Heating a very small space (the head)...

[MedSailor]

I've been brainstorming ways to take the chill off the head. As with most boats, the head door remains closed most of the time and thus doesn't get the normal flow of air that might heat it. The result is a chilling wake-me-up when you sit on the seat early in the morning.

Most all of the conventional heating options like propane/diesel wall mounted heaters are FAR too big to work for such a small space. What do y'all do to keep your head water from freezing?

I was contemplating the use of tea or other candles that are plentiful and cheap. I've taken the chill of many a tent with a candle and the total space to be heated seems similar. My concerns would be: burning the candle in an enclosure that would prevent ANY chance of it burning down the boat while I sleep, and possible soot issues that sometimes crop up when the wick gets too long.

Any thoughts or better ideas?

MedSailor

[sailak]

I saw on another couples boat a solution they had. Their boat is equipped with a diesel forced air furnace, they ran ducting to the head. They rigged the ducting so that they could easily relocate it from the head to the adjacent hanging locker making a clothes dryer of the locker. Pretty handy in this climate.

If you have forced air heat perhaps this is an option.

[davidpm]

It is common to heat hot water with the engine. A loop off the engine in parallel to the hot water loop running to a small radiator in the head would probably do it.
You would have to run the engine a few minutes in the morning to take the chill off.
I have never seen this done so I'm just arm chair engineering here.

[Allanbc]

How about an oil lamp?

[MedSailor]

Just found a website that people might like. It's a rough calculator for how many BTUs you need to heat a given space. For us boat folk I would suggest always using the "poor insulation" choice.

BTU Calculator


MedSailor

[pdqaltair]

Originally Posted by MedSailor

I've been brainstorming ways to take the chill off the head. As with most boats, the head door remains closed most of the time and thus doesn't get the normal flow of air that might heat it. The result is a chilling wake-me-up when you sit on the seat early in the morning.

Most all of the conventional heating options like propane/diesel wall mounted heaters are FAR too big to work for such a small space. What do y'all do to keep your head water from freezing?

I was contemplating the use of tea or other candles that are plentiful and cheap. I've taken the chill of many a tent with a candle and the total space to be heated seems similar. My concerns would be: burning the candle in an enclosure that would prevent ANY chance of it burning down the boat while I sleep, and possible soot issues that sometimes crop up when the wick gets too long.

Any thoughts or better ideas?

MedSailor

But that won't help with the wake-up!

[bubb2]

Originally Posted by MedSailor

I've been brainstorming ways to take the chill off the head. As with most boats, the head door remains closed most of the time and thus doesn't get the normal flow of air that might heat it.

Leave the door open except when in use. Works for a lots of winter live aboards here in the north east.

[Boasun]

The candle is a good idea but if you are cutting gas at the same time, the burn off will help raise the temp in that small place.

[hellosailor]

12-volt hair drier to preheat the seat, and a nice ladylike padded seat because "padding" means "insulation".

[WanderingStar]

Campers use a candle lantern. A small glass and aluminum tube, fits a thick candle, which will burn safely for hours. I've used one to heat the cabin of a modest boat.