Mr. Buddy Heater

[Coach T]

Have any of you used one of the Mr. Buddy Heaters? I found a few on clearance at the local wallyworld for 68.00. The box states that it is safe for indoors with a low oxygen shutoff and it is supposed to heat up to 200 sqft. Where I boat I rarely need much heat and when I do it is at night and we use an electric heater ran off my generator. My wife would like to have a little extra heat when cruising. Any suggestions on this heater. I know many of you use built in heaters but it is just not needed in my area.

 

[lloyds]

I have used them and they work well. They do add to the humidity a bit though. But while cruising just crack the window or hatch a little more.

 

[South of Heaven]

I've used one too. I bought it last fall to extend the season on my 16. It worked well. The tilt sensor shutoff is a great feature. I think they're great for the "bang for the buck".

I'll use it this season on the 19 too.

 

[ssobol]

I use the Little Buddy Heater on my boat. It is a one canister thing that sort of looks like a heat lamp. We have used it in Dec in No. VA. Usually in the mornings and when in the boat in the evening. These heaters are more of a infrared heater than an ambient heater. It will heat you more than the air volume.

If you keep the boat closed up you might notice the slight odor and sometimes the air can get a bit "thick" if there is not adequate ventilation. I have had the CO alarm go off once or twice if the boat is too closed up and the heater has been on for awhile. The thing will shut off if it tips (can shut off if you move it while it is on) or detects too low O2.

We do not run this heater when we are sleeping or the boat is unattended.

It works well enough for what we need. If we lived in a cooler climate and needed heat more often, I would install a Espar or Wallas diesel heater.

 

[BrentB]

Carbon monoxide detector with digital display would be helpful and add additional layer of safety

 

[capt. meares]

I have the smaller mr buddy heater and have used it for 2 years now. It is more than enough to heat the cabin. As others have said it can fog things up a bit, but with both side windows open about an inch fixes that. I bought the pancake style propane tank and store it with the heater itself below the v birth. It all fits well in this location and when using I just pull the heater up to the edge. My only complaint is while traveling in the open ocean, a big enough bounce from a swell will occasionally activate the safety shut off feature.

I made my mind up very early on to stay away from the temperamental wallas mess I hear hear so much about on here. Mr buddy is good enough for me and a whole lot cheaper, also requires no extra holes in my boat. I like to keep things as simple as can be, just like the C-dory itself.

 

[westward]

I purchased one last year for the boat. It throws out a lot of heat with an adjustable flame and catalytic burn element. Pretty good build quality. Probably best for day use, in a situation of plentiful ventilation. I would probably install a Webasto unit if my heat needs were more frequent or if I didn't have lots of ventilation. Summary: a good choice for simple, inexpensive heat for occasional/fishing/day use

 

[Sunbeam]

I'm another who has used the Little Buddy - the single canister one that stands like a Sunflower. Here's a photo:



I have a board that can fit over the sink, and I put that on the sole near the V-berth entrance (spans the v-shaped dip there) and set it on that -- facing aft. I also crack two windows the recommended amount and run a digital carbon monoxide detector. I use it early morning/late evening to take the chill off, and "attend" it to make sure all is okay (in other words, I'm up and nearby, it's calm, and I'm not underway). I store the canisters in the port lazarette which is vented overboard.

Two things I didn't like about it were that the head is quite bulky when it's stored, and the "sunflower" orientation is not the most stable (never had it tip over, but still).

So to take its place I bought a "new in box" Coleman Blackcat -- the one with the shape where it sits like a tail-dragger and there is only a triangle of metal rod and a small head to store when it's not in use (and they come apart). It's not made anymore but I still see them on eBay. I think this shape will be better for use and storage, but still have the Little Buddy as well. This is the one I mean:

Ultimately I might like a more official built-in heater, but these have a place, with certain limitations and liabilities.

 

[Wayne McCown]

Perfect for taking the chill off. Set it in the doorway, in front of the porta-potti. Out-of the-way; perfect directional.

 

[JamesTXSD]

We have a Blackcat heater that we used on a couple different sailboats (BC - before C-Dory). It does a great job for taking the chill off. That said, it does use oxygen, so we would keep a hatch slightly open when using it, get the cabin warmed up for the evening, put the heater and the propane canister (capped) outside, then bring it in the next morning to warm the cabin up again.

Great when you're on the hook or don't have an electric hook-up.

