Help! Too Cold, Condensation, Sick, Need Info

[seandepagnier]

As stated above, you need dry heat. A wood stove can be built from free scrap materials (empty gas bottle and steel pipe) and I have also run electric heat from a wind generator during storms, but this is not really possible most of the time.

[sparrowhawk1]

Originally Posted by smaarch

Maryland in November?
Sorry champ you don't know what winter is
All Respect.

Yeah but basically living outside it was pretty damn cold. especially for someone who lived in Florida for about 20 years

[onestepcsy37]

totally forgot to mention this. we sail florida/bahamas, but in the winter you can have some cold nights in central florida. after trying a small propane heater, we tried something completely different; an infrared bulb.

they come in some pretty big sizes, like 250 watts, the kind they use in bathrooms to dry you off after a shower. but they also come in smaller sizes, like 50 watts, to heat terrariums and reptile cages. we used a 150 watt bulb.

basically you put the bulb in a clamp device and plug it in to your inverter or onboard ac. then just move it around to wherever you are at the moment. the only thing you don't want to do is look at the bulb; not good for your eyes. we kept it in the salon in the evening and over the berth at night. didn't keep it on all the time, just let it heat up the room and then shut it down until we decided it was cold again.

the 250 watt bulb would probably draw 24 amps an hour, the 50 watt bulb maybe 5 amps an hour. so the limiting factor is how much battery reserve you have and how well can you recharge them.

here's one, but there are others. just go to home-depot or lowes....

Amazon.com: Fluker's 5.5" Repta Clamp Lamp with Switch: Pet Supplies

[sparrowhawk1]

I totally forgot about this too. It definitely works. Well the drawbacks are. I don't think they have a very long life. And if you want it in your bedroom be prepared to sleep in sunlight. But for a low amperage heater I don't think it can be beat

[boatman61]

Can see a lot of posters have not a clue about the OP's situation..
I spent Dec/Jan and Feb on the hook in NC, Oriental and Taylors Creek, Beaufort... snow and ice on the deck and no heating.
Days were okay but come sunset it was into the dinghy and ashore to the 'Backstreet Pub' and a roaring log fire where I would nurse as few beers as possible till the bar closed then head back to the boat... light the stove and boil a kettle while I quickly readied the bed in the salon.. make a coffee then under the duvet... mornings it was light the stove from the bed.. 4 coffees later it was just about warm enough to get out and dressed...
Then I tried the aluminium tray barbecue... man it was great... kept the salon warm for 3hours... what I saved in beer paid the coupla dollars for the heat..
Its great talking heaters when you've the cash to buy... but when you don't... you make do..

[onestepcsy37]

boatman61, could you explain that 'aluminum tray barbecue'? do you mean a charcoal fueled barbecue? what about smoke/carbon monoxide? how would you set it up?

charcoal is widely available and cheap here and i know that a small stack would burn for at least a couple of hours. might be a possible alternative....

[smaarch]

Originally Posted by sparrowhawk1

Yeah but basically living outside it was pretty damn cold. especially for someone who lived in Florida for about 20 years

UH?
.........

[smaarch]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Can see a lot of posters have not a clue about the OP's situation..
I spent Dec/Jan and Feb on the hook in NC, Oriental and Taylors Creek, Beaufort... snow and ice on the deck and no heating.
Days were okay but come sunset it was into the dinghy and ashore to the 'Backstreet Pub' and a roaring log fire where I would nurse as few beers as possible till the bar closed then head back to the boat... light the stove and boil a kettle while I quickly readied the bed in the salon.. make a coffee then under the duvet... mornings it was light the stove from the bed.. 4 coffees later it was just about warm enough to get out and dressed...
Then I tried the aluminium tray barbecue... man it was great... kept the salon warm for 3hours... what I saved in beer paid the coupla dollars for the heat..
Its great talking heaters when you've the cash to buy... but when you don't... you make do..

That's all great.......and I've been there/done the same....and worse... but this sounds a little bit different.
OP sounds like he needs to get off his/her...boat.
I was under the impression this was Boston? Am i mistaken?

Anyhow: the weather on the Northeast has broken for a few days.
I hope the OP is okay....but we haven't heard from him/her.....

one day we will have a beer

[sparrowhawk1]

Originally Posted by smaarch

UH?
.........

What don't you understand. Living on a unheated boat is no warmer than living outside

[smaarch]

oh...okay.... yeah Florida is cold....

[sparrowhawk1]

Originally Posted by smaarch

oh...okay.... yeah Florida is cold....

Maryland in March. ice. freezing temperatures re read my posts.

[smaarch]

Oh you definitively upped the ante..... Maryland. Thanks for that. I'll look up the post.

[Steve Bean]

Do not burn charcoal indoors! Unless it's in a stove vented to the outside.

[liveaboardL]

My battery is low & the clouds & lack of sunshine haven't helped, so I just got to reading all these. Thanks for the great advice. Glad to my options & the dangers involved. I love the idea for an infra-red bulb. They have infra-red LEDs now too.
LiveaboardL

[a64pilot]

IR LEDs have been around for a LONG time, look at a TV remote, unfortunately there is essentially no heat there. All form of electric heat require lots of electricity, in other words shore power in your case. Best bet is to get a good sleeping bag to stay warm, and go to warm places if possible to warm up and just get out of the depression of being locked into a small enclosed, cold space.
Don't burn anything in the boat without ventilation, but charcoal is particularly bad, any smoldering fire is, charcoal kills many every year that are trying to stay warm.