Narrowboat Heating: Keeping Your Narrowboat Warm in Winter

If you have never experienced living on a narrowboat during the winter, or are looking for tips to stay warm in the colder months, then you have come to the right place. It's time to get your boat winter ready! The winter can feel even colder when living on the water, the cold breeze and frosty mornings can take a toll if you are not prepped. But fear not, by following a few simple tips you will have a magical winter on the water and reap the benefits of more peaceful waterways. Don't forget that preparation is key and the way forward in keeping costs down where possible.

Plan ahead

If you have never lived on your narrowboat over the winter before, then you are in for a treat. But first and foremost, plan ahead to ensure that everything is in place for the chilly season. Before the season begins, is your boat fully insulated? Are the windows airtight? The last thing you want is the lovely warm air seeping out of portholes or loose window seals and the brisk air making its way in instead. Checking this beforehand will help you save on costs in the long run as you will need fewer resources to heat up your boat.

To keep costs down, especially this year with the cost of living crisis, shopping around is essential to get the lowest prices, whether that be for coal, diesel, wood or food. Speaking of food, ensuring you have some stocked up will give you peace of mind. You never know when you may be stuck in your boat for longer than expected, so having plenty of food with a long shelf life such as tins of food, cartons of long life milk and dry food will keep you going until you can get to the shop again. Also, just in case of an emergency, mooring close to amenities is a good idea so you can quickly get help or even just pop into the local pub for a hot meal.

Service the engine

This may not be on the top of your mind when planning on keeping your boat but it is a necessity to have a perfectly good and well-running engine. The last thing you want is to break down on a freezing cold day and have to start playing with the engine in the hope that it restarts, not forgetting that this may be your only means of recharging your batteries. Service the engine may also prevent any expensive costs in the future.

Heat up your narrowboat

Living on the water, it can get a little chilly, so it's a good idea to find the best way to heat up your narrowboat, whilst also keeping costs down. Wood, gas and coal are some of the most effective resources to do this. The majority of people will find a multi-fuel stove is more than enough to get them through the winter cold. However, most narrowboats have other heating systems that run alongside this. This being radiators, often with an attached water heater. The other thing is to make sure you have enough storage space to store enough fuel for your multi-fuel stove.

When it comes to heating your narrowboat, there are three options to consider:

Multi-fuel stoves - these are available at a variety of prices. Multi-fuel stoves are easy to install and easy to use, making them a popular option. The multi-fuel stove works through dry heat using wood or coal. It is always important to get a professional tradesperson in for these tasks to avoid further costs. Also, without proper installation, the fumes can be lethal so best to front the cost in the beginning. Finally, always check the flue is clear of any obstructions before lighting as these can be popular places for bird nests!

Diesel-fired central heating - simple to use and works with a timer, a diesel-fired central heater works the same as a boiler in a house, however, with the steep rise in the price of fuel this may be a more expensive way of heating your vessel, so bear this in mind when considering the options. However, fuel can be drawn from the main boat tank often saving space.

Gas central heating - similar to diesel-fired central heating, gas central heating is a way for you to heat your radiators as well as provide hot water. Gas cylinders will need specified and appoved storage facilities (normally on deck) and should never be stored down below and all installations completed by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Don't forget, points two and three must have a yearly service by a qualified Gas Safe engineer.

Layer up

Due to the cost of living crisis, you might want to reduce the amount of resources you use to heat up your narrowboat this year and instead layer up on the warm clothing. Get cosy in knitted jumpers and fluffy socks and ensure you have plenty of blankets to cosy up under this winter.

Avoid breaking ice

When the weather is especially cold, the water around you may begin to freeze over. When this happens, avoid moving, instead wait it out until the ice starts to melt again. Forcing your boat through the hard cold ice is simply a way to damage your engine and the exterior, as well as, potentially, those of fellow boaters too.

Stay where you know

In the winter in particular, it's wise to stay in environments that you are familiar with to ensure you are safe and secure. Mooring where shops are close by can really be a lifeline, for if the weather conditions take a turn for the worst and you need urgent supplies, you don’t have far to travel. Alternatively, if it gets to the point where you feel unsafe, having a hotel nearby to escape to for a night is a bonus.

Avoid any burst pipes

As temperatures start to hit freezing, there is the possibility of pipes bursting, causing any running water to stop flowing along with a range of other issues. To try and prevent this from happening by keeping some form of heat on the boat or draining water systems if the boat is left unattended in freezing weather for prolonged periods of time.

Keep up to date with your boat with MyBoat, an online portal powered by GJW Direct, which will give you an insight into all things boating and help you to remember to put some of the above tips and reminders in place!

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