FreeRadical said..

Anything electric will probably use too much power?

It was suggested to me to heat up a terracotta pot on the stove to radiate heat.

errrr...... just how were you going to heat the terracotta pot without using electricity?

Using the gas stove?

...try a gas heater ..... just make sure it is flued, you know, nasty carbon monoxide gas.

FreeRadical said..

Any ideas on heating the cabin now its getting a bit cold?

Anything electric will probably use too much power?

It was suggested to me to heat up a terracotta pot on the stove to radiate heat. Anyone heard of this or other stove top radiating devices?

You have to harden up sister. The terracotta pot idea has been around for a while but I am always scared that the nice warm drowsy feeling that you will get might actually be CO poisoning so other than just putting the kettle on or baking bread in the oven (with full ventilation) its a no no.

On the sea it never gets too cold as the sea is effectively underfloor heating. Had an exception a few years back on the Tamar River on the coldest night in 50 years. The now ex wife used all 6 sleeping bags on board leaving me with only a thermal blanket. Isn't there some saying about hell freezing over.

Ramona said..

There was a bit of a ruckus on the YBW.com PBO forums a few weeks ago over this. The story was something along the lines that the new terracotta pots had some ingredient that was going to be poisonous when heated up, upside down on a stove. The general consensus was that it was fine on a metho stove but not quite so on a gas stove.

Not withstanding the fact that you may or may not emit toxic fumes when heating a terracotta pot there is one simple law of physics that is not going to change.
You are not going to get more heat out than what you put in and if you say that you do, then you have invented perpetual motion and may I have some shares please.

Cook a roast or a silverside!

You can get small bulkhead mounted metho heaters - A mate has one on his 30' ocean cruiser to warm the cabin & control the condensation.

Have a look at diesel heating. It is ideal for boats and RV's. they are extremely efficient. There are a number of manufactures demetic and webasto to name a couple. The units are very compact and work a treat. I have one in my caravan and would not consider anything else. see the following site for more information. http://www.around-oz.com/diy_mh/diy_webasto_installation.htm
The cost for a unit which will heat a boat is under $1,000.00 search diesel heaters and you will find plenty, Dometic also make a gas version which my son has in his caravan and it also works well. If you want to take the big step you can always install reverse cycle air conditioning as I did, don't use the heating much in Queensland but the cooling is great on those humid summer nights.

Kryspenn said..

Have a look at small tent heaters available from out door sport stores. You can use small portable canister with them. It is some kind glow heater, and can be used inside. Just google small tent heaters and you will find it.
Im looking to get one of those soon.

These kinds of heaters are very efficient but please never lose sight of the fact that they are still burning fossil fuel and will as a by-product give off carbon monoxide gas which is a silent killer. So if you use one of these make sure that there is adequate ventilation just because there is no visible flame lulls people into forgetting that there is something burning.

Disralei said..


Go buy some booze and get maggoted. Some port or rum should do the trick...even mulled wine.

Only trouble with that is falling into the water if your drinking ashore and have to return to your vessel by tender. I personally don't think there is anywhere in Australia where it gets cold enough for a heater. Cabin should be fairly snug and then just use modern clothing and bedding. I shop at the Salvation army op shop and for winter sailing I wear ski gear. Buy the up market stuff. Try to avoid the garish colours!

THIS IS AN EBAY PHOTO OF THE HEATER WE USE ONBOARD
We open some hatches and turn the thing down as it makes a 42 footer very warm.
They use the little $1 dollar cannisters from bunnings.
Heats for a good couple of hours when turned down. allows boating on the coldest
days of the year, lovely before bed after a shower.Then hot water bottles.

just a heads up, talk of gas heating in small areas gives me the jeebees.
co brings on nausea, vomiting headaches etc but often not for a while after getting dosed. kills with no smell at all.
appliances must be registered as AGA approved so you know they are safe and work in with ventalation requirements set out in australian standards.
dont **** with gas stuff. ive seen what it does.

CO2 is just as poisonous and dangerous as CO but gas heaters give off mainly CO with a small amount of CO2 so it will be the CO that kills you before the CO2 has a chance.

Let mi add to discussion. This discussion remains me caravaning in Europe.
Talking 40 years ago. Also having for short period of time car Trabant, when
people at the back seat had to use sleeping bag, not to freeze in winter.
German use as a option little petrol heater , great unit you heat up the car
before you start the engine /outside -20/.
For caravans and vans we use little diesel heater.

Currently, they are better model, more efficient on the market.
Inlet and outlet is outside, you get just hot air.

This is only proper solution if you serious about.

Just find one to see parameters.



This type of heater really is the way to go for safe economical heating away from mains electrical power.

The two commonly available ones in Aus is the Webasto and the Eberspacher and fuel options are diesel, petrol and LPG with heat outputs ranging from 2 kW to 9 kW.
We chose the Webasto 2 kW diesel model for our new " A" type Avan. The output, ranging from 900 W to 2000 W and depending on thermostat setting, consumes only 0.12 to 0.24 Lit / hour and 12VDC 14 to 24W (which also depends on thermostat selected fan speed).

Briefly, the heater consists of a burner and air fan. There are two distinct air paths.

LooseChange said..

frant said..

LooseChange said..

CO2 is just as poisonous and dangerous as CO but gas heaters give off mainly CO with a small amount of CO2 so it will be the CO that kills you before the CO2 has a chance.

You have got your CO and CO2 reversed. CO is deadly poisonous. CO2 is not poisonous, it will simply suffocate you. It will be the CO that kills you however. I thought about installing CO detectors in my boat but decided that it is simply better to avoid prolonged use of CO emitting devices inside, other than the gas oven for baking.

Poisonous was probably bad choice of words, toxic is possibly better as anything that doesn't support life is definitely not good for you.

My choice of using a gas oven analogy for a CO emitting means of causing death is probably a bad choice of words also.

Nothing could beat a 24 yo hottie with a big doona.

cisco said..

Nothing could beat a 24 yo hottie with a big doona.

try 2 24 yo hotties without a doona.