Which heating solution to go for?

[magnetman]

1 minute ago, Rod Stewart said:

You are a man with a plan that doesn't burden your children. Sail your sloop and all its crap into the middle of the Atlantic, and scuttle her. If you can't make it that far, just east of the Thames barrier might be an acceptable compromise.

Maunsell forts. 

[BilgePump]

2 minutes ago, magnetman said:

 

I've got endless random articles in my Boats. Not keen to burden the children so I will at some stage divest myself of all belongings and just get a sloop and sail it around the worlds. 

 

It is the only way to deal with the issue. 

 

 

 

 

But definitely keep the wood burner ! 

For all that lovey fallen ash and oak found towpath side in the Pacific 😉 

[magnetman]

Just now, Peugeot 106 said:

They won’t have or want any garages. All rented. I had to vacate one that was full to the roof and I have to admit I haven’t missed anything I had to take to the skip. But a lot of memories went

I bought an article on eBay once from a gentleman who had 17 sheds full of random items. Crazy hoarder. 

 

 

1 minute ago, BilgePump said:

For all that lovey fallen ash and oak found towpath side in the Pacific 😉 

Driftwood. Although it is known to rot out the fires because of the salt content. 

[Russ T]

Just now, Peugeot 106 said:

They won’t have or want any garages. All rented. I had to vacate one that was full to the roof and I have to admit I haven’t missed anything I had to take to the skip. But a lot of memories went

It is the responsible thing to do. Having just emptied a garage full of a lifetimes worth of crap belongings on behalf of a family member, its something all responsible adults should do.

[magnetman]

1 minute ago, Rod Stewart said:

It is the responsible thing to do. Having just emptied a garage full of a lifetimes worth of crap belongings on behalf of a family member, its something all responsible adults should do.

Yes I have been telling my mad sister this. She has old family shite in her garage. Clinging to a long past life. 

 

I avoid family shite like the plague. Other than the children. 

 

[Russ T]

5 minutes ago, magnetman said:

Maunsell forts. 

I would opt for the one just off Sheppey. Lovely moorings to be had along the Swale, then you could just nip around the northside, scuttle your boat and swim ashore.

[magnetman]

Just now, Rod Stewart said:

I would opt for the one just off Sheppey. Lovely moorings to be had along the Swale, then you could just nip around the northside, scuttle your boat and swim ashore.

I can use one of the pulling dinghies to get ashore. Not keen on swimming. 

[Russ T]

5 minutes ago, magnetman said:

Yes I have been telling my mad sister this. She has old family shite in her garage. Clinging to a long past life. 

 

I avoid family shite like the plague. Other than the children. 

 

Worse than that, some family members store horded shite, and pay for the privilige to keep it.

Edited January 11 by Rod Stewart

[magnetman]

Just now, Rod Stewart said:

Worse than that, some family members store horded shite, and pay for privilidge to keep.

She is effectively doing that. It is a remote garage which would be much better rented out to some local tree surgeon or something. She isn't allowed to drive because of the mental elf. 

 

Empty the garage and let it to some bloke to keep his gear in there. 

 

[Peugeot 106]

10 minutes ago, magnetman said:

bought an article on eBay once from a gentleman who had 17 sheds full of random items. Crazy hoarder. 

Did you store the article?
 

11 minutes ago, magnetman said:

Driftwood. Although it is known to rot out the fires because of the salt content

Driftwood doesn’t burn well and there is much more plastic at sea. You’d be better off with a furnace 

 

6 minutes ago, magnetman said:

I can use one of the pulling dinghies

Did the Jag, bell bottoms and shades not work then?

[magnetman]

The article has since been disposed of. 

 

Often the best place to store articles is in a bin. 

 

 

[IanD]

2 hours ago, OllieBlue said:

Hi Ian,

(OP I hope you don’t mind my piggybacking your post, but I hope my questions contribute more information).

