winter inside work

[william]

I have several inside winter projects while my Cal 33 sits on the hard. Last winter I used a coleman propane flameless heater with a small tank (8hr) run throughout the night to dry the varnish layed upon the cabin sole. These units are primarily for camping and heating tents, while I'm working I use an electric heater powered by a honda generator. There is no other power supply in the yard and the new england winters often remain below freezing for months. I usually leave the heater in the stainless steel galley sink and didn't suffer any damage. This year I'm resealing a port hole, varnishing some teak, recaulking seams, and reglueing various small pieces of wood trim that have been damaged. Does anyone think these heaters may create a problem? Was I lucky last winter? Is there an alternative?

 

[Frank]

Keep heat to side

Never put the heat source directly below glue, caulking, ect. Excessive heat may cause the glue to drip, those types of heaters don't automactically shut off and I'm not convinced that they are really safe. I understand working through the freezing winter, it's great to keep working on your boat, treat your vessel like a lady and she'll always bring you home safe.

 

[Pete Peterson]

Safe

William, I used a Coleman catalytic propane heater for many years when winter camping in my younger days, and found it to be very safe and dependable. However, it does give off a lot of water vapor, and I remember scraping off some fairly thick ice from the inside the widows of my friend's VW camper after particularly cold nights.

 

[John Dawson]

William of Cal

You have a Cal? Are you on the Cal-list at Sailnet? Are you a list-lurker there?

 

[Calif. Ted]

I've recently found some heaters that are safe

for indoor use, called "Buddy" heaters. They run off 1 pound cylinders or hooked to a big tank, they appear to have a CO meter and tip over protection for indoor use. Saw an ad where they are being marketed for use by Fire Depts. and others for emergency use. Only portable propane heaters I'm aware of that don't specify for outdoor use only. The Larger one also has a fan run off a battery or 110 adapter. Expensive but with a pretty good safety margin.