Bilge Heater

TN370

TN370

Active Member
Jul 20, 2016
222
Nashville
Boat Info
2001 460 Sundancer
Engines
6CTAs and Westerbeke
Okay, it's that time of year. First winter for me with my 370 Sundancer. I plan to take a couple runs this winter. New years eve is always a great time docked at the Nashville riverfront. So what kind of bilge heater do you recommend for the winter? Watts needed for the 370 compartment? I'm considering a permanent install of a 600W forced air heater from Xtreme Heaters:
http://www.wholesalemarine.com/xtreme-heaters-compartment-heaters.html
Thoughts?
 
Before a say much, I don't know what the weather (winters) are like in your area but a bilge heater is great for extending your season. The boat still should be winterized encase of power loss.

My neighbor has the heater your looking at on his 89 39ec he loves it. I did put a Camaflo (I think that's correct) heater in mine and with the vents closed it stays pretty nice down there. I will finish winterizing this week.
 
I have the 600w Xtreme Heater. It's hard wired and permanently installed. This is the second boat I have had with an Xtreme heater. They are reliable and work as advertised. Make sure to close off your bilge vents to keep the heat from escaping.
 
Howdy, neighbor!!!

"Yes" to permanent installation for a bilge heater. My BoatSafe runs like a top but I'll defer to others who have boats comparable to yours.

"Maybe" to winterizing your other systems--how often might you be at the boat, whether launching or not, do you have reliable shore power, and how far do you live from your slip? Several of us with covered slips/shore power don't winterize the interior because we're on the boats frequently and like the convenience of having running water/flushing. We can leave minimal cabin heat going when there's a risk of extended cold periods, as well as check on the boats as needed and implement an alternate plan if anything really big happens. We haven't experienced extended power outages at our dock, but being conservative won't hurt if you don't have the same level of flexibility or don't plan to be at the boat very often.

And maybe I'll see ya in the NYE crowd--we're staying downtown, just not on the river!
 
if the water in your area does not freeze in the winter you likely do not need to winterize anything....i don't and i use our boat all year...I monitored the water temp and the ER room temp all last winter and that was a cold winter for us....the water temp did not drop below around 45*F and my ER temp stayed within a couple of degrees below that....I have a bilge heater but I don't believe it even kicked on last winter....as Jim stated just be sure to cover your ER vents to keep the heat in the ER when not using the boat....I use a business card positioned at the ignition keys in the main electrical panel to remind me to remove the vent covers before starting the engines....the words 'remove vent covers' are printed on the back of the card and the card is stood upright between the two keys.......

of course I also have to remember to put the vent covers and business card into position before leaving the boat....ummmm...maybe there is a flaw in my system.....:smt017......

cliff
 
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Very timely thread. For the first time, I am planning to live-a-board 5 days a week in Baltimore MD Harbor. I have winterized the heater/cooling systems because I was told they do not work well for heat after the water temp drops. I am OK to winterize the engines as not really planning to move the boat over the winter (but the option would be nice). I am also on a very limited budget (long story). So what I am trying to figure out is how to warm the cabin and hopefully not need to winterize the fresh water system so I can have running water for flushing, basic hand and dish washing.

The Xtreme heaters seem like a good solution for the bilge but $350 is steep. Also, not sure if heating the bilge will keep enough heat between the cabin walls and the hull to keep the fresh water lines safe.

Also, what is the best solution for heating the cabin?

Any and all suggestions welcome.
 
Jack380AC said:
Very timely thread. For the first time, I am planning to live-a-board 5 days a week in Baltimore MD Harbor. I have winterized the heater/cooling systems because I was told they do not work well for heat after the water temp drops. I am OK to winterize the engines as not really planning to move the boat over the winter (but the option would be nice). I am also on a very limited budget (long story). So what I am trying to figure out is how to warm the cabin and hopefully not need to winterize the fresh water system so I can have running water for flushing, basic hand and dish washing.

The Xtreme heaters seem like a good solution for the bilge but $350 is steep. Also, not sure if heating the bilge will keep enough heat between the cabin walls and the hull to keep the fresh water lines safe.

Also, what is the best solution for heating the cabin?

Any and all suggestions welcome.
Click to expand...
I lived in and boated in RI in my younger years. If the engines are winterized properly, there is no need for a heater. i got one because my engines have three point drain systems and those coupled with a heater extended my season.

If your marina has "winter water", then the most you should have to do is insulate what is exposed in the ER and along the hull sides.

An alternative is to remove or leave ajar the cabinet doors and allow the residual cabin heat to keep the pipes thawed.
 
Disclaimer: read the fine print/check with your insurer to find out what, if anything, may be prohibited for cabin heating, and any other guidelines that may be relevant for your situation.

Assuming shore power, one or more ceramic heaters can maintain minimum cabin temp and keep fresh water lines viable--as David noted, keeping all doors/cabinets open, and even pulling up cushions/covers over any plumbing lines, will allow the warmer air to get to the important nooks and crannies. Tip-proof models with emergency cutoff are the preference among the live aboard folks here; they can go to work, grocery shopping, out for dinner, etc. and feel pretty secure that if anything unusual happens like a freak windstorm, they won't get a call from the fire dept. When you're "home," they can heat to comfortable room temp very quickly.
 
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Ok here's the heater I plan to install tomorrow. I'm thinking this, along with running one of the house reverse cycle cabin units at 55 degrees should keep it for the winter. Regarding power loss... the comments here did raise some concern for me. I've lived in TN for 35 years and have seen areas of town without power for a day or two. But that's become more rare instance in recent years. In fact, I can't remember the last time I've lost power for more than 1 hour. However just the thought of busted blocks forced me to buy an early Christmas present. With the bilge heater I'll also be installing a 2500w inverter/charger and two more batteries. That should keep the heater cycling in the rare instance the marina looses power.
The inverter/charger has been on the wish list since I got the 370 earlier this year. THis just made it easy for me to justify the $$$. I'll be posting a new thread for that install as I have a few thoughts and questions I'd like to run by the group. Thanks for all the input! Love this community of boaters!

Link to the post about inverter install:
http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/81428-Combo-Inverter-charger-install
 
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