Ian, what smart app do you use, if you don’t mind my asking? And Calorifier size? I’m assuming if the system switches on regularly, it doesn’t need to be too large as you would be getting a constant supply of hot water?
And with this system, does this mean you can leave the boat for even a couple of weeks during the winter, and it effectively takes care of itself, preventing pipe freezing etc?

Also wanted to know the length of your boat for additional solar panels? I have a 69 foot. It’s a 1990s boat and I am thinking of completely redoing the heating system. I currently have 5 radiators. I’d get a professional to do it but no idea who to ask and what to look for, so this reply has been very helpful, thank you.

I use the Nest app since that's the controller on my boat, but you could use anything else that does the same job. When cruising in the summer the heating doesn't come on, the calorifier is then heated by the generator (when it runs) so I want it to be big enough for a couple of showers (55l) and well enough insulated to stay hot overnight (it has double thickness insulation). I had a custom calorifier made with extra-large coils (~5kW each) so it heats up much more quickly than normal, half an hour heating or generator running is plenty.

 

I leave the boat unattended all winter and the heating comes on whenever the internal temperature drops below 4.5C, which only happens in really cold weather -- it comes on for about 20 minutes at a time, as many times per day as needed -- see plots from VRM (power) and Nest (heating per day). Typically uses about 2l of diesel per day for this when it's really cold, but nothing most of the time, so far it's used about 30l since I left the boat in mid-September.

 

The boat is 60' long and has 2.1kW of semi-flexible panels on the roof, but it was designed for this so there are no mushrooms/roof vents/dogboxes/skylights getting in the way, they cover most of the cabin. There are 3 "triple-column" radiators -- ~2kW in dinette/kitchen, ~1kW each in saloon/bedroom -- plus a big towel rail in the bathroom. They all heat up and warm up the boat quickly, even in cold weather.

 

[OllieBlue]

4 minutes ago, IanD said:

I use the Nest app since that's the controller on my boat, but you could use anything else that does the same job. When cruising in the summer the heating doesn't come on, the calorifier is then heated by the generator (when it runs) so I want it to be big enough for a couple of showers (55l) and well enough insulated to stay hot overnight (it has double thickness insulation). I had a custom calorifier made with extra-large coils (~5kW each) so it heats up much more quickly than normal, half an hour heating or generator running is plenty.

 

I leave the boat unattended all winter and the heating comes on whenever the internal temperature drops below 4.5C, which only happens in really cold weather -- it comes on for about 20 minutes at a time, as many times per day as needed -- see plots from VRM (power) and Nest (heating per day). Typically uses about 2l of diesel per day for this when it's really cold, but nothing most of the time, so far it's used about 30l since I left the boat in mid-September.

 

The boat is 60' long and has 2.1kW of semi-flexible panels on the roof, but it was designed for this so there are no mushrooms/roof vents/dogboxes/skylights getting in the way, they cover most of the cabin. There are 3 "triple-column" radiators -- ~2kW in dinette/kitchen, ~1kW each in saloon/bedroom -- plus a big towel rail in the bathroom. They all heat up and warm up the boat quickly, even in cold weather.

 

Thank you. Great information. And your boat sounds like a Beauty!

[IanD]

38 minutes ago, OllieBlue said:

Thank you. Great information. And your boat sounds like a Beauty!

Obviously I think so, but it has to be said that not everyone will agree -- and all this luxury didn't come cheap... 😉 

[LadyG]

I have a solid fuel stove with a back boiler.

There is a Webasto with radiators.

All my pipes are copper, the fat tubes keep everything warm and dry with no problems.

The last few nights it was -7C outside but +18C to 25c inside. The Webasto was running every few hours as well as the stove on full heat overnight.

I was iced in yesterday, looking out the window today the ice has thawed  in a ring round the boat.

I consider a back boiler and a good stove essential, plus the Webasto. Redundancy is essential if you are living on board. I would not choose a diesel stove and a diesel engine. If you get stuck somewhere you can always buy a few litres of diesel and a few bags of coal from a garage. 

