Clay Pot Cabin Heater

[RonaldJJames]

I'm looking for a way to heat my cabin in spring and fall. I have a 32' cat. I've read (in another forum thread dated 2001) that a clay pot inverted over a propane cabin stove would do the trick. (The clay pot warms up and distributes the heat.) We won't be sailing in the artic and I'm thinking of something to take the chill off.

Does anybody have any experience of this?
Any sizing guidelines?

Thanks

[Sailmonkey]

I've done this with a clay pot (it cracked though) and an aluminium pot for boiling shrimp. It does take the chill off, but since the stove is unvented it also adds to the dripping on the interior of the hull.

[FSMike]

It works. We used to turn on the flowerpot at the same time we made coffee. It's much more effective in a 26' monohull than a 45' catamaran though.

[DeepFrz]

A small vented heater will be much more effective and it will remove much of the dampness, which will keep you warm.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by FSMike

It works. We used to turn on the flowerpot at the same time we made coffee. It's much more effective in a 26' monohull than a 45' catamaran though.

Full agreement. Another downside of a big boat is that you can't get by with little boat trickery.

[tager]

This worked quite well on my 22' trailer sailor. I actually had a kerosene lantern with a pot inverted over the top. Then there was aluminum ducting going out the companionway hatch. Worked like a charm.

Maybe consider using a very large terracotta pot and aluminum ducting to route the exhaust up and out.

It is completely necessary to have at least a modicum of vent space on opposite ends of the cabin.

On my 26' mono this does almost nothing even when the temp is in the 40s and 50s F. I have a woodstove now. Matchlight charcoal works okay.

[Hydra]

I have seen this in a magazine, maybe ten years ago. Howerver, I am concerned about the production of carbon monoxide through lack of oxygen under the pot.

Then, it would probably be safer to replace the pot by a fire brick, which would
provide a better airflow and a fuller combustion.

Alain

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Hydra

I have seen this in a magazine, maybe ten years ago. Howerver, I am concerned about the production of carbon monoxide through lack of oxygen under the pot.

Then, it would probably be safer to replace the pot by a fire brick, which would
provide a better airflow and a fuller combustion.

Alain

It's just the stove; same impact and precautions as using a burner to make an omlette.

[pdxsailordiver]

When we had a Santana 28. We used a clay pot upright that was about half full of polished stones. That way it would hold the heat longer. We also used pot holders to help keep it in place.
Tim

[xsboats]

Originally Posted by Hydra

I have seen this in a magazine, maybe ten years ago. Howerver, I am concerned about the production of carbon monoxide through lack of oxygen under the pot.

Then, it would probably be safer to replace the pot by a fire brick, which would
provide a better airflow and a fuller combustion.

Alain

There is actually quite a bit of airflow under the clay pot due to convection currents. I've always used ones that have the drain hole in the bottom.

[Steve Pope]

Have done it but not very successfully on our 37 footer, also moisture from the propane was a down side. Am now looking at a 2nd hand Refleks diesel heater, unfortunately the burner pot is rusted out and the freight for a new one from Denmark is more that the price of the burner pot.

[MarcW]

Beware of which pot you use, we were tired up along side a yacht after a race and the pot exploded that night. Never seen sailors move so fast it was a norrow designed yacht with 6 crew no injurys other than a couple of small burns.

[FSMike]

I've never used a heated flowerpot for more than 30-40 minutes. It's just to take the edge off, it's not a substitute for a real heater. Anybody that would leave a stove burner running all night is asking for a Darwin Award.

[Islandmike]

We never used our pot for long periods of time, however, it was great for heating up the galley area in the morning.

[Boomp]

A clay pot...I'm going to try that. I usually just put on a burner w a kettle but the pot w stones sounds good.