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-

You don't say how many will be onboard.. If you have several or more in your
crew, then body heat in a closed cabin will produce enough comfort to allow
the removal of jackets (or down to sweaters). However, the humidity will
raise significantly.

Without a supplimental heating unit, your not going to be able to dry
clothing and even the modern fabrics simply 'give up' their moisture to the
cabin air. Be prepared for some steamed up portholes and dripping metal
fitting in the cabin area. Even with a cabin heater, the air, albeit warm
will still carry all the moisture from wet gear. If the weather is dry
outside, I recommend air drying the jackets in the wind to get rid of as
much moisture as possible, then warm them in the cabin. Also a wet gear
locker or shower stall is a good place to put anything that is dripping wet.
This lets a lot of the water go down the drain or into the bilge.

I know of people who try to heat with the propane galley stove and this is
or any other unvented heat source is dangerous since it will burn up the
oxygen and produces carbinmonoxide.

If your engine is FW cooled you might consider installing a heater coil in
this circuit and heat the cabin up while the engine is running. SW cooled
engine don't get hot enough to do this (mine only gets to 140 F).

I won't recomment any of the ventless heater, but others may have favorable
comments FWIW.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

rosso wrote in
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-

Here we use an alcohol heater (Origo 5100). A bit expensive but safe.

You have to leave an opening to the outside for two reasons. The heater
consumes oxygen which must be replaced, and to let the humidity out.

I would not sleep while the heater is burning.

During the night, leave an opening also. It will not be colder but the
humidity will stay at an acceptable level.

In a marina, we use a low power (500 W) portable electric heater. It does
not produce humidity and if there is an opening to the outside it will
dry the inside of the boat

JM

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.

An Origo "Heat-Pal" alcohol heater will heat things up safely,
but it will produce a lot of condensation and some people don't
like the smell. A small propane catalytic heater may also work
for you. Just make sure it's certified for indoor use and shut it
off before you go to sleep. Both of these heaters will use up
oxygen so make sure you have plenty of ventilation while they're
burning. Portable heaters can be a real fire and burn hazard.
Also make sure you burn off any shipping oil before you put it on
the boat. Be very careful and you should be fine.

On Thu, 21 Oct 2004 15:48:42 GMT, rosso wrote:

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).

What about a bulkhead mounted diesel heater of the Dickenson type?
Sure, you need a small chimney, but it uses fuel you likely already
have, and its profile is small.

It's not expensive when compared to boat-wide systems like ESPAR, etc.

Small fans pointed into the berths can send warm saloon air into the
ends of the boat to a degree.

R.

Friends have two of those heaters for a 41 foot boat - they stay toasty warm. I think
they added a small fan to help with the chimney draft.

Currently, they're wintering aboard in Newfoundland (!), so they seem to be confident
in their heating ability.



"rhys" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 21 Oct 2004 15:48:42 GMT, rosso wrote:

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).

What about a bulkhead mounted diesel heater of the Dickenson type?
Sure, you need a small chimney, but it uses fuel you likely already
have, and its profile is small.

It's not expensive when compared to boat-wide systems like ESPAR, etc.

Small fans pointed into the berths can send warm saloon air into the
ends of the boat to a degree.

R.

On Thu, 21 Oct 2004 15:48:42 GMT, rosso wrote:

Dickinson makes a solid fuel heater.

http://www.dickinsonmarine.com/shop5...p?catalogid=28

It must be vented.

Jack

__________________________________________________
Jack Dale
Swiftsure Sailing Academy
Director/ISPA and CYA Instructor
http://www.swiftsuresailing.com
Phone: 1 (877) 470-SAIL (toll free)
__________________________________________________


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.

A clay flower pot upside down over the stove burner.

G
"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-

Let me second Gordon's suggestion. We live in NW Washington state, where
the winters are not bitter cold, but bloody chilly. A flower pot--make SURE
it is clay, and not plastic--about 6-8" in diameter will do an amazing job
of heating the cabin, with radiant heat that seems to permeate all over the
place. It is a very effective, very cheap sort of makeshift heater, but
should do the trick for you. Cheers.


"Gordon" wrote in message
. ..
A clay flower pot upside down over the stove burner.

G
"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-

If you use a heater without a vent, the burning of any fuel (propane,
alcohol etc.) will produce a warm but humid boat.

Just running a gas stove with the clay flowerpot will work to warm you up
but keep a hatch open for fresh air.

A bulkhead mounted heater using diesel, kerosene, or propane is the next
step up in cost and complexity. In North America, about $400-500 USD for a
decent one with an exhaust pipe. I had a Force 10 propane "cozy cabin"
heater 5000 BTU heater on our 30' boat. 10 minutes on high would heat it
hotter than you would like and you would quickly have to reduce the heat or
you would start to sweat.


--
Evan Gatehouse

you'll have to rewrite my email address to get to me
ceilydh AT 3web dot net
(fools the spammers)