Low tech, simple heater

[thinwater]

Use the stove, with this conversion. A very small fan, on low, to distribute the heat helps. I use this in the winter. All it leaves in the summer is a 1-inch flue, and removal requires only a cotter pin (between the copper flue and the flex pipe). It puts out about the same amount of heat as a Dickson Cozy Cabin heater. Courtesy of Good Old Boat Magazine.

[I use this on my trimaran, not the PDQ, which has installed heat.]

https://goodoldboat.com/diy-sailboat-cabin-heater/

[nwdiver]

Terracotta flower pot inverted over a burner on low, use a large one, it’s the surface area, of course you need a propane stove.

[Kettlewell]

Or, just bake something like muffins or dinner in the propane oven. Warms up the boat nicely.

[wrwakefield]

When use of one of the main heaters is overkill, an Aladdin brand oil lamp is just right.

Why Aladdin? They are unique in that they use both a wick and a mantle. Because of the mantle they put out light and heat like the pressurized mantle camping lanterns- but without the need to pressurize the fuel reservoir. Also, they burn very clean because of the catalytic action of the mantle. [Difficult to cause sooting…]

They aren’t necessarily cheap, however…

If you go this route, mind the precaution of commissioning a new mantle outdoors. [Light new mantle and it burns off in a few seconds- like the pressurized camping lantern mantles. Then take it inside and light the lantern… Why? They use- or at least used to use- Strontium in the mantle treatment that gets burned off before first use…]

Definitely a bright, portable, and beautiful way to provide heat.

FWIW

Cheers, Bill

PS: While they still need ventilation to be used indoors, I find scentless lamp oil or low scent mineral spirits [often the best value] burn clean with very little residual odor typically associated with a kerosene lamp.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by captain69

https://www.northerntool.com/product...propane-177649
Not as romantic as a kerosene lamp, but might do what you need—Especially if combined with an electric throw blanket.

Coleman stopped making those in the 80's. ... after the law suits

[Jim Cate]

Why? They use- or at least used to use- Strontium in the mantle treatment that gets burned off before first use…]

Actually they contain(ed) Thorium, not Strontium. Thorium is a naturally radioactive element which emits alpha particles. It has an extremely long half life (around half the age of the universe!) and is not hazardous in the mantle application.

Jim

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by wrwakefield

When use of one of the main heaters is overkill, an Aladdin brand oil lamp is just right...

... If you go this route, mind the precaution of commissioning a new mantle outdoors. [Light new mantle and it burns off in a few seconds- like the pressurized camping lantern mantles. Then take it inside and light the lantern… Why? They use- or at least used to use- Strontium in the mantle treatment that gets burned off before first use ...

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Coleman stopped making those in the 80's. ... after the law suits

Interesting.

According to ‘Mother Earth News” [1982]:
...the fabric that will eventually form the small rayon
mesh pouches is dipped into a solution of thorium and
cerium nitrates. The nitrates are then precipitated into
the cloth with ammonia, and–after it’s
dried–the mantle is coated with nitrocellulose, which
fixes the ammonia salts and improves the pre-burning
capability of the material. Occasionally, a manufacturer
will also add a small amount of beryllium to give the ash
greater strength.
However, it’s the thorium in the mantle that incandesces
and gives off the functional white light..
... The manufacturers of lanterns and mantles (Coleman and
Aladdin are the largest of such firms) are well aware of
thorium’s radioactive properties, since they must be
licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to possess
and process the material and, furthermore, are required to
label bulk shipments of the mantles as “radioactive” during
transport...
... The Physicist further advises that the initial pre-burning,
and all subsequent lighting, of mantles be performed in an
open area with adequate air circulation . . . and that only
after 15 to 20 minutes of burning should a mantle lamp be
brought into a closed environment...
... once the mantle is
lighted, most of the radium will boil off in the first 15
to 20 minutes, and the mantle won’t emit further beta
radiation until several days later . . . when Ra-224 is
produced by the decaying thorium.
Wagner suggests that if you light your lamp once a day, it
should be vented to the outdoors. If the lantern is used
continuously, however, venting is probably not necessary,
as the air change in the room should be adequate.
Much more ➥ https://www.motherearthnews.com/natu...-zmaz82ndzgoe/

[apoc]

I 2nd the Mr Heater. I use it most days in my basement and love it's portability to take on the boat. The O2 sensor is s pilot light that will go out before incomplete combustion and CO production start. I have personally verified the unit will shut off if knocked over.



The 1lb propane cans are a pain but they can be refilled. There is an optional hose that will let you run it for longer on a bigger tank. For 1lb tanks I get 6 hours at low heat, which is more than enough for my boat.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by apoc

...
The 1lb propane cans are a pain but they can be refilled. There is an optional hose that will let you run it for longer on a bigger tank...

FWIW:
1 LB. DISPOSABLE PROPANE CYLINDERS are labelled “Non Refillable”, and refilling them is illegal, and poses potential risks of fire, explosion, and personal injury.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, cautions the public to never refill ‘DOT 39' [or ‘TC-39 M’] cylinders, such as the 1lb. cylinders used for camping. These types of containers were not designed to withstand the stresses of emptying and refilling.
DOT 39 cylinders [or ‘TC-39 M’, in Canada] , of any size, are strictly non-refillable.
Hazmat incidents involving refilled ‘DOT 39' cylinders have occurred, including [at least] one fatality.
See ➥ https://www.globalhazmat.com/news/ri...ane-cylinders/


& ➥ https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulatory...pane-bottles-0
& ➥ https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/0f1b...s-june2016.pdf

[apoc]

I know, I'm a criminal mastermind.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by apoc

I know, I'm a criminal mastermind.

Crimes, like yours, often punish themselves.

[apoc]

[thinwater]

And of course, ABYC does not approve any non-vented heater.


Why would you want to be in the same room with the exhaust? Even with no CO, the extra CO2 and diminished O2 has got to be just unhealthy. No thanks.

[wrwakefield]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Actually they contain(ed) Thorium, not Strontium. Thorium is a naturally radioactive element which emits alpha particles. It has an extremely long half life (around half the age of the universe!) and is not hazardous in the mantle application.

Jim

Thank you Jim, for setting me straight.

I need to improve validating things I thought I remembered.

I apologize for any confusion my confusion may have caused…

Cheers, Bill

[wrwakefield]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Interesting.

According to ‘Mother Earth News” [1982]:
...the fabric that will eventually form the small rayon
mesh pouches is dipped into a solution of thorium and
cerium nitrates…

Thank you Gord… That article seems vaguely familiar from that era. It helps demonstrate I should not always trust my recollections.

Perhaps I need a [my first] tattoo: ‘Don’t believe everything you think you know…’

Cheers, Bill

PS: Digging a bit further I found reference claiming Aladdin ceased using Thorium in 2010- the results of a 7 year R&D improvement project:

Aladdin Lox-On mantle for the model 23A. Non radioactive material. Made in the Philippines. Production of the non-radioactive mantles began in 2010. There was a 7 year gap when new Lox-On mantles were unavailable from Aladdin.

The new mantles have been downgraded to 40 candlepower, 1/3rd less than the previous mantles.

In 2014 improvements were made to the mantle frame and the mantle bags became more uniform in size. The R-150 part number remains the same so there is no way to identify mantles with the new or older frame while still in the box