Hello - I'm looking for advice on the best heating option for 50' 1983 Gibson LZ in Boston. I've included some info about my boat and what I believe to be the best option so far. Feel free to set me straight.
Thanks,
jim

****These are some facts about the boat/situation********
* The marina I’m at and will continue to be at for the foreseeable future does not meter per slip, I pay a hefty flat fee for unmetered 120/240 50Amp. I currently use a marinco 240 to 2x110 Y splitter to feed two 110/30amp panels.
* All panels and wiring is new and at abyc standards (marinco 12AWG).
* Removed and sealed the two inoperable ceiling mounted factory AC/heat units last year during renovation so combo AC/heat solution would be ideal.
* The last owner installed a small Becket burner diesel furnace (non-marine) with forced hot water but I ditched this system last winter when the corroded flue blew suit all over the inside of the boat and because the radiators were in poor shape.
* Internal cabin space is about 450 square feet x ~6.5' ceiling with an average heating btu recommendation of at least 24,000 btu.
* I've added 1/2 inch foam insulation to 20% of the walls so far and all ceiling (except salon) already had owens corning _style_ fiberglass. Plan to finish salon soon.
* I've heard reverse cycle boat _style_ AC/heat pumps (use sea water to heat/cool) are not recommended for heating where water is below 45 degrees. Boston harbor coldest water temp is an average of 36 degrees in February.
* I have a couple neighbors with 60' Holiday mansions with aftermarket insulation that heat their boats with n ton home _style_ AC/heat units mounted on their aft decks. They tell me they only have to supplement with portable coil heaters on coldest days. Problem: I'd rather not put that big unit on the smaller deck of the Gibson. I have plenty of space in the cuddy under the salon I'd prefer to use.


***This is the option I'm considering*********
Add a 120/240 50Amp panel between the shore power and my existing 2x110 30Amp panels to feed the 110 panels and an electric coil heat and A/C combination unit(not reverse cycle) like this (http://www.flagshipmarine.com/electricheat.html).

Friends of ours lived aboard for 3 years on a 1978 Gibson Std 44'. They installed a propane furnace under the forward lounge seats, they were in a slip closest to the shore and kept 2 100lb tanks on shore (private marina). In Western PA it got mighty cold in the winter. Anytime we visited them in Jan/Feb it was like 86 Deg. in the boat and they would have shorts and t-shirts on. They never had to run a bubbler the water never froze with-in 5' of the hull. 

Any idea how much propane they went to per week/month? I'm not sure my marina would allow tanks on the dock.
Thanks,
jim

Your looking at 2 grand for the electric furnace. This does not have any air conditioning. @ 27000 btus I thing you would be marginal. IMHO I would consider 2 units to at least get up to 40,000 btus but this drives up the expense.

We had a 120,000 oil furnace on our 55 Pluckebaum and it did the job. We installed a 3 ton cooling coil in the plenum for airconditioning and mounted the power unit on the back left corner of the deck.

The new residential 3 ton heat pump units are now very compact. Suggest you give this another look. You have a big cuddy and could place the inside unit behind a false wall or in a closet. (They have low clearance horizontal units available)

If you decide to go this way PM me as I can give you some advice on outlet placement to maxamize performance. (_base_d on experence).

If you would consider diesel fueled units you might consider Eberspacher/Espar, (espar.com) Wallas (scanmarine.com) Webasto (webasto.us)

You might have done well to rhab the hydronic system that you had as this type of system provides even heat and good economy.

If you wish to get out cheap get two 2 240 volt portable heaters. Put in two plugs one one each box. I can guarantee you will be warm even up there. I used one in Nashville on a 50 ft Gibson and we had to turn it off. They put out the heat.