Portable Cabin Heater
- Thread starter Jims380DA
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sbw1
Well-Known Member
- Oct 10, 2006
- 8,189
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Where do you store? No marina will allow this because of the obvious fire hazard.
I have an oil filled heater I got from Lowe's that I stick in the down stairs hallway in the winter. I use the boat most of the winter but I don't like using the on board heat system while it's at the dock and I'm not there (sometimes it doesn't work because the sea water is too cold). It's set to low and doesn't get hot. It's also not "winter storage" as I see/use the boat every few days so it's not a "set it and forget it" operation.
I also have two Xtreme bilge heaters... those things scare me though as they seem to get way too hot... but that's my opinion.
I guess if your marina doesn't allow heaters, then you need to find out what they recommend you should do. If you are winterizing the boat with antifreeze, I'm not sure I would want the worry of a heater being on board and leave it unattended for months at a time due to something going wrong.
With respect to the "no heaters allowed" for boats not in storage, that's just not practical as we have people that also live year round on their boats at the marina here and they use anything ranging from fuel based heaters (diesel or propane) and electric based heaters (ceramic and oil filled). I'm not sure how people would live on their boats without supplemental heating to the water heat exchanger systems.
I also have two Xtreme bilge heaters... those things scare me though as they seem to get way too hot... but that's my opinion.
I guess if your marina doesn't allow heaters, then you need to find out what they recommend you should do. If you are winterizing the boat with antifreeze, I'm not sure I would want the worry of a heater being on board and leave it unattended for months at a time due to something going wrong.
With respect to the "no heaters allowed" for boats not in storage, that's just not practical as we have people that also live year round on their boats at the marina here and they use anything ranging from fuel based heaters (diesel or propane) and electric based heaters (ceramic and oil filled). I'm not sure how people would live on their boats without supplemental heating to the water heat exchanger systems.
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thunderbird1
New Member
We winterize the fresh water system with pink antifreeze, open strainers, and plug in an Xtreme bilge heater (which is designed to run in the bilge). Running a heater in the cabin that isn't designed to run in a marine environment seems risky to me. We use a Dri-Z-Air chemical dehumidifier to keep the moisture down in the cabin.
http://www.drizair.com/
http://www.drizair.com/
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osd9
New Member
I leave my boat in the water for the winter. I winterize all systems but also keep a 750W boatsafe brand engine compartment heater going in the bilge. I keep two lamps, with 60 watt bulbs, on in the cabin. IMHO, they help to keep down excess moisture.
I also have an oil filled heater that I leave in, but not alway on, in the cabin. Because the boat is behind my house, there are times when I get that urge to be on the boat in January or February, so I put on the heater and spend some quality time checking things out.
I also have an oil filled heater that I leave in, but not alway on, in the cabin. Because the boat is behind my house, there are times when I get that urge to be on the boat in January or February, so I put on the heater and spend some quality time checking things out.
wkearney99
Active Member
- Feb 23, 2006
- 583
- Boat Info
- 47'
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- Twin Caterpillar C-12, Twin Disc straight shaft inboards.
So who's got the best deal on an electric heater for an engine room? I plan on winterizing everything anyway but it couldn't hurt to keep things from getting completely frozen. Would a 250 watt unit be enough in this case? I mean, if it's winterized I'm sure "anything" would be enough, but would a 250w unit end up being overworked?
sbw1
Well-Known Member
- Oct 10, 2006
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Not a direct comparison, but the little ceramic space heaters usually have two settings starting at 750 watts with 1500 watts max. The higher setting will keep the helm of a 38 foot boat comfortable in 32 degree weather. The bilge should be easier to heat although I would not suggest that type of heater for this purpose. It depends on how cold it gets where you store. 250 watts doesn't sound like much if you get down below zero. It might be fine in 30-40 degrees. Why bother if you are winterized?
osd9
New Member
No, I did not have it permanently installed or wired. The Boatsafe brand heater came with a long (25' I think) cord. I simply added a heavy duty plug to end of that cord. On my 380, I ran the wire up from the bilge into cockpit from behind the cockpit fridge/icemaker and into the forward storage compartment. I then plugged it into the cockpit outlet in the storage area by the cabin door.
As for the heater itself, I installed rubber "feet" to the base in the holes provided and placed it carefully in the bilge between the two mains. The rubber "feet" kept it from sliding around during the windy days. I also bought some hard styrofoam insulation and cut out "plugs" for the bilge vents on the outside of the hull.
I plan to do the same this year on my 410....
thunderbird1
New Member
osd9: Styrofoam plugs for the bilge vents is a terrific idea! I've read about folks who have paid to have custom canvas vent covers made. I also recall posts suggesting boaters cram rags into the vents. I'm trying your approach -- thanks for the tip!
osd9
New Member
Jim:
You don't have to pull the cockpit fridge. I had gas engines and didn't have the fuel crossover valves or the genie guages in the aft most compartment on the port side. I had the two storage shelves behind that aft most door. I simply undid the 6 screws and pulled out that shelving and I was then able to fish up the heaters cord. It will be easier if you first drop a drag line into the bilge from the cockpit....just don't put anything metal for weight on that line as the batteries are just underneath. After you get the heaters cord topside, you can simply snake it over the top of the fridge and into the forward most storage compartment and then plug her in....
You don't have to pull the cockpit fridge. I had gas engines and didn't have the fuel crossover valves or the genie guages in the aft most compartment on the port side. I had the two storage shelves behind that aft most door. I simply undid the 6 screws and pulled out that shelving and I was then able to fish up the heaters cord. It will be easier if you first drop a drag line into the bilge from the cockpit....just don't put anything metal for weight on that line as the batteries are just underneath. After you get the heaters cord topside, you can simply snake it over the top of the fridge and into the forward most storage compartment and then plug her in....
Jims380DA
Member
OK. I understand that now. once to the shelves, you go over the fride and over the wall in the compartment where the outlet is? is the 25' cord long enough?