Heating a boat house...

[Kelsey]

I have built a "house" for my wooden 26' Chris Craft. It's made out of 2x4's, and shrink wrapped. I cut out ventilation holes at the peaks, and added a door. Any suggestions on a safe way of heating while I am working in there? There's plenty of room, and electrical power (it's at a Marina...$$$$$$ ouch!). I have been using a small electric heater just to take the edge off, but I was considering using a kerosene heater to heat more of the space. What are you guys using to keep you warm this winter?!

[Concordia..41]

We use a propane heater that mounts on a 20# propane bottle. There are two models, one single heater and one with two heaters. We have the one with just the single heater and it works very well down here. We are not totally enclosed so there is no issues with having to vent the space. It is the first thing I do when I get to the boat on those cold mornings. Just screw the left-hand threaded nut to the tank and tighten, turn the valve to high heat, hold in the pilot button and light. We got it Home Depot.

We also have a Coleman that attaches to the top of the small camp size bottle. I don’t like it as much as it does not have the pilot and does not shut off if knocked over. We never leave them UN-attended.

Dave

[wolfietuk]

Dave,
How much heating do you have to do in St.Auguatine LOL. Seriously though I am wanting to take my boys camping there this spring, butiful place.

Kelsey,
I have several heaters at work. I have found the Propane ones are cleaner,but more expensive. Kerosene jet tube are the choice for economically heating my shop. Depending on the size of the area a small convection heater may be your best bet. It wont be as fast as a jet tube but not as noisy and gets about 8 hours on 2.5 gallons.

Rick

[imported_Daniel]

What Rick said. I too ahve found kerosene to be much cheaper to run than propane, although the original cost of the unit is more, it will save you a pile of money over the years. I also buy my kerosene from a bulk pump, about half the cost of buying it in jugs from the hardware store.

[Ed Harrow]

There's an obvious problem here with a simple solution. Ya gotta work harder. ;)

I spent a goodly portion of today in "Our Lady".
Jeans, wool socks, deck shoes, river-driver shirt, flannel shirt,sweatshirt, down vest. No artificial heat and not too cold.

[Donn]

Flannel lined jeans, t-shirt, 200# fleece pullover, insulated coveralls, light sox in insulated boots. 2 hours on the Garvey, and 3 in the garden. Only my nose was cold, but it was windy.

[Redonebyme]

I use an oil filled electric heater in my boat while working on it, no sparks. No exposed flame, I wouldn't want any explosions.

[paul oman]

Hello:

we run our business from the basement of our home in central New Hampshire. Have used all kinds of heaters, wood burning, kerosene/electric, etc. Now have about four of those screw on burners that fit on the 20 pound propane tanks. They are great! no odor, lots of heat, easy and cheap to run.... I added yet another one this year....

paul

[frameshop]

Originally posted by Kelsey:
I have built a "house" for my wooden 26' Chris Craft. It's made out of 2x4's, and shrink wrapped. I cut out ventilation holes at the peaks, and added a door. Any suggestions on a safe way of heating while I am working in there? There's plenty of room, and electrical power (it's at a Marina...$$$$$$ ouch!). I have been using a small electric heater just to take the edge off, but I was considering using a kerosene heater to heat more of the space. What are you guys using to keep you warm this winter?!Kelsey. Take a look at my "boat house" I use the term loosley, but I am in the same climate as you and this works fine for me. I built a Haven 12 1/2 in the same type of shed and that took much longer. I have a hole through the 6mill covering to use outside air and I get out as often as I need. I use a 60,000btu ready heater from home depot burning deisel fuel and it runs fine on that. The rest of my construction photos are over there at image station under- Building the cuddy cabin 24-. Roger
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid46/paa4a2bfba07855e1e6a68a273413425a/fccb4789.jpg.orig.jpg :cool: http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4291403401&p=4241180553&idx=41

[ 01-14-2003, 01:04 PM: Message edited by: frameshop ]

[Kelsey]

Frameshop,
The picture never made it...could you re-post it? I am just wondering where I would position such a heater on the boat. There is really no room on the ground...I don't want it too near the gas tanks...but I don't want it too near the shrink wrap boathouse walls either..where do you have yours?