Adding electrical heating source to cabin and helm

[Juergen]

I'm trying to find a electrical heating source to install in my cabin and helm. Any recommendations?

 

[Mike Blake]

Ya move to S FL

 

[Juergen]

Good one. Any additional recommendations?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Can you be more specific to what you mean by 'electrical'? I take it your A/C is not a reverse-cycle model?

 

[Juergen]

I would prefer a electrical heat source and not the built in HVAC system, it still works but I don't like the constant van blowing and the eviciancy is very bad.
I checked into some of the infrared heaters ( see pic ) but it would be great to have a built in electrical heating system so it wouldn't be in the way.

 

[rondds]

I had a friend who used one of those Home Depot heaters (he boats in upstate NY, usually into November) and used the blowers on the boat's air condx system to circulate the warm air.

 

[Juergen]

Thanks but that's what I did last year. I'm trying to do some brain storming and find a better solution...
Did anybody try out those infrared heaters?

 

[northern]

My insurance is void if I have a fire from a non permanent heater. I have two 550 watt oil filled heaters that will keep the boat warm but they need to be on all the time when you have shore power. They are not permanent. Figured they were the safest thing I could use.

 

[KC_Sundancer]

What about using free heat from the engine? http://www.heatercraft.com/heaters/
Downside, no heat when not underway.

 

[Juergen]

The void insurance is a good point, I need to talk to my I insurance...

The free heat from the engine is good idea but I'm trying to find a good and safe heat source when the boat is docked at the marine and I'm planning to actually live on my boat.

 

[Juergen]

Just talked to my insurance (Allstate) and if a electrical heater would couse a fire, it would be covered, juhu.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I probably wouldn't use it with a small cruiser, but I think you have enough 'dancing room' in the cabin that it wouldn't be much of a tripping hazard. As long as you're insurance is OK, I might give it a try. How long it will last in a marine environment and whether it will stand up to the vibration... remains to be seen. I would probably be worried about using it while underway, though. But that may just be me being overly cautious.

 

[Saverio]

try to find one that has a trip switch. it it falls over it shuts down the older ones dont have tha and they would stay running and set the rug on fire.

 

[Mike Blake]

Where it does get cold here I use just a small electric heater that oscillates. Works just fine. it's one of those small ones. I put it up on the counter.I do not leave it running when I'm not there.

 

[Peter Schlossberg]

I spend weekends on my boat in Baltimore in the winter. It got pretty cold last year. We used three oil filled radiator style electric heaters when the water got to cold for the reverse cycle to work. Put one in the bilge and one in the salon and the last in the forward cabin. Worked fine but the electric bill got my attention.


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[Lazy Daze]

I spend weekends on my boat in Baltimore in the winter. It got pretty cold last year. We used three oil filled radiator style electric heaters when the water got to cold for the reverse cycle to work. Put one in the bilge and one in the salon and the last in the forward cabin. Worked fine but the electric bill got my attention.


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Juergen - you have a gas engine and Peter has a diesel. Do not put a "normal" heater in your bilge. You must use a CG approved, bilge-safe heater (like you were planning). Peter is OK to use it because of having a diesel.

 

[Juergen]

Thanks Dennis! I have already a built in bilge heater what works very well. I think I'll go with a infrared heater like the one shown in pic. It has a tip protection and should
be enough for the cabin.
Thanks for all your great commends.
Cheers

 

[Lazy Daze]

I bet that will work quite well in a relatively small space (cubic foot) compared to where they normally get used. I saw one featured on This Old House (I think) and they were quite impressed with it - although I believe it was a more expensive model.