[flicker]

Don Street, in The Ocean Sailing Yacht, talks a little bit about wood/coal heaters. The main problem seems to be back drafting of the air flow when the boat changes tack or when the sail drives air into the stack. Also, the stove pipe needs to be heated initially to get the air to draw properly. I think Street went through a couple of systems before deciding on one that suited him. I forget which one he ultimately kept and which ones he threw overboard.

So, the question of what type of heater to use would have to do not only with your sailing grounds and fuel availablity but also with whether you''ll be sailing a lot while you use it.

Another writer (I forget who) said she loved the wood stove when sailing in the North Pacific but that wood itself is bulky and heavy for the heat it provides and that they ended up having to cover the entire deck with loads of wood when they could find it.

(On another note, some propane heaters now burn so efficiently that they don''t need an exhaust vent.)

Chas.