| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Knighty |
Posted - 12 Jun 2011 : 21:24:46
Or rather lack of it.
Just spent a great but rather cold and damp weekend doing our first overnight stay on our Norman 20 to Stratford Upon Avon. Saturday great 6 hour cruise there, bit daunting doing the locks in Stratford with about 50 tourists watching your every move but lots of sun and burnt faces all round but overnight it dropped to 3 degrees and even wrapped up in duvets and sleeping bags we were still cold as hell.
Only have 12 volts on board and on the Warwickshire Avon no 240v hook ups so think apart from thermals and hand and feet warmers it could be a bit difficult.
Found small gas heaters like in link below but would have thought the cabin would be too small to use one of those.
Thought the cruise back today would be as good as Saturdays even though the weather forcast didn't look good but it poured down and strong gusty winds the whole way back and all nine locks were set against us.Different ball game doing locks with a canopy up. Thrown in at the deep end or what  Very cold, very wet and very tired but still a great experience.
At least i now know the windscreen wiper works.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PORTABLE-CAMPING-BLACK-GAS-HEATER-4-GAS-REFILLS-FREE-/120506261655?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c0ebba097
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| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| stratford4528 |
Posted - 13 Jun 2011 : 10:30:48
For those of you who are interested running heat of the inboard engine is quite easy using a large colorifier is one way and pump water into rads from that. To make the engine start with a thermostat requires various relays and a timer to disconnect the starter motor. Basically you would use the system when you are tied up in the evening but not run it all night when you are tucked up in bed. Also I might fit a mains alternator to my engine so it would heat the calorifier quicker and load the engine. I am off grid for my power and my generators will start when the battery voltage drops and start when the battery's are charged with a manual off and off switch.
So I will use the same system on my boat and replace the manual switch with a thermostat. |
| Knighty |
Posted - 13 Jun 2011 : 08:26:45
Thanks for replies, might try one of those little gas heaters.
Can't really justify ducted heating, would be nice but think i've spent twice as much as the boats worth already. Was just worried about co and condensation as the cabin and even the rear deck where i had to slum it was running in condensation by the morning even with the cabin vent open and loads of air getting in around the canopy.
Did try dropping in the chatter on the rain drenched trip home that a larger boat with more head room and heating might be good for our next boat (grovel/grovel) but think it was falling on deaf ears.....for now 
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| df |
Posted - 13 Jun 2011 : 07:37:57
quote:
I am going to run heating off the engine in my 32. All thermostaticly controlled so the engine will start up and stop like a central heating boiler .
Thats a bad idea, an engine just firing up and idling till it's warm and stopping will soon glaze up the bores as well as peeing off everyone on the waterway when it keeps firing up in the middle of the night.
It's not hard or expensive to do the auto stop start bit, I have both of mine on a remote keyfob for in locks(it was a pub planned thing), but just to run heating is daft.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
| ken cattell |
Posted - 13 Jun 2011 : 00:28:00
Well done Knighty,
glad you are making the most of the new engine.
I camped in the trailer tent last night down the farm alongside the Thames, I thought I was going soft with it being that cold in June so pleased it wasnt just me.
Those heaters are good, we have a couple in use in the large warehouse area of the Camping/Outdoor activities shop I work in and that price is better than I can get with staff disscount. I will be taking at least one on the Conquest for nights like last night when its finished. Just dont use them in a closed environment. Mainly for CO reasons also condesation build up. Like everything else, used in line with makers recomendationns and common sense you will be ok.
CO monitor/alarm helps as well.
Hope the guitaring going well also.
K |
| kev13 |
Posted - 13 Jun 2011 : 00:04:49
would you Care to share how this setup works stratford4528 what starts the engine? Doesn't the ignition for the engine have to be left on? |
| stratford4528 |
Posted - 12 Jun 2011 : 23:36:13
Stratford on avon. I was born 4 miles from there and built my narrow boat many years ago just above bishopton bridge on the canal.I am going to run heating off the engine in my 32. All thermostaticly controlled so the engine will start up and stop like a central heating boiler . |
| df |
Posted - 12 Jun 2011 : 23:24:19
It was indeed chilly last night, so we phoned the eberspacher before ordering another pint and it was toasty by the time we got back to the boat, thats not helping is it?
Webasto diesel heaters will let you get a cheap 24volt unit and run it through a laptop adaptor on 12 volt but eberspachers apparently won't do it, appologies to Deano as I stitched him up with duff info on that one and he wound up with a useless 24v unit, we had a webasto on my old norman 25 and it worked a treat like it, mikuni also do one but I have no info on those, I have heard the propex ones are very thirsty on gas.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
| Deano |
Posted - 12 Jun 2011 : 22:56:09
Hot water bottles??? Old fashioned stone ones work well....
Put the cooker on?? Warm up old bricks in the oven and wrap in a towel????
Other than that, to keep within the BSS you are looking at Propex or Eberspacher ducted warm air heating. Big bucks!!!
I would be concerned about carbon monoxide and condensation with a portable gas heater.
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 30 "Silver Gem"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
| trevork |
Posted - 12 Jun 2011 : 21:36:14
I had the same warmth, or lack of it, on my 23. I got a small gas heater that uses cannisters at about a £1 each and they lasted for about 3 - 4 hours. Very welcome in the circumstances you describe and even cheaper nowadays. |
