I have a 28-foot wooden boat. I lived aboard her for 10 years, year round, in New England waters. I had heated her with a FATSCO “Buddy” coal
stove and was quite happy with it, as well as its traditional implications. One of the things I liked about burning coal was that I could leave the
stove “banked” and untended for up to 16 hours and still have heat when I got home. Some of the things that bothered me was the coal dust and ash dust everywhere as well as the worry of carbon monoxide poisoning. I also remember a few cold nights when, for some unknown reason, I just couldn’t get the thing to catch and go. When it was right, it’s dry heat and warm radiating glow made that cabin a most inviting place to be on a cold and stormy winter evening.
I am planning to move back aboard in a few years and am looking into other heating options. I would be interested in hearing pros and cons and recommendations of other
fuel types and
stove manufacturers. Thanks