Best Boat Heater for Staying Warm at the Dock

In the SF Bay area, it seems the warm months are few and the cold winter and summer fog make keeping warm a challenge. After trying just about ever possible heater out there the last 15 years, I have finally found an efficient and quiet way to heat the boat so we can sleep comfortable aboard when we want to.

This Qmark/Fahrenheat portable baseboard heater (model number FHP0750TA) draw 750 watts, I use two, one in each hull. They are quiet, efficient and produce wonderful heat so you can be comfortable aboard. I also have a built-in Boatsafe Cabin Heater (model CH-1215) which allows you to select the power it uses in 250 watt increments from 250 to 1500. It has a fan to blow the heat around which makes it noisier when it runs but not bad. I use it to quickly warm the boat when I first come aboard then the Hydronic heaters are enough to keep it toasty.

The thermostats on the Hydronic heaters make is easy to dial in the right temperature for each hull allowing you to sleep comfortably. These soundless heaters don't wake you each time they comes on making for a great nights sleep with only the sound of wind and water to lull you to sleep. Also using only 750 watts, they do not put a strain on the electrical system when they cycle on.