Engine room heater - so I can get some work done!

[BobCT]

It hasn't been unbearably cold this year but cold enough that I'm not getting anything done. I have a propane heater which makes it nice and toasty out on the deck but the engine room never warms up.

I have an outlet right at the boat so thinking of an engine room heater which I can turn on a few hours/day before I'm going to do some work.

Anyone have a recommendation? If I can make it 50 or better that would be fine.

Thanks
Bob

[prowlersfish]

There are only 2 brands of engine room heaters that are safe to use , but they are pricey and I not sure how warm they will get as there made to prevent freezing

http://www.theboatsafe.com/

http://www.xtremeheaters.com/choose-engine-heater

[gitchisum]

If you can find a torpedo heater and figure out insulated ducting, it should be able to be left on dock, and blow enough into the ER to heat it up.

I would think it would need to run for awhile to get blocks to heat up.

[larryeddington]

I have three bilge heaters and all are designed to keep it about 40 degrees or so. I guess a torpedo heater is the same also called a salamander that is used a lot in the construction trades and to keep NFL tootsies warm when on bench. If I were to duct it which might cause problems it would be with metal ducting would melt anything else would melt and or burn. If you can start engines why not fast idle them to operating temperature, two heavy hunks of iron such as engines will not give up their heat rapidly and would help.

[mikeandanne]

Guys ,please be very safe with any type of fuel fired heating devices in regards to carbon monoxide, make sure you are ventilated and maybe have a CO monitor inside boat.......I am sure you are but I felt the need to mention anyway....Mike

[bjanakos]

Check out this post...

http://www.trojanboats.net/wforum/viewt ... f=1&t=8833

I asked a similar question about heating below deck and this is what this guy is doing to heat the salon, but CO is heavier than air and will collect in the bilge. I am also doing some glass work and hydrocarbons can affect the cure. If you have plenty of ventilation and you're not going to be laying down in there, you're probably OK.

I am more concerned with having a working temperature for curing epoxy than comfort so I put some halogen work lamps down there and 2 or 3 of them will spot-heat a small area. I would not go so far as to say that it will heat up below the deck. I am under the assumption that it's safer than an open flame or electric element heater in such close proximity to gasoline but I am still not confident enough to leave them overnight unattended. If you have diesels, you probably don't need to worry so much.

[gitchisum]

Winter Sucks!


There, I said it.

[mikeandanne]

Just some info....CO, carbon monoxide is actually lighter than air, only by a very small amount which tends to make it diffuse fairly evenly which makes it quite a killer...hard to alarm for it......Mike

[Sanctuary 2]

Have been using this one since January 8. It's been very cold here. No problems. Cord is not warm even though it been running a lot. Keep eng compartment about 40 deg on my f 26. Cost is half the others.

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?pa ... id=2530140

[bjanakos]

If you can start engines why not fast idle them to operating temperature, two heavy hunks of iron such as engines will not give up their heat rapidly and would help.

The problem most of us northern guys have is that the storage yards typically turn off the water during the winter.

[Barrie]

Hey bobct, if you, or anyone who lives close enough would like to borrow, I have a generator/heater that I got at an auction. It's used to heat man holes and utility tents. It's 5500 btu and runs on propane. You could set it on the deck or ground and run the 8" flex duct to the area you need the heat and your good to go.
It's a little dusty, I'm a bit of a hoarder, thankfully my wife is very understanding





My buddy Gunnerhttp://www.trojanboats.net/wforum/posting.php? ... f=1&t=8869#

[BobCT]

Barrie, thanks for the offer.., that looks pretty heavy duty. I think I might have a solution using the heater I already have. I got the "ah hah" moment when one of you mentioned flexible hose. I have a "'Big Buddy" unit made by Mister Heater. Propane powered and certified to run indoors. If the oxygen level gets too low it shuts down. It throws off an amazing amount of heat and I've been using it the past two winters specifically on the boat. It runs on one or two 1lb canisters or you can connect a 20llb tank.

I picked up a ductwork flange which I'm going to attach to the from grate and then run some 4" flex into the bilge. I'll try it this weekend.

Bob

[prowlersfish]

Barrie, thanks for the offer.., that looks pretty heavy duty. I think I might have a solution using the heater I already have. I got the "ah hah" moment when one of you mentioned flexible hose. I have a "'Big Buddy" unit made by Mister Heater. Propane powered and certified to run indoors. If the oxygen level gets too low it shuts down. It throws off an amazing amount of heat and I've been using it the past two winters specifically on the boat. It runs on one or two 1lb canisters or you can connect a 20llb tank.

I picked up a ductwork flange which I'm going to attach to the from grate and then run some 4" flex into the bilge. I'll try it this weekend.

Bob

Bob if you hook up your heater to ductwork the Low oxygen shut down WILL NOT WORK .

[Happy Ours]

And please do not forget the Scotch, preferabley single malt

[P-Dogg]

If the oxygen level gets too low it shuts down

What about high CO levels?