If you are in a marina I think electric heat is the best way to go but it
takes a little while to bring a cold boat up to temperature. The safest
type of unit is the oil filled radiator style marketed by Delonghi and
Pelorus. I have a 1500W Pelorus in my boat and it adds about 10C to the
outside temperature. Cost $100 Cdn.
For heating while at anchor I think the best way to go is a bulkhead mounted
propane heater that is vented to the outside. These are easy to use and
clean. I have a Dickenson Newport diesel bulkhead heater and while it heats
very well it is a job to get it started and messy to clean out. I don't
think a forced air unit like an Espar or Webasto is all that necessary.
If you don't want the expense and trouble of installing a bulkhead unit I
guess you need something portable. Since you probably need to leave a port
open while running one of these units I question how much better they are
than the flower pot over the galley range. If you have several people
onboard I think you could use the flower pot method. With a couple of ports
open you are not likely to have a problem and if CO does build up you are
not all going to collapse at the same time. A common first symptom is a
splitting headache. Anyone develops a headache its time to open the
hatches. You could back this up with a CO detector, something you might be
planning to add in the future. They don't seem to run for very long on one
set of batteries though.
Just don't run the stove at night
One last thought. While running the engine to anchor, or enter the marina,
could you leave the engine access open to get some engine heat into the
boat?


"rosso" wrote in message
news
Hi!

I am planning a small sailing trip this winter and would like some advice
on heating.

We'll be sailing in the northern adriatic sea by christmas time. Water
temperature by that time are still above 10 deg. C. (up to 13, it seems).
The boat is about 35' and with no kind of heating/cooling system (well,
it has a fridge).

My main concern is to get the "dinette" warm (at least) for a couple of
hours a day, from when we stop sailing to when we go to sleep. Warm means
being able to eat without wearing heavy jackets and being able to dry wet
clothes.

Since this is a first-time experience i will not buy some expensive (but
surely VERY useful) system (like WEBASTO). It could even be the last time,
so I was trying to do it cheap.

I have some experience in dinghy winter-sailing (snow, ice, blue hands,
etc. etc.). But that's kind of different, because after a couple of hours
you can always have a warm shower and bed!

So any kind of other advice would be greatly appreciated!

thanks
-michele-