When the Webasto is running it uses battery power, so a generator is required. I am frugal, I use the engine to generate with a 70 amp alternator, this is not a perfect solution.

I have the thermostat running the Webasto, boat is always warm whether I am on board or not.

If I had a widebeam and wanted control the heating I would probably have an additional stove, there are a few tiny ones.

The temptation is to choose things on cost, but you need to select quality., and reliability.

I am not sure if OP has ever done any boating,  ......

Edited January 11 by LadyG

[MtB]

3 hours ago, magnetman said:

Yes when I had a mass produced fire I did keep a spare glass but cracked it while fitting it. 

 

My preference is to keep a whole spare door. Swappable in five seconds, just lift it off the hinges then repair the broken one at your leisure. 

 

 

[Ex Brummie]

4 hours ago, MtB said:

 

My preference is to keep a whole spare door. Swappable in five seconds, just lift it off the hinges then repair the broken one at your leisure.  with freezing cold fingers after waiting for delivery of the new glass because you forgot all about it.

 

 

FTFY Mike!!!!

[magnetman]

Mica has always been a good material for the viewing windows on enclosed appliances. 

 

 

[MtB]

1 hour ago, magnetman said:

Mica has always been a good material for the viewing windows on enclosed appliances. 

 

 

I agree. I remember my parent's ParkRay stove had mica sheets in the door when I was a brat. 

 

Out of interest where are you getting it from? Ebay and Amazon don't seem to have it. The stuff they are flogging as mica sheet seems to be opaque.

 

 

[magnetman]

eBay

"stove mica" 

 

Obviously as it does not break one does not need to replace it often. My fire burns with the porthole open without smoke getting out so the transparency is not that critical. 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266136169622

 

 

This stuff is clear but won't usually be a replacement for glass in normal fires. 

 

 

 Glass display windows are part of the product attractiveness at point of sale rather than being particularly practical. 

 

 

[MtB]

6 minutes ago, magnetman said:

eBay

"stove mica" 

 

Obviously as it does not break one does not need to replace it often. My fire burns with the porthole open without smoke getting out so the transparency is not that critical. 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266136169622

 

 

This stuff is clear but won't usually be a replacement for glass in normal fires. 

 

 

 Glass display windows are part of the product attractiveness at point of sale rather than being particularly practical. 

 

Thanks! I was searching for "mica sheet".

 

But 4" x 3" though????? What sort of stove do you have with a window that small?!! 

 

 

[magnetman]

2 hours ago, MtB said:

 

Thanks! I was searching for "mica sheet".

 

But 4" x 3" though????? What sort of stove do you have with a window that small?!! 

 

 

Mica is no good for big windows. We put a 4 inch porthole on this fire. 

 

 

Seems to work ok although to be fair I probably could have got away with glass. I just don't like the combination of fire and glass. 

[Peanut]

3 hours ago, MtB said:

 

Thanks! I was searching for "mica sheet".

 

But 4" x 3" though????? What sort of stove do you have with a window that small?!! 

 

 

When I were a rug rat in the fifties, we had a stove, which I believe was a Parkray, it had four small mica wimdows in the door, about that size. When one developed a hole, dad had to replace it. They were semi opaque. You filled the stove through a hopper from the top. It was cast iron and stove enameled in a cream flecked colour.

[Russ T]

8 hours ago, Peanut said:

When I were a rug rat in the fifties, we had a stove, which I believe was a Parkray, it had four small mica wimdows in the door, about that size. When one developed a hole, dad had to replace it. They were semi opaque. You filled the stove through a hopper from the top. It was cast iron and stove enameled in a cream flecked colour.

 

Are you sure they weren't fourmica windows?

[GUMPY]

When we bought our last house it had a Parkray, it had a voracious appetite and would consume a 25kg bag of smokeless a day.

It didn't last long and was replaced before our first winter.