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Ive been looking at options for heating my boat (26S) and really dont see any I like that much mostly because of safety risks.

One option is to use a Honda genset with an electric space heater in the boat cabin. In most cases, the genset would be on for just a couple of hours but in another option, the genset might be running all night.

Im wondering from people who have used the 1K or 2K watt Honda gensets how noisy these are. For example, if you were at a slip and had the genset running in the cockpit of the boat, would the noise be enough to keep you from sleeping and also, would it be loud enough to bother any neighbors?

There have been discussions in the past that explained why, but basically electric is inefficient. Add to that, you have to worry about the genset fumes killing you or the genset catching fire or the 120v ac from the genset electrocuting you and other heaters don't look so bad.
I have a coleman black cat catalytic heater, i never use it with the boat completely closed or while sleeping. I have used it inside with my top hatchboard open, but never when we're actually sleeping.
Does a good job taking the chill out of the cabin and uses propane cannisters.
Origo also makes a little alcohol heater that can also be used to heat food.
Another brand of catalytic has a battery powered fan to circulate the air a bit. The catalytics are designed for camping, and are much safer than straight propane type heaters, but without a vented split system where combustion products never enter cabinspace, you could sleep the big sleep.
I assume your slip doesn't have ac power, an electric strip would be a simpler solution.
I don't know how quiet they are but i could never sleep soundly with a genset running overnight, even if it didn't bug my neighbors. Marinas often have rules about running a genset after certain hours to avoid bugging neighbors.

..

The 2K watt Honda genset spec says it will run 14 hours at 1/4 power (500 watts) on 1.1 gallons of gas. Im pretty sure a 500 watt space heater would do fine in the boat even on some very cold nights. There may be some inefficiency but cost wise, this seems pretty reasonable.

However, the noise would be a big problem so I guess this option is out.

I am looking for something to use while sleeping and anything propane which doesnt vent Im not considering - seen propane cabin stoves set off CO monitors when cooking something like a pizza.

So maybe I need to look for something either propane or alchohol which has the combustion external to the cabin. Or is the risk of CO different with Alchohol burning heaters (I understand Alchohol has less CO risk)?

From a search here, I found this http://www.zodi.com/web-content/Consume ... tvent.html which right now seems to be the best option - except seems to be some major hole cutting to make it work which I dont like.

Other options (probably already been discussed here somewhere)

Force 10 http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?no=83100F Looks interesting - you have to install a 1 inch diameter flue somehow which sounds like a good way to create a new water leak.

Origo alchohol heater http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... 3&id=48897 Cheap and simple - but no outside venting. I understand you get water condensation and saw someone warning they had heard of two cases where there was some fire risk using these.

Seems these boats are just a little too small for really good options..

I've often mused that the pictured Zodi tent heater seems the best choice. And the holes it would require need not be so big a problem.

I think I'd just make a custom hatch cover to replace the removable cockpit hatch. It could be made in two or 3 sections for easier stowage, with one of the sections (bottom-most?) cut for hoses. Then I'd route the interior hoses so that "return air" is higher up, while "heated air" is dumped near the cabin sole.



Alternate 2: Deck plates are easy to find in various sizes. A 3 or 4-inch deck plates could be cut into the cockpit sides (the vert-face just above the sole), one for heat, the opposite side for 'return.' The heat hose could be extended from under the aft-berth so it pushes air forward.

I bought a Zodi Combo X last year to use as a tent heater until we get our boat. It's a great thing. I can get 10-15 degrees off ambient in a nylon tent in about 20 minutes.

A couple of points -

Noise - The heater uses a 12v fan and though not terribly loud, you DO know it's running. It's probably possible to wrap a towel around it (it's on the intake end) to quiet it up a little, but those who are concerned about the noise need to be aware that it's not silent. Not nearly as loud as a generator though.

Stability - The plastic base that the propane cylinder sits in is not terribly secure - the tank and therefore the burner unit wobbles in there even on terra firma. The hatchboard with the 2 holes in it seems a great way to go, but while you're building that you would do well to consider some type of clamping arrangement on a flat board to set in the cockpit to keep the unit standing upright.

Before you buy, you might try giving them a call directly and asking about closeouts or refirbs. I was able to get the Combo (heater,shower,camp stove) for around $100.

I like the Zodi option, too, Frank. You'd have to ensure it didn't tip over, though - perhaps create some sort of cradle to fit in the cockpit. However, your note about porting...

Frank C wrote:Then I'd route the interior hoses so that "return air" is higher up, while "heated air" is dumped near the cabin sole.

...well, I'd think you'd want to suck the cold air off the cabin sole, heat it, and then return it to mid-way in the cabin... this way you're constantly purging the cold air off the sole and allowing the hot air to remain in the overhead area... no?

Uhhhh ... I was thinking to pump the hot air into the lower cabin and allow it to rise.
But, I suppose one fills a balloon from the top, down???

I think I'm actually partial to the idea of deck plates in the sides of cockpit. Then I'd try to push hot air toward the bow and pull the return air from the aft berth ... end-for-end, instead of top-to-bottom?

In a small space like a Mac with a roughly 1000 Watt heater, the high/low issue wont be important you will find

Ive been on Vineyard Sound in October in 40F weather and found a 10 USD resistive heater on shore power warmed the cabin in 10 minutes.

Turned off at night of course.

Has anyone tried a heat lamp to take the chill off? Or maybe a small portable hair dryer?

A hair dryer is about a 1000 Watt device and will work fine...but its not intended to be left on for an hour or so...inviting a fire of course. You could use this to take a chill off in the am for example.

A sweater and a cup of Java would work too..

On the 26S, there is a maybe 15 square foot lazarette in the rear which might have been a nice place to put the Zodi heater but there was a recent explosion in a mountain cabin in Colorado involving propane (pretty bad burn injury) and the confined sealed bottom Laz would seem to be a good place to make nice little propane bomb - ie, maybe not such a good idea.

Im thinking what was suggested earlier is looking like a reasonable idea:

Alternate 2: Deck plates are easy to find in various sizes. A 3 or 4-inch deck plates could be cut into the cockpit sides (the vert-face just above the sole), one for heat, the opposite side for 'return.' The heat hose could be extended from under the aft-berth so it pushes air forward

The deck plates could be used for ventilation ports for camping in the summer. The draw back is that you would have to go outside the cabin in order to adjust the heater - or maybe a third deck plate with access to adjust the heater.

I think this is the only truly safe heater when sleeping.

Bransher wrote:I think this is the only truly safe heater when sleeping.

Beg to differ.

Absolutely correct Kevin. The one thing no home or boat should be without.