Cindy Ballreich wrote:
To you guys who have these heaters, how big are your boats? Would a system
like these be better than a radiant heater (Dickenson or Sigmar for
example) on a 30' boat? Or would the added complexity outweigh any added
benefit?


With a Dickenson Newport I was able to keep my C&C 37 plenty warm at below
zero temperatures (centigrade that is, maybe -10-15F). I don't really think
you need a forced air system in a 30' boat although it would be nice.
Simpler to use but quite a bit more expensive. I wouldn't say they are all
that complex to install but maintenance/servicing would be.
For occasional heating I think I would go with a bulkhead mounted propane
heater. Easy to use and very clean. No soot on the deck or needing removal
from the unit. If you are planning for continuous use over many days I
would go for a diesel unit. Keep in mind you will need to locate a day tank
above it to gravity feed fuel or else use an electric pump from your main
fuel tank (my choice).

"DSK" wrote in message
.. .
Cindy Ballreich wrote:
To you guys who have these heaters, how big are your boats? Would a
system like these be better than a radiant heater (Dickenson or Sigmar
for example) on a 30' boat? Or would the added complexity outweigh any
added benefit?


Our boat is a 36' tug. Three seperate cabins plus a big head compartment,
which I specifically wanted HEAT in. A *real* cruiser probably doesn't
mind taking a shower with ice cubes, but I'm not that tough!

For a 30' sailboat I think one of the radiant types would be plenty. I'd
consider routing the exhaust pipe through the head, too

Another simple option is to add a bus heater to your engine. This is very
simple: a y-valve on the coolant loop between the water heater & engine, a
big radiator-type heat exchanger, and a fan. This will heat up the cabin
marvelously, but only when the engine is running. Cost about $200, no
holes to cut in the cabin top.

For all too short a while, I owned & cruised in a an old wooden racing
sloop from the 1930s. It had a Shipmate Skippy coal stove... cute and very
effective. Of course they don't make it any more, and coal (I used
self-lighting charcoal briquets) is nowhere near as convenient as diesel
or propane. But that warm old-timey atmosphere is cozy....

Fresh Breezes- Doug King