Boat heater and safety

L

Lou Ureneck

Member
I just bought an old 14 TBD classic and love it. Come cold weather, I'd like to put a heater in it and considered a Mr. Buddy type propane heather. I'm concerned though about operating the heater in the boat, which of course has a portable gas tank in the stern for the outboard. Anybody have any experience using Mr. Buddy type propane heathers in small boats with outboards? The TBD has a canvas blind that fits up and over the cockpit. I'd appreciate hearing the experience of others.
 
No worries, the only spark would be the igniter at start up. Plenty of ventilation for fuel tank fumes to disperse, roll with it and stay warm

I have personally witnessed the affects of carbon monoxide from a single burner (not vent free) heater on a 1 lb cylinder.....I hope to never see that again. We almost lost 3 generations of duck hunters in one night at a neighbors camp from their carelessness..
 
P Taylor said:
No worries, the only spark would be the igniter at start up. Plenty of ventilation for fuel tank fumes to disperse, roll with it and stay warm
/quote]

The buddy heater will have an open flame in the form of both the element and the pilot light. This means that you will have to be ABSOLUTELY certain that there are no gas fumes present. One rarely gets a second chance when a gasoline explosion occurs.
Click to expand...
 
I would not worry about it at all if the tank is under the motor well or against the rear cockpit bulkhead, and the heater is in the mid of fore section of the cockpit. that should put it at least 4 feet from the fuel tank. I think that is plenty of ventilation in there.
 
Thanks. Very helpful. The accident you describe sounds awful -- a close call. As I understand it, these propane heaters have auto shutoffs when the oxygen is low.
 
Ventilation is key. My crew has run heaters in open boats for years without any issues.

Think how many folks fire up lighters in boats smoking cigarettes and run single burner Coleman stoves cooking breakfast in their duck boats too..
 
I had an 18 foot aluminum open cockpit boat and ran a 5 gal propane tank with a double "dog burner" heater arrangement. Never had a lick of trouble. One side note, CO is heavier than air, so it will pool in low areas.
 
Gasoline vapors are denser than air, meaning these vapors will sink and collect at the lowest point.
I understand that many folks run heatersin there boats. Just please understand the the risks and the variables involved.
 
I used a Coleman Catalytic heater in my TDB-14' for years for warmth, just watch the dog and make sure he has a blind seam to breath out of and watch for birds.. Screw the breather vent shut on the tank until you are going to run again and make sure you have the interior well ventilated prior lighting it. From what I remember of my USCG safety training, a gallon of gasoline is the equivalent of five sticks of dynamite...
 
P Taylor said:
No worries, the only spark would be the igniter at start up. Plenty of ventilation for fuel tank fumes to disperse, roll with it and stay warm

I have personally witnessed the affects of carbon monoxide from a single burner (not vent free) heater on a 1 lb cylinder.....I hope to never see that again. We almost lost 3 generations of duck hunters in one night at a neighbors camp from their carelessness..
Click to expand...


Two quick barometers of CO poisoning risk, your finger cuticles and lips. Nail cuticles will take on a purplish caste, as will you lips. Should you see this, you need to react quickly prior loss of consciousness.
 
I may be wrong but I don't think propane heaters release CO -- CO2, yes, but it's less harmful. The units have an auto shutoff in O levels drop.
 
Lou

I have been hunting out of my Outlaw Pro 18 for almost twenty years. I always carry and use two Mr. buddy heaters if needed. Fire extinguishers is a must of course. Check them and go buy a extra one. I keep them close at all times. Even if I don't use the heaters. If you hunt with a dog be careful and keep the dog away from the heater. Hunt from the front of the boat if possible when using the heater. They are safe but anything can happen out there. You can also make a box out of tin and cut holes in the front. My friend does this. In his fourteen footer. If the heater falls over the heat elements doesn't touch anything. Hope this helps. Be safe my friend, Happy hunting.
View attachment Picture 457.jpg
 
Last edited:
Lou Ureneck said:
I may be wrong but I don't think propane heaters release CO -- CO2, yes, but it's less harmful. The units have an auto shutoff in O levels drop.
Click to expand...

Lou, it depends on how complete the propane/oxygen combustion reaction is; Carbon dioxide is the most common exhaust product, but CO is produced along with a lot of water vapor.
 
Waders will take a beating with these portable heaters. They will melt, and get brittle. Since my table saw accident, my left hand is very sensitive, and anything cooler than 60 deg requires a glove, so I have a heater as part of my regular kit now. I have the Buddy Jr, the one that sits on top of the cylinder. I place it between my feet, facing away from me, and I can hold my hand above it, but the waders are behind it. It has a tip over safety, and CO2 sensor too.
 
Lou Ureneck said:
Charles, where do you put the heater in your TDB, and do you mount it in some fashion? Thanks, Lou
Click to expand...

Lou,
My lab takes his position in the stern of my boat and I?m usually up towards the bow, I place the heater between us usually tuck in, so it?s not in our way. I?ve never had an issue with my waders, and I do keep the rope of the boat blind covered with some camo netting , have plenty of air movement. I think I have a picture some where of the set up, if I can find it I will hare with you.
 
thanks.

Just to be extra careful, I bought some flame retardant spray that I will apply to the canvas top of the boat blind.
 
Dave Diefenderfer said:
I have the Buddy Jr,,,,, It has a tip over safety, and CO2 sensor too.
Click to expand...

Dave,
Just as a clarification; Buddy heaters do not have a CO2 (carbon dioxide) sensor. Nor do they have a CO (CARBON MONOXIDE) sensor. What they do have is a Oxygen Depletion Sensor.
Automatic low oxygen shut-off system (ODS) 14? 15155? ODS/Pilot?Assembly?[strike][/strike]

.
.
When used without adequate combustion and ventilation air , ( read; without adequate oxygen), this heater may give off excessive CARBON MONOXIDE, an odorless, poisonous gas.

In theory, the Oxygen Depletion Sensor is designed to shut the unit off before the unit starts producing CARBON MONOXIDE due to lack of adequate oxygen for complete burning of the LP fuel.

By volume, dry air contains 20.95% oxygen. I can not find listed, the value at which the Oxygen Depletion Sensor shuts the heater off, but a value of 14% seems to be what I remember from earlier research.

 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top