalina 320) has toggle type breakers on the DC side, but on the AC side they look like push buttons. I can’t figure out how to turn them off. When I worked on the water heater I unplugged the shore power cable, turned off everything, master breaker, DC system … not taking chances.

 

[dLj]

I've used numerous electric space heaters to heat my boat in cold weather and access to shore power. As long as you are on the boat they seem to work fine.

Turing off the water heater? Is there a specific breaker that says water heater? Push button breakers typically you push on and push off. A kind of auto lock function. Got pictures of your panel?

dj

 

[john6206]

@dLj
no picture. There is a specific breaker for the water heater. I’ll try pushing the button.

 

[Tally Ho]

I have used an electric space heater on Tally Ho when working on her during winter layup.

You should be fine, as long as you watch other electric loads.

Greg

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

If you want the ultimate comfort from your elec. heater, set it to 750W and mount a small rechargeable fan in the same area and aimed at the ceiing for warm air distribution.

Never use any device (installed or not) which produces heat by combustion while your are sleeping in the boat.

 

[JBP-PA]

My electric heater on low easily keeps up with temps into the 50's, slowly cycling on and off. In freezing temps, I usually put it on high until the boat is warm, and then down to low while sleeping. It runs almost constantly though. I also will boost it with a portable fan like Ralph said, or hang the portable fan like a ceiling fan which provides circulation without too many drafts.

 

[thinwater]

Not ceramic, but other types, many times.

• Make sure the shore power plugs are clean and corrosion-free. A light coating of grease will also help (does not need to be dielelctric grease--any waterproof grease is fine) reduce future corrosion.
• Look for burned/black tracking between the prongs of the plug. If they are there, the plug is toast (started to break down by carbonizing).
• Don't turn the heat on high unless you really need it. Yes, battery chargers and water heater are two other big users, so leave them off.
• Do check, by feel, if the plug is getting hot. Very slightly warm is OK.

I sail all year, and we get plenty if ice. A few ideas here:
winter sailing

I had installed heat on my cruising cat. On my F-24 I use this vented stove top heater. Yup, that's me.
vented stove top heater

 

[Johnb]

An electric blanket will make you comfortable with less than 200 watts of power. It also leaves the bedding nice and dry.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

An electric blanket will make you comfortable with less than 200 watts of power.

That's just too simple and direct, even for sleeping in an ice box. How can you argue with something like that ?

The only problem I can see is for those who are given to wetting the bed. YIPES !

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

On my F-24 I use this vented stove top heater. Yup, that's me.

Is that a neoprene wet suit you're wearing while setting up the stove and getting ready for bed ? Are you really sure the stove is going to supply enough heat throughout the night ?

 

[BobSail]

I sail all year, and we get plenty if ice. A few ideas here:
winter sailing

 

[BigEasy]

I have used a West Marine low profile ceramic heater for many years during the few days that winter temps drop to low 20’s. Remarkable how effective the heater warms up the cabin on low setting. Impossible to tip over & convenient to store onboard.

 

[JBP-PA]

An electric blanket will make you comfortable with less than 200 watts of power. It also leaves the bedding nice and dry.

Sleeping hasn't been a problem, I've got a decent sleeping bag. It's the waking hours in the boat that I appreciate a heater.