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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Poor man's cabin heat

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zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1316 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/22/2014 : 22:58:01

Somewhere in some long forgotten book or magazine I've read about heating the boat's cabin using an up-side-down 6" 15c/m clay pot on top of a stove. It is said that the clay pot will radiate nice dry heat.

Sounds like a nice and easy winter project.

Here are some thoughts and welcome any and all ideas/suggestions pro's or cons

Placing the clay pot of top of the one pit stove is easily done. To get rid of the hot and wet gas flame fumes inside the pot one will have to connect the pot to a 3/4" tube in order to vent the fumes to the outside of the cabin.

The shown clay pot bottom (top) has an 3/4" 2c/m hole to which an aluminum tube could be attached and sealed.

Routing and suspending an exhaust tube through the cabin on the way and somehow through the hatch needs a little consideration.

The heating system should be quickly and securely installed and after it cools down stored in sections.

Henk & Johanna
"Floating", a few off your "barnacles".
"Someday Lady" '95 C250WB #151 ('03 - 2016)
"Sea ya" 30ft Bayliner (04-2018 - 09-2018)
"Mariah" '96 C250WB #191 (05-2019 - 15-05-2023)
"Lady J" '00 C250WK #499 (05-2021 - 09-2022)

Edited by - zeil on 01/22/2014 23:44:32

csmcg
1st Mate

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96 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2014 : 08:02:55

The "Keep Turning Left" video blog from Dylan Winter has a presentation on this method of heating. Neat idea.

Regards

Edited by - on

ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2014 : 08:48:06

Saw youtube of this project. Looks like it has promise. Wonder if there is a nifty way of building a nicely fitted fire proof tray which could still provide ventilation which could be secured either to the compression post or the galley.

Vern Wright
Hajime

Edited by - on

ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2014 : 08:54:47

Also would the candles used as heating source in the "Boat Owners" site need venting? Would open door to head and opened head window or v-berth hatch be sufficient? (http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/)

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2014 : 08:58:05

That's an ooooold trick for an alcohol stove--not sure about doing it on propane or butane. But please do vent it outside. Alcohol produces significant amounts of CO. I know someone who did it without any vent--I'm glad they're still with us, but I don't take that as a sign that it's safe.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 01/23/2014 09:02:31

Tomas Kruska
Admiral

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Czech Republic
522 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2014 : 12:33:06

After a 5 minutes of reading that web, It got me thinking its more dangerous than effective heater.

More effective would be just to light the candles itself without any pots. In a small rooms like boats it would kill you - consuming O2 and releasing CO.

Sorry, but this does not work as expected. Save some money instead of buying beer packs and buy diesel heaters

Edited by - on

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1316 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2014 : 13:18:25

Thanks for the input...

We've used up to 4-8 candles during past cruises and trips. Works well and provides a measure of dry warmth but... in cold/wet/windy anchoring spots it would be nice to have, during the evening, a little more warmth and a better chance to dry out

One of those days when it is wet, windy and cold outside the cabin.

With the head's port window just cracked open enough fresh air should be available to ventilate the hot damp fumes inside the clay pot through the exhaust pipe to the outside. If this is insufficient more fresh air should come in through the cabin's sliding hatch.

Edited by - on

iwillnotsubmit
1st Mate

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64 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2014 : 08:17:25

I have never heard this trick before, until yesterday at Strictly Sail Chicago. The founder of Blue Water magazine was giving a seminar about cruising in the Bahamas and was relating how the nights got a little chilly. He said he used the clay pot method for many nights with no problems. I don't remember if he specified the fuel used, but he didn't say anything about venting.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5904 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2014 : 10:06:18

I saw a discussion of this subject on another sailing forum, and someone pointed out that putting a clay pot over the candle didn't add any btu's of heat. You got the same amount of heat simply by burning a candle. I think burning a candle or two might take off a bit of a chill, as long as you're careful, and don't leave them, burning after you go to sleep.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 01/26/2014 : 11:16:38

I think the idea is the pot disburses the BTUs better as radiant heat, and captures some water vapor and soot from the combustion. But I've never tried it.

Edited by - on

gottoaz
Deckhand

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7 Posts

Response Posted - 01/26/2014 : 19:34:03

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brHqBcZqNzE&list=TLxVstTTUAkgYVNXJX2W1dxUfajiEChadU

Copy and paste into your browser for the Dylan Winter You tube video csmg mentioned earlier. It actually looks like it might be pretty good under the right circumstances.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 01/26/2014 : 21:26:37

A tea light candle radiates about as much heat as a 50 watt lightbulb, or one adult human. The pot absorbs most of the light and radiates it as heat, but you've only got 50 watts no matter how you stack it. 10 candles would be similar to an electric space heater on low without the fan. I would definitely be installing a CO monitor in the unlikely event that I ever considered candle

Edited by - on

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1316 Posts

Response Posted - 01/26/2014 : 22:48:15

Thanks guys for your notes/suggestions/observations and concerns

The idea for this poor man's "heating system", is to use the boat's propane stove, without candles, and using a sectional 3/4" tube to expel fumes to the outside of the cabin.

Both the 6" clay pot as well as the aluminum exhaust tube should radiate dry heat while the propane fueled moist air is to be funneled to the outside.

The "poor man's stove" should be as safe as cooking dinner without having to deal with pounds (buckets), of exhaust water vapor.

We'll need to experiment with simply connecting and disconnecting the exhaust tube to the clay pot as well as to find a convenient and safe route for the exhaust tube to outside of the cabin.

We'll assume the, somehow suspended, tube to get very hot as well.

For easy storage after use the " heating system" will need to be compactly stored...

Need to decide the best route for the exhaust pipe from the clay pot out through the hatch... any ideas??

Edited by - on

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 01/27/2014 : 04:53:01

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-Portable-Buddy-Propane/dp/B002XXI608/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8& qid=1390822782& sr=8-5& keywords=heater big buddy

we use this heater , it works great , theres also a oxagen shut off and a hose you can connect to a larger tank .

we hang it by the sink facing forward ..it also fits under the seat on our wk when not in use ..it makes a nice fireplace .

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 01/27/2014 : 09:18:27

Hey Henk, are you forgetting Johanna? My first mate is a stove of considerable output all by herself... have you tried cuddling? I suppose a goal to be able to get out of bed without freezing is a good one though.

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Tomas Kruska
Admiral

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Czech Republic
522 Posts

Response Posted - 01/27/2014 : 12:06:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pastmember... have you tried cuddling? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1316 Posts

Response Posted - 01/27/2014 : 18:02:32

Dictionary
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">cuddle |#712;k#601;dl|
verb [ trans. ]
hold close in one's arms as a way of showing love or affection :| they were cuddling each other in the back seat. | [ intrans. ] the pair have been spotted kissing and cuddling.
• [ intrans. ] lie or sit close and snug : I love cuddling up in front of a fire | they cuddled together to keep out the cold.
noun
a prolonged and affectionate hug. Like hugging, cuddling makes the body release oxytocin, causing has various effects.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
We'll give it a try with renewed energy

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