What type of heat?

[Mikex]

Hi guys,
We've just purchased a 2003 MacGregor 26X and live in British Columbia, and we're planning a list of modifications to the boat, one of which is to add heat (due to where we live). We had Espar (diesel) heat on our previous boat in Ontario and we were thinking of adding one to the 26X which would involve installing a small diesel tank and extra batteries to accommodate the electrical needs.

My question: is Espar forced air heating the way to go, or are there better options out there for up north West Coast sailing?

Thanks, Mike

[Russ]

Gets cold here at night. We use down blankets.


--Russ

[Hamin' X]

This is my next mod. It ain't cheap, but fills two niches and no added space (almost). Comes highly recommended by Blue Water Yachts.

http://www.scanmarineusa.com/Wallas-800 ... -2012s.pdf

~Rich

[vkmaynard]

Heater Buddy with Carbon Monoxide sensor.

[Chinook]

We installed the Wallas stove/heater in our boat in 2002, and have used it extensively since then. The unit is very expensive, but does perform well. It can be fussy in lighting if you're low on power, or if connection to the power source has begun to corrode (personal experience). It puts out enough heat to warm the cabin nicely in Alaskan waters. This unit won't work in M's which have the sliding galley, since the stove installation involves a rigid flex tube connection to a through hull fitting for the exhaust.

[reastmure]

I installed a Dickerson direct vent propane heater last year. Works great - vents to the outside and does not use up cabin oxygen. Fan is low power use too.
http://www.dickinsonmarine.com/propane.php
I posted the mod on this site:
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1674

[cptron]

Heater Buddy, uses same propane cannisters as the grill.

[yukonbob]

Dickinson or Force Ten either diesel or propane. Propanes a wetter heat and harder to get in smaller villages so go diesel if you have the choice. Ours runs almost constantly on low all day and night in the early spring and fall in Alaska. You're not just keeping it warm but drying it out constantly with all the condensation build up. Heater buddies are good to boost the heat for a little bit or warm the cockpit enclosure, but are not a long term solution to heating the cabin. The force ten we have has a built in pilot and O2 sensor (no power required) and throw a eco fan on the top for air movement.

[Mikex]

Thanks everyone for your input on the type of heat you use.
The propane Dickinson heater is very attractive and the price is right.
The Wallace stove seems ideal for the boat but very expensive and would cause my full enclosure to get smaller.
The Espar type heaters (forced air diesel) do supply a lot of heat and dry the air but consume more battery power.
It gives us something to think about.

The problems are as I see them:
1) if we use propane, where would we neatly & safely store the propane tank?
2) Looking for a location for the Dickinson heater and the scary part, cutting a large hole through the top of the boat for the chimney on the 26X
3) For the forced air installing more batteries and means of recharging them

Although I like the idea of the simple solution of using a down blanket, my wife said that I could be single handing a lot

It's time to get the tape measure out..

Thanks, Mike

[u12fly]

Our method of heat is electric... It is safe and can warm the cabin quickly. There are multiple super small units on the market like this one:

http://www.air-n-water.com/product/dch1030.htm


At dock, we usually pick up shore power. At anchor we have a Honda generator that gives us plenty of power. We run it for 10-20 min to warm the cabin and we are usually good to go. The nice thing is the heater is light, the generator is heavy but we us that for other things that require lots of electrical power like the microwave. We never have to worry about depleting our batteries over night since we can start the generator and use it to recharge them and/or start the boat engine.

[Mikex]

Hi -u12fly,

What size of Honda generator do you have, where do you keep it on the boat and how noisy is it .

Thanks,
mike.

[Catigale]

The energy efficient engineer ime cringes at the

Fuel to generator to electricity to resistive heat ...

Cycle but it is a safe and dry solution.

Propane can be mounted outside (10 pound cylinder) and routed in with one piece Cu pipe....shutoff solenoid and kill switch mandatory, as well as propane sensor

[Don T]

Summer is my preferred heat source. My wife does not want to be chilly having moved from Hawaii.

[MAC-A-TAC]

Hello Mikex,

I haven't bought it yet, but this is the model "Buddy Heater" that is on my list. The only question I have is, how much condensation will form in the cabin with this method of heating ?
This heater uses small propane canisters that screw into the sides and stay hidden behind the black plastic, which makes this unit very compact for the amount of Btu's it puts off.

I am thinking of using a temporary anchor to attach it to the table top while underway and on the hook, accordingly this is the area, on my 26M, that is least likely to have combustibles inadvertently come in contact with the heater.



Mac Out.

[Whipsyjac]

I don't have heat yet, and the condensation in the morning on our mid September Sail was unbelievable.

Origo makes a heater/stove which will burn about 8hrs on a fill, alcohol is cheap and clean but still makes Carbon Monoxide, and this super simple device still costs over $200.http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=50671 The customer review claims no CO but somehow I doubt that.

I may experiment with electric heat, I bought 2 6volt batts for house power, if I add a couple solar panels, it could be a good solution. There was a ceramic heater on West Marine's site that's relatively efficient for under $100. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=50671

Maybe I'll think of something revolutionary myself(it'll probably be the most expensive and ugliest heater ever! )

Willy