i really cant imagine having a canal live-aboard boat without a stove!
a sf stove may create some dust,but is must be the most versatile heating of all.
when the weather is cool enough to have just a bit of heating on,a stove can be lit with a "small fire" within
i leave the majority of the ash in place,leang only a 4" circle of grating exposed,half a dozen or so briquettes of coal will burn slowly and maintain a pleasant background heat for swveral hours.
i have considerable experience in the marine industry,and have installed,and repaired literally hundreds of webasto,eberspacher,and mikuni heaters.
they all have one factor in common,they are expensive to service and repair,and they all GO WRONG!
diesel "drip feed stoves ane boilers are o.k.,but they always seem to smell of diesel fuel
i have a mikuni hot air system as "boost" heating,this is only ever used when ambient temperatures are well below zero or if the boat is underway and doors are left open whilst operating locks etc.
a boating friend describes an sf stove as "caveman t.v."!and i think that lokoing at the flame pattern after one has just got back on board at the end of a cold day,is both relaxing and invigorating.