Onboard Heat- "Snug as a bug in a........boat?"

[Tim]

I thought this would be a great time to start a discussion about the type of heating used aboard boats and their pros and cons. There are several types available including fixed systems that run off diesel from your tank, electrically powered varieties such as heat coils with fans and electric sealed oil heaters, alcohol varieties and the old standby, the stove itself, usually propane, alcohol, and even butane.

Let's get those fingers warmed up and share what types, makes, and models of heating items you use and your recommendations to the rest of us. Don't leave us in the cold- LITERALLY!

[Steve Knight]

As a cub scout I learned that you could start a pretty good fire by rubbing two girl scouts together.

[Dave and Donna]

when we spend a weekend on the boat in NC this time of year we use a mr heat buddy that goes on a propane tank can range from 6k to like 18k run it for a few hrs in the evening to get nice warm Then for night we have new 12v electric blankets that have worked out great and uses very little draw on them We have a CO detector for the propane heater

[Leo Blankenship]

Well, we considered a lot of options when we got our Hunter 410 this summer in regards to heating...we decided the best heating system was Florida! Of course, we didn't expect it to get down into the 30s at night in St. Petersburg where we put the sailboat! Would be very interesting to hear about.from people that spend a large amount of time on their boats in the dead of winter up north. There was a great article this month in Cruising World about sailing through the Northwest Passage...

Leo

[John Shasteen]

Down on the usually sunny (just not this winter) south Texas coast, in the slip, we use a small, electric ceramic heater. At anchor, or at sea, if we need heat, a clay flower pot upside down over one of the stove burners makes a great space heater

[zeehag]

winter here in san diego gets colder than you would believe--we have temps into the 30s--i use oil lamps to warm boat and i cook...lol....recipes that take plenty of time keep house warmer than the microwave----i donot have one of those on my boat lol..--the trawler lamps are incredibly warm and provide almost enough light to read by---paint inside shade white as a friend did, and is bright enough for reading..LOL....