Running the engine at night to get heat

[Two killicks]

Hello, this week we are going to go on a 5 days trip and the weather up here will be close to the freezing point at night. What I am wondering is if I let the engine run all night on idle to get heat in the cabin, is the engine idle already set up to be in the proper RPM range so it will burn it's fuel properly or can i adjust the idle so that it run in fast idle?

 

[knotflying]

I would bring blankets and avoid running the engine all night. In my opinion, being at idle that long or even raising the rpm with no load is not a good thing. And then there is always the carbon monoxide issue.

 

[Irish Mist]

If you need heat through the night I would run the engine for a 1/2 hour or so to warm things up . Not all night . More blankets is best answer . I have used catalytic tent heaters that run off propane that don't give off emissions.. They give off moisture but would heat me out of my 29 Sea Ray .. I would leave a hatch part open... But regardless I would not run engine all night .

 

[Crewdog]

Carbon monoxide is a statistic maker.

I'd get a good 0 degree rated double sleeping bag and some polar weight longjohns, then I'd be thankful to wake up before the Admiral and have some hot coffee ready.

Then start the engine for some warmth.

 

[Binare]

then I'd be thankful to wake up before the Admiral and have some hot coffee ready.

Probably the most important part!

 

[Irish Mist]

Waking up is key.. 🙂

 

[Two killicks]

Sounds good guys, extra blanket it is! Thanks for your input!

 

[Two killicks]

then I'd be thankful to wake up before the Admiral and have some hot coffee ready.

Probably the most important part!

This is so true indeed!

 

[Irish Mist]

Wanted to add. If you have a candle burning at night You will be surprised how much moisture it takes out of the air and surprisingly makes things a lot warmer... Of course if it is a bumpy night at anchor you may want to put it in the sink or not use at all but it does make a big differance
The cold nights bring you closer 😉

 

[SGIDAVE]

Wanted to add. If you have a candle burning at night You will be surprised how much moisture it takes out of the air and surprisingly makes things a lot warmer... Of course if it is a bumpy night at anchor you may want to put it in the sink or not use at all but it does make a big differance
The cold nights bring you closer 😉

Woe woe, hold on.

A burning candle, in your example, does not consume moisture (water vapor). To my knowledge, combustion of ANY substance likely to be used a fuel in a boat USES OXYGEN and PRODUCES water (vapor). Warm air holds more water (vapor); but the uninsulated pilot house walls/ceiling will remain at near-ambient temps (remember it's cold outside in our example) so it will become wet with condensation more rapidly due to the production of water vapor.

Any un-vented flame (or combustion source) will do this. Produce water vapor and CO2 whilst consuming oxygen.

I'm not saying you can't have a candle, just want to let you know it WILL increase the humidity in your cabin same as any other flame.

dave

 

[Irish Mist]

Thanks for the clarification I knew the propane heaters added lots but didn't realize candles do as well... Not sure how or why and maybe it is just a mental thing but in my two previous boats that were without all the creature comforts I have now, It made a huge differance.

 

[knotflying]

Also, humans breathing introduces vapor in the air. Remember sitting in your car with your girlfriend in the winter and the Windows would fog up. 😳

 

[Irish Mist]

Oh that was from breathing?? 🙂

 

[BradOwens]

Hello There,

One trick I've used on many winter camping trips is to warm a frying pan, then rub it over the sheets before going to bed. The bed will be warm and toasty when you get in, and with a good comforter, your body heat will keep it that way all night. Just don't get the pan too hot or you'll singe the sheets and melt the foam mattress!

You may also want to consider putting a cast Iron griddle on the stove and leaving it on low all night. The hot griddle will radiate heat into the cabin and serve as a guard to cover the flames. Of course any open flame consumes oxygen, so leave the window closest to the stove open a crack.

Finally, if you're considering a lot of winter overnights, you may want to install a bulkhead mounted solid fuel heater. I've never seen one on a Ranger Tug, but a lot of sailboats use them and it's a pretty simple do it yourself installation, although you do need to cut a hole in the cabin top for the chimney. Cheaper than a diesel furnace, and safer than running your engine all night.

Safe Cruising! 🙂

 

[bbrh842]

Fill a stainless steel thermos with boiling water, and put it under the covers at the foot of the bed.

 

[workingdogs]

I had the same problem . I already had the quiet Honda generator, so I topped it off and pointed the exhaust away from the door and used a ceramic cube heater in the cabin . Those types of heaters are quite safe in close quarters because they don't have any hot spots and its a very even heat . The generator will run it for about 6 hours . The ambient heat when it shuts down is enough to be tolerable in the morning .