Engine room warming - household oil type heater?

[Chris Nowell]

I know this will spark the usual "are you a retread?" comments but I want to hear the input. We have been blessed with an arctic flow that will give us temperatures in the -13C (+8F) range. I purchased a household type oil circulating radiant heater from HD yesterday and plan on putting it in the bilge to keep the holding tanks from freezing.:smt021 As far as I can see there is no open ignition source and the cord is long enough to reach the nearest outlet without the use of an extension cord. Already have WM heater and dehumidifier in the cabin. These are very unusual temps for this time of year and we usually keep the boat in the water year 'round. Just don't want to winterize because we use it every weekend. Be cruel if you must, I can take it :grin:

Edit; will depressurize fuel system if that will help any?

 

[dpmulvey]

I know this will spark the usual "are you a retread?" comments but I want to hear the input. We have been blessed with an arctic flow that will give us temperatures in the -13C (+8F) range. I purchased a household type oil circulating radiant heater from HD yesterday and plan on putting it in the bilge to keep the holding tanks from freezing.:smt021 As far as I can see there is no open ignition source and the cord is long enough to reach the nearest outlet without the use of an extension cord. Already have WM heater and dehumidifier in the cabin. These are very unusual temps for this time of year and we usually keep the boat in the water year 'round. Just don't want to winterize because we use it every weekend. Be cruel if you must, I can take it :grin:

Edit; will depressurize fuel system if that will help any?

<"...As far as I can see there is no open ignition source...">

IF it is a DeLonghi (or the like) heater, there is, or at least was, an open ignition source. The thermostat is just a couple of pieces of copper that expand and contract to make contact to turn the machine on and off. The one I had and ones I've seen sparked and sparked big. They work on the same principle as the old round Honeywell thermostat in my Mom's house.

Plug the vent holes and do it right with an Xtreme or similar ABYC approved heater.

Just curious....Which tanks?

If it's the fresh water tank you are worried about, the pipes along the side of the hull are going to freeze and burst long before the tank. If it's the black water tank, you are concerned about, pour a large bottle of cheap vodka in the thing and get on with life. Vodka freezes at roughly -20*F. If your tanks get that cold, you have bigger problems than a frozen tank........ and no you cannot filter the stuff through your kidneys first.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Chris, I'm not going to pound on you and really don't have an answer to your question. I BELIEVE that heater should be fine since there's no ignition source. My only concern would be the on/off switch. Is there a setting on that heater that makes it run continuously? If it doesn't shut on and off because of the switch setting I would feel a lot more comfortable.

On a related note, I saw the news about that Artic Clipper and thought of you and Mark. I hope everything works out OK for you guys.

 

[Chris Nowell]

Thanx Guys.
dpmulvey; Good point, the pipes running along the exterior walls. I never even thought of them. I'll just head down there after work and drain the fresh water system. The head and black water holding tank have already been winterized. We have a porta potti that we use on board for winter time. Just means having to do the "fresh water" thing the old fashioned way for the rest of the winter, taking jugs down there and pouring it manually.

GFC; thanx for the thoughts. I think Mark's somewhere warm right now and he doesn't care:smt089

EDIT; Will order engine room heater from WM when they open tomorrow. It will fit in there a lot better than that oil thing too. Thanx for the input everyone.