Heater

mthieme

mthieme

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Oct 6, 2007
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I didn't know exactly where to post this, but I had another stupid idea and it just seemed fitting.
The stripers have busted loose the past week or so and it's 35 degrees out.
Sure would be nice to have a heater in the ol' 'Ray.
I had this (stupid-?) idea this morning about getting a car heater core - sticking it up under the wheel and running some hoses from the motor up to it. At least I could put my hands on it every once in a while.
Is this another one of those ideas I should dismiss. Has anyone come up with a safe way to keep warm in an open boat?
 
ziggy

ziggy

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Jun 30, 2004
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Re: Heater

i like the idea... they do make rv heaters that are just a box... complete with a fan... i think the drawback would be if ya had a raw water cooled system. and getting the heater hose spliced in to the system where theres warm water at. + the long hose run up to the helm... maybe oops knows. i think i read he was gonna be hip to heat in his new extended rig...
i'm sure i've read on some website about boat heaters though. can't remember where though....

when ya get it figured out. let us know. i want one too... ;)

edit.... don't seem like a stupid human trick to me... more like a boating topic....:D
 
Last edited:
mthieme

mthieme

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Re: Heater

I'm fresh water cooled. Just put fresh anti-freeze in her this year.

The cab heater looks like the ticket...maybe it wasn't such a lame brain idea after all. I look closer at this in spring.

Another thing that crossed my mind is being able to cruise the rivers at Xmas checking out the decorations. Many sailboats have lights running up the rigging and most people put more attention into the waterfront than the roadside.
 
wildmaninal

wildmaninal

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Re: Heater

I seen a neat little heater down at our local O'Reilly's just a few days back. I can't remember if it is battery operated or if it plugs into the cigarette lighter. My father and I was talking about how that would be good for these older vehicles that no longer have heat. Might be a good thing to have with ya on the boat. If ya don't have an O'Reilly's around you might be able to check out their website or maybe another autoparts store has them as well.
 
mthieme

mthieme

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Re: Heater

I won't go the electric route...the gas tank is up under the bow, plus I have this thing about not being able to get a jump start in the middle of the bay.
thanks tough.
 
wildmaninal

wildmaninal

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Re: Heater

That's why I try to carry 3 batteries and a battery booster just in case, and no I don't have an extra 2 batteries for anything 24 volts, everthing is 12 volts on my boat.

Don't get me wrong it is your choice. I personally wouldn't worry about the gas tank, but at the same time if I was going to purchase one of those heaters (that I mentioned) for myself I would study up on them first. Now I'm going to half to study up on them because I'm thinking about buying one :rolleyes::p.
 
mthieme

mthieme

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Re: Heater

I appreciate it. If it happens, it will be at least spring. So I have time.
This'll give me something to ponder and research during hibernation.

Having the ability to easily remove it in summer is going to be a factor too.
The 'Ray is only 19'.
 
NoKlu

NoKlu

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Feb 23, 2008
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Re: Heater

I don't think the 12 volt heater is going to do much for you on a cold day.I had one in the back window of an old car I had and it would barely defrost the window. Those cab heaters will throw a lot of heat and can easily be removed. It only takes a couple of screws to mount them and with T's in the lines you could remove everything and cap the T's in a mater of minutes.
 
mthieme

mthieme

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Re: Heater

I already working on the plumbing design in my head.
I could run copper pipes tucked up in the port gunnel - everything else is run up the starboard side, tee off of the appropriate hoses with some plastic ball valves...
 
dingbat

dingbat

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Nov 20, 2001
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16,313
Re: Heater

Heading out in the morning after them striped rascals. Supposed to be in the mid 20's by the time we leave the dock.

A lot of guys are using a Heater Buddy.
 
R

rightcoastrob

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Jun 18, 2008
Messages
101
Re: Heater

And here i though i was the only one to heat with a flame on the boat lol.I do use one on ocassion i hang it on my door for my cabin to warm my hands.It works under some situtations wind will blow them right out or it messes with a sensor and makes it shut off.A good shock to the hual will also make them go off as will just big swells.I use mine for ice fishing also they do kick the heat pretty nice and will run on low for about6 or 8 hrs and on high about 4 hrs.Its a fairly safe lil heater plus you can hook a 20 lb tank up to if you like.I,m not so sure how the coast guard would feel about it tho im sure they frown on open flame heating....
 
rolmops

rolmops

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Feb 24, 2002
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Re: Heater

If you want to get some good heat ,you should invest in a heat exchanger.That way your engine will produce as much heat as a car engine does and you will be able to take your boat on the brine without having to worry about ruining your manifolds
Once you run your engine on a heat exchanger with thermostat,you can use a car core with fan and get as much heat as you want.
 
ziggy

ziggy

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Jun 30, 2004
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Re: Heater

If you want to get some good heat ,you should invest in a heat exchanger.
Click to expand...
what about us folks that already got raw water cooled. our blocks are all full of rust... won't that finish off a closed system in pretty short order (fill up the raw water side of the exchager with rust and plug it up) if ya switch over to freash water cooled? then yer hosed... if i started with a new engine... yeah, for sure...

i only got a nineteen foot boat. i just want a little heat, i'm fully enclosed when i'd want to use it... i'm gonna have to think about this one.. http://www.foreandaftmarine.com/RP-MPSL581.htm
13A draw.... i just need a shade of heat on them 55* mornings for the type of boating i do. can't rembember the formula. but i suppose ya'd need to run yer engine to be safe (which also puts off heat) if ya only had one batt. like i do.....
 
wildmaninal

wildmaninal

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Re: Heater

ziggy said:
i'm gonna have to think about this one.. http://www.foreandaftmarine.com/RP-MPSL581.htm
13A draw.........
Click to expand...

Yep that's the style unit I'm talking about, might not be the exact brand but might be a better unit then the one I seen at O'reilly's.

I noticed when viewing allot of the descriptions on these little heaters that a majority say that they are not for heating the cab of a vehicle, they are mainly use for defrosting the windshield. I bet allot of people without heat in their vehicles do use them to keep them warm though.

They also have some of these cigarette lighter heater with BTU numbers on them, one that I seen was a 600 BTU heater. If all ya was wanting to do is get your hands warmed up or even stick your face in front of it for a moment then I believe the cigarette lighter heater would be the way to go.
 
Expidia

Expidia

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Aug 26, 2006
Messages
2,368
Re: Heater

Any open heat source in a small rig scares me.

I bought a pair of mittens that has a zipper on the top which you slip those little heat packets into. They stay warm for many hours and I've found them in stores at the check out counter for like 50 cents each.

I use them when I go skiing too. Also great for sticking into the toe area of boots.

Most of the time when you are dressed properly for cooler weather it's only your extremities that get cold. Those heat packets work great.

And no need for open flames or devices that throw off carbon monoxide.
 
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