winter liveaboards call out

[bluecascade]

Juneau Alaska, 1500 W oil radiant heater on a 29 foot cascade. Plenty of rain, snow, ice, and sub-zero temps. Planning to install an espar forced air diesel heater.

[bob chaisson]

Warwick, RI. I keep it 67 inside with two West Marine electric heaters. Worst month last winter was Feb at $287 for elec. all other months were less than $150. Some people were paying 6-7 hundred to heat land homes. This is nice and snug. Only down side is when dock ices up. Best you be awake before disembarking or you could get damn cold and wet. I lead with pet safe rock salt and do the whole dock. The pet safe type doesn't eat at your cockpit and cabin sole. I noticed a thermal draw from my bed early on and took the emergency foil blanket from the med kit a layed it down over the first layer of cushions, under the memory foam matress and that stopped that. They only last a year or so but replacements can be had at your local pharmacy.
May I never live on land again. Besides, it's nice having the bathroom professionally cleaned for meand the choice of two pools dosen't hurt either.

[tristanhayes]

I've heard that this isnt as much of an issue on wooden boats.

Originally Posted by djodenda

When I first moved from Oklahoma to the Puget Sound area, I lived aboard my Catalina 22 from February to June 2005.

I used a 1500 watt heater, and slept in a down sleeping bag on the starboard berth. I couldn't figure out why I was always cold sleeping, even with the heater on and the cabin thermometer reading in the 60s.

Finally, I figured out what was going on. The berth was below the waterline, and the cold from Puget Sound was pulling the heat from me.

I rigged a blanket to cut off the heat loss through the quarterberth and moved up to the V-Berth, which was a couple of inches above the waterline.

I was comfortable for the rest of the winter.

I still can't believe how long it took me to figure that out!

I miss my little boat.

[bob chaisson]

Hey Blue;
I heard on a different forum that those Espars sound like a jet turbine and you dock neighbors will be plotting to stone you within a week. My memory.......what was I saying......Oh yea, I could be wrong about the name, but I don't think so. See if you can get a listen on somebody elses boat first. I'm going with the Dickenson Newporter Diesel, with a downdraft kit. Havn't met an owner that didn't like it, esthetically pleasant also (little fireplace in the salon). Nice for cocktails and fillet m w/ lob tails by firelight.
Follow that up with an evening sail or a good movie on the DVD.......mmmm now thats atmosphere. :- )

[tjaldur]

Now the spring is coming and the temperature is just hovering around the freezing point (0 centigrades). I have an Eberspacher diesel-heater. Keeps the temperature stable at 20 centigrades. A dedicated tube in the shower gives 30 centigrades there.

[molycola]

Hi there,
I'm also in J.C. Just arrived this January. I'm wondering about your heat pump. Could you give me more info.
Thanks!

Originally Posted by bvander66

in sight of Manhatten and statue of liberty.
used styrofoam and relfrex insulation to help
have an electric oil-filled heater, an electric built in heater in aftcabin and a heat pump for salon. Once water reaches certain temp heat pump no longer works and then use dickinson diesel fireplace which pumps out tons of heat.
Also have a 750 watt bilge heater to stop bilge from getting cold soaked

[molycola]

What kind of dehumidifer do you recommend?

Originally Posted by dmtjoy

I am living aboard on sunny Port Orchard on Puget Sound. Heat comes from a cheap electric space heater at night or when I am away. While I am at home I use the Wallace furnace I installed this past fall. I works great and hardly uses any fuel. I use almost a gallon of diesel per day. I use an electric dehumidifier to remove the moisture from the air. This keeps the mold and mildew at bay.


dmtjoy aboard
SV Pegasus
C&C landfall38