Engine Room Heater

P

PromisesKept

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Joined
Jun 28, 2007
RO Number
27037
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We keep our boat in Hampton, Va where the winter has plenty of nice days to get out on the water.I know that this was talked about in the old forum but any recommendations on type and size of heaters for a 3860. I plan on one for the cabin & engine room.

Thanks,
Steve
 
For the engine room you could get away with a 600 watt unit for the cabin area I'm not sure I would even try. Are you trying to not winterize the water/waste system?

Keep in mind the boatsafe type heaters are just keeping the air space a few degrees above freezing, about 6 or 7 IIRC. In your cabin the pipes are behind the walls/floors and that 6 or 7 degrees will not be enough to keep your plumbing safe.
 
Rommer,
I am planning on not winterizing, I would drain the fresh water system as best I can by running out as much as possible and only fill when we are on the boat. My thinking is that with most of the water out expansion and burst pipes would not be a promlem.

Steve
 
Steve,

You should be a small air compressor and blow your lines out with air just to be sure. It's easy and cheap.

Chances are you will freeze your pipes atleast once, not good.

I showed Rommer the virtues of the air compressor last fall and he is sold on it now.

Jonathan
 
Yes.

Make sure you also crack open the fitting at the water pump to drain that as well.

You might want to put that heater next to your water tank if you have room.
 
Am also looking at extending the season here in Northern Virginia which is not quite as clement as Hampton. Notice engine compartment heaters from XTREME in latest BoatTest newsletter. Have you considered those?
 
The price of those heaters is pretty high IMHO.

BUT and this is a big BUT, for gas engines that is the only heater that has passed certification for being ignition protected. Having diesels I use a much cheaper non-protected unit as a backup heater even though I winterize it just gives me extra peace of mind.
 
Thanks Rommer. Your comments always a help and we appreciate you anchoring our new forum.
 
In my area, boatsafe is the heater of choice. I can only think of one person who winterizes his fresh water system that leaves his boat in the water. That is because he disappears in November and reappears in March. He does not winterize the engines He uses a boatsafe in the ER. The boatsafe heater is preset to go on at 45*F and off at 55*F. They recommend you have snap in canvas covers made for the ER vents to keep the breezes out. A friend keeps his Regal on a lift behind his house and has not had a problem in the last 2 years. He uses a boatsafe as well. Shy of the 1997 ice storm, you should have no problems at all. I am inland of you and plan on doing the same thing as you are. For the cabin, I am using a quartz heater and leaving storage compartment doors open. Boatsafe is the one ER heater I know of, but there may be others that operate as well. My tune would change if I lived in moose country.
 
David: Are you planning on draining the fresh water per Rommer's comments about the pipes behind the walls?
 
Have an Xtreme heater in between my twin 5.0s that works wonderful. The nice advantage of the Xtreme over the Boatsafe is it's much smaller and can be mounted in any position. It is factory set to go on at like 40 or 45 degrees and off at 50 I think. I'm in Charlotte, NC on Lake Norman. It seldom gets below the mid 40s in the day time and most of our winters are around 50 as a high during the day, teens or 20s at night. The lake never gets below 40 degrees, so no problems with the outdrive. I don't even drain my freshwater or A/C as I keep the reverse heat on in the winter at about 55. Uses some electricity, but then again when I get on the boat, I want it somewhat comfortable...crank that bad boy up to 70 and it's nice and toasty in mid January!

As for Rommer's comment about price...it does cost a pretty penny. Got it at West Marine for about $400 or so I think for the medium size one (up to 30-35 feet boat I believe)

Their website is Xtremeheater.com for information. What I found interesting is they have ZONES that the bilge heater will work in. Virginia south seems to be a safe bet. They say don't bother if your up north! :)
 
Lots of good info. One thing I will do if I see the weather is going to be really cold is go to the boat and run the engines till they reach normal operating temp 175. I was told that they will stay hot for 36 hours.
 
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