Snuggling works great for keeping warm, too. :wink:

 

[Gulfcoast John]

Like Sunbeam, we also have the Lil Buddy and the Coleman Blackcat and use either in the cockpit (but not in the cabin and not while sleeping). Amazing how Brats zoom in on the same solutions for common issues.
John

 

[hardee]

I'm sure you all are, but just in case.
PLEASE be sure you have a Carbon Monoxide detector, functioning, with good batteries on board anytime you are running one of the devises, whether you are sleeping or not. I don't want to hear stories of CBRATS tuning into numbers.

Thanks,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[Sunbeam]

I absolutely do. Digital carbon monoxide detector, plus the recommended square inches of venting (via open windows). You're right, that's important. (The detector actually for any time one is burning fuel aboard; the venting is done for you on vented appliances.)

 

[Larry Patrick]

I have the bigger Buddy ,use it in camper,keep wndow cracked for air,and don't sleep with it on. Have a CO detector and follow safety instructions. They do a good job of heating.

 

[Hunkydory]

We're on our second regular sized Buddy Heater & consider it a high priority though space taking item for our extended SE Alaska cruises. The first one didn't have the auto low oxygen shut off & though the later ones that do make it much safer, it's a pain at high elevation with their hard starts & frequent shutdowns. On three different extended cruises we had problems with the Wallas & the little Buddy Heater kept us warm, but definitely not dry as burning propane in the cold high humidity environment can create cabin inside rain. Finicky as they can sometimes be, I'll stick with the Wallas for our primary source of good dry heat & consider for secondary the combination of the Buddy & a generator powered electric ceramic great to have aboard with all three getting well used on our last two SE Alaska cruises. Upon waking at anchorage on cold mornings we've been using all three in this sequence. Before getting out of the sleeping berth, I reach out & turn on the Buddy, then a short time later get up go out to the cockpit & with one pull have the Honda 2000 generator running followed by the electric coffee pot & ceramic heater & Wallas turned on. While the Wallas is warming the Buddy heater can be turned off & when the Wallas is finally putting out hot dry air, so can the ceramic be turned off. Any moisture put on the window insides by the Buddy Heater & electric coffee pot is quickly removed by the Ceramic & Wallas dry heat.

Perhaps where the Buddy Heater really shines is on the long road trips north like this year when we plan on being on the Alaska Highway in April & the morning & evenings can be really cold. All by itself it keeps the boat quite comfortable making for the longer fire up of the Wallas unnecessary & during the night while sleeping we prefer not to have any heaters on.

Jay

 

[South of Heaven]

Maybe I'll buy a carbon monoxide alarm too. There's plenty of spaces to "hide" them on my new boat.

 

[hardee]

Maybe I'll buy a carbon monoxide alarm too. There's plenty of spaces to "hide" them on my new boat.

Jason,

You don't want to "Hide" it too much. Carbon Monoxide is heavier than oxygen, so will settle into the low places, and then fill the volume, like water in a tub.

If you are sleeping on the boat, you want that CO monitor to be no higher than your head would be if you are sleeping. Mine is right at the level of the birth, below the cushion level, and on the helm side of the bulkhead. It has alarmed there a few times, well before I noticed any exhaust smell, but was reading elevated CO levels. Just setting it up onto the top of the V-Birth hatchway cover and the numbers started dropping.

I have mine mounted with velcro on the back.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[South of Heaven]

Thanks Harvey. I like the Velcro idea too; then I can move it from the v berth to the cabin when needed.

 

[ssobol]

...
You don't want to "Hide" it too much. Carbon Monoxide is heavier than oxygen, so will settle into the low places, and then fill the volume, like water in a tub.

If you are sleeping on the boat, you want that CO monitor to be no higher than your head would be if you are sleeping. Mine is right at the level of the birth, below the cushion level, and on the helm side of the bulkhead. It has alarmed there a few times, well before I noticed any exhaust smell, but was reading elevated CO levels. Just setting it up onto the top of the V-Birth hatchway cover and the numbers started dropping.

I have mine mounted with velcro on the back.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

That is not true: "There's a myth that all carbon monoxide alarms should be installed lower on the wall because carbon monoxide is heavier than air. In fact, carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air and diffuses evenly throughout the room."

I would want the CO detector about head height or better when sleeping. Mine is mounted on the roof of the v-berth near the reading light (so just above my head).

CO2 (carbon dioxide) is heavier than oxygen and will settle. However, I would think that there is enough airflow in most instances that will keep things more evenly dispersed, even if there is no fresh air present.

 

[hardee]

You are welcome,

The only time I move it is when it alarms, to take it to some fresh air. I also open all the windows, and be moving into the wind if there is any. That is one of the only times I am moving with the forward hatch open at all, to be flushing the V-Birth area with fresh air too.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon