T&T: ( & TWL2:) simple heater

[Faure, Marin]

>I'd like to get a safe heater for my cabin, any comments on the alcohol
Origo Heat Pal 5100. Defender has it for around $100.00. I'm afraid it
will tip over, do you make a gimbal mount for it or something?  Anyone
used one or have another recommendation?

We boat year round and in the winter we use a portable propane heater on
our boat.  HOWEVER....... one must be totally aware of the potential
danger of propane and abide by logical and safe practices.  We store the
little propane canisters in the sailing dinghy on our aft cabin top.  If
a canister leaks the propane cannot enter the interior of the boat..  We
NEVER use the heater when the boat is underway.  We NEVER leave the
heater on if both of us leave the cabin, even if it's just to go out on
deck for awhile.  When we leave the boat for any reason and for any
length of time, we ALWAYS turn off the heater, remove the canister, and
place the canister outside.  We NEVER leave the heater in the cabin with
a canister attached unless we are actually using the heater.  We ALWAYS
turn the heater off and put the canister outside when we go to bed.  We
ALWAYS set the heater on an old oven cookie pan instead of directly on
the cabin sole.

We have friends who used to use a large, well-made kerosene heater on
their 36' lobsterboat.  Besides the smell which bothers some people, the
inside of their boat gradually got sooty even though it was a
clean-burning heater.  It did a terrific job of heating the boat--- on
high it just about drove everyone out.  The problem was that when
kerosene heaters are turned down they seem to emit significantly more
soot.

The downside of a portable propane heater is it generates a lot of
moisture on the insides of the windows.

The best solution is a built-in diesel or propane fired heating system
with external exhaust, etc.  But until we devote budget to a built-in
system the portable propane unit meets our needs.  Our friends with the
lobsterboat (which also has no built-in heating system) have switched to
the same portable propane unit we have only they run it off a large
external tank rather than using the canisters.

______________________________
C. Marin Faure
GB36-403 "La Perouse"
Bellingham, Washington