equipment for winter liveaboard

[CalEnron]

I have an older Cal than does not have a liner. In the winter I use the bubble wrap style insulation above the cushions, and solid foam anywhere I can. I have a carpet that does a fair job of warming up the floor. I'm not in a position to buy a Hallberg-Rassy, but if I was I would consider spending the dough on an insulated boat. I do suspect however that even with an insulated duct heated boat you'll find that living aboard in the North in the winter may not be as comfortable as your house. I've seen a frozen harbor here and still had wet water in my tanks for what its worth.

[SVAuspicious]

Originally Posted by ardoin

I just replaced a 1994 webasto with an ITR Hurricane heater. It works great and it is also rigged to provide hot water. About 2 Gal of fuel a day on cold days, less on warmer days.

Interesting. I recently replaced my Webasto with an Espar and so far am very happy. I'm burning about 3/4 gal / day to keep the boat in the low 70s inside.

Would you like to meet up somewhere (like Davis' Pub) and compare notes? I've never known anyone with a Hurricane and am interested.

[ardoin]

It wasn't easy getting a Hurricane, no dealers in the area. Had to work with Ocean Link in RI to get a drop shipment.
Not sure how to provide an email link without opening up to spam. But no problem linking up at Davis'.
So here is the email puzzle. First name is in the signature, last name is the login name. Glue the two together and send to gmail.com.

[MarkN]

I am very fond of my Dickenson furnace - much cheaper than any central heating system and toasty warm. I've had propane but now use diesel - super warm - and we added a valve interface so I can switch tanks in only seconds. each lasts so when I lived in Boston, we could heat the boat for probably no more than one or two hundred bucks for the winter.

To me, once the boat is warm, the moisture is not a problem. On the coldest days, I use a thin foam board insulation (very cheap) and set it into the areas against the hull - no more problems. Otherwise, I'm not really all that into adding insulation.

Best,
Mark N.
The Essentials of Living Aboard a Boat

[davester]

If you cover the boat, you can lay fiberglass home insulation on deck. That helped a lot on my non-insulated boat. I put 10 foot sections of R30 insulation in polyurethane tubes, tied at both ends. I bought the poly tubing from a marina that uses it to store masts, but you can also by it online. I got the idea from a neighbor.

Humidity is not necessarily a problem, but it depends what kind of heating solution you choose. If you use a heating system that pumps fresh air into the boat and exhausts combustion air outside, I don't think you will have a problem. With electric heat, you won't be adding any humidity, but might have to take measures to remove humidity caused by humans, a stove, showers ect.

I shower on the boat sometimes... I carry my water to the boat in 2.5 gallon spring water bottles with holes cut in the top, so a very low flow shower head was a necessity for me.
dave