Cold Snap Question

[Ken W]

So...the weather man says we're in for a cold snap in Port Angeles, Washington with lows of 16F for a few days. My un-winterized R31S, Tough Guy, lives in a boat house at Port Angeles Boat Haven. So, my question is whether or not it's safe/advisable to run the Wesbasto heater at it's low setting for a few days. I'm not really concerned about fuel burn, just whether it's OK to run for a few days at a stretch. The water heater is on (shore power) and I have a small heater in the engine bay.

 

[Salty7]

If you are asking if the Webasto heater is rated to run for an extended period the answer is yes. If you are asking if it is safe to run in an enclosed boat house the answer is no due to the exhaust gasses from the diesel fired furnace. How much electricity is available for you in the boat house in terms of amps? If you have sufficient power you might consider adding an electric heater like the True North Caframo heater in the cabin, you are already using quite a bit of power with the water heater on so measure your current draw carefully. Is there heat in the boat house and if so what is the temperature in there? If no heat inside, you might like to consider winterizing the boat. The problem with being dependent only on electricity is that sometimes it goes off and then what is the back-up plan? The subject of winterizing is lengthy and has been covered many times on Tugnuts, let us all know if you have any other questions about it but please don't run engines or diesel furnaces in enclosed spaces, that can kill you.

 

[Karll]

I put a small heater in my engine room that works on a controller. I also put a small heater on low plugged into a temperature cube in the cabin underneath the dinning room table in the cabin. It is set to come on at 39 and go off at 54. My boat is also in a boat house in Anacortes.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

buy this
https://www.amazon.com/Caframo-Engi...keywords=caframo+heater&qid=1578688002&sr=8-4

run the cable to the engine bay through the bulk head into the cabin so you can leave the outside hatch closed.

remove the outside and inside tap sprayer head as tiny water drops will freeze and break these. i lost both the first year

I also run two of these in the cabin

https://www.amazon.com/Caframo-Limi...keywords=caframo+heater&qid=1578688182&sr=8-6

 

[yorangerjim]

Well as Mr. Salty7 suggests if in doubt WINTERIZE better hurry up I agree.

 

[knotflying]

If you do the heater route in the cabin open all cabinet doors and openings to allow heat to infiltrate areas. If it were me I would winterize.

 

[Flatliner]

Karll, I presume that your using a “thermo cube” to control your heater. I’ve used them to control greenhouse heaters and I always test them before I install them for the season. I’ve had them fail which makes the spouse really unhappy. As another layer of indication I use Clear Lighted-End Grounding Adapters ($2 each at TureValue) to be sure I’ve plugged them into a live outlet. Stay warm, sounds like the Bellingham WA version of a Nor’easter from the Fraser river valley is coming.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

With the upcoming weather I winterized the water system yesterday in addition to the engine and cabin heaters. (My inboard boat is in the water.)

Historically I hadn’t thought about putting a second caframo heater in the outside locker where the water heater is. Might consider that next year.

 

[Karll]

Karll, I presume that your using a “thermo cube” to control your heater. I’ve used them to control greenhouse heaters and I always test them before I install them for the season. I’ve had them fail which makes the spouse really unhappy. As another layer of indication I use Clear Lighted-End Grounding Adapters ($2 each at TureValue) to be sure I’ve plugged them into a live outlet. Stay warm, sounds like the Bellingham WA version of a Nor’easter from the Fraser river valley is coming.

Thanks and yes, I have tested everything and went back down today to double check. It sure is windy today looking out over Rosario Straits.