After the continual ebb and flow in the decision process, I am nearing the moment for making a choice on how to effectively heat the cabin or, should I say, cabins of our WS42.  While I don't want to worry this to a frazzle, I need to make the most effective, yet economical, decision possible.  I appreciate any input.

For the proper context, we are not currently living aboard, but that possibility does exist down the ways.  Our primary sailing area will be the East Coast with a Northeast concentration.  Initially, we'll cruise Maine and New England through early November.  At some point we may head south.  The cabin heater(s) would provide warmth and a means to dry the atmosphere inside the boat during rainy and/or raw days.  The heater(s) will need to cover the galley/dinette/salon and forward, as well as the aft cabin.

My considerations have included (1) diesel cabin heater in salon with propane unit in the aft cabin (e.g. Dickenson); (2) Propane units in both cabin areas (e.g. Dickenson p9000 and p12000); (3) Espar D5; and (4) hats, gloves, and blankets!  I did look at a solid fuel stove for the salon, but decided against it because of the fuel storage issues and the operational safety considerations if we only use it infrequently.  While we don't inhabit a marina slip during "normal" usage, we would engage those considerations should living aboard become a reallity:  in that case supplemental heating options exist.

Currently, option 3 is holding sway, and option 4 gets a facetious nod.  Option 3 has the heaviest initial cost and promises to occupy some under berth real estate, but seems to offer the most economical run rate.  Options 1 and 2, while easy DIY installs, offer more expensive run rates and take up both floor and/or bulkhead real estate.  Reliability is a key issue and each option has it own collection of supporters and detractors.

Again, actual experience and personal preference are both valuable input.  In our old Vanguard we could combine oll lamps with heated flower pots on the stove burners to warm the small cabin, but the heat dissapated by morning.  Our WS42, Harmony, has larger cabin areas and will be used more extensively through the seasons.  Thanks!

Doug 

Thanks Jay!  However, my confession is that I have leaved through the manuals for all of these heaters so many times I have blisters on my callouses!  I have also cornered the market on toner as I printed out all of those tomes!

Anyway, humor aside, I do like the P9000 and P12000 because the are sealed flames and use outside air for combustion.  The downside is that they do use propane fairly quickly in the absolute.  Although they may be fairly efficient for their genre, I may spend more time filling the propane tanks than actually enjoying the heat!

Relative to Espar, I do have a quote for an installed system.  However, as I said, the investment is sizeable, but the efficiency and ease of integrating into the boats systems is relatively simple.

I am just not sure which choice to make, and before I pull the trigger it would be great to learn what others have used and their relative satisfaction with the equipment.  But to paraphrase the Stones, "you can't always get what you want, but sometimes you find that you get what you need!"

Doug

Diesel is messy but convenient.  My diesel bulkhead on a scale from 1 to 10 on the dial bakes the whole boat when turned up to a 2 or 3.  Sips diesel.  Runs on the same fuel as the auxillary motor so no storage issues but and it is a big but it is messy.  I spoke with Dickensen about the smudge pot and they said to adjust and tune which I did and it helped.  But it is messy.  So if you like a clean boat use propane.  But if it's cold and you plan on running the heater alot then go with diesel.  That's what I say but what do I know.

Clean, dry, and warm inside.  Sooty outside.  Better when tuned but not clean burning like propane.  Tends to stain deck/sails.  I am looking into options like a copper screen cage to trap large soot pieces.  The heater is VERY efficient and nice just sooty on deck.  As far as temps.  Artctic I would imagine.  When its warmer I just plug in the smaller electric heater and an electric blanket.

Dick:  On Pygmalion I have 2 small non-standard 2.5Gal LGP tanks - how much LPG are you carrying  and do you have issues refilling -- if I had to refill in the SF bay area - I'd really have to look for a place on/near the water.  Whereas diesel is on the water - expensive but available.