DIY Camper/Boat Heater, Alcohol Stove

Boat Camping is fun but can be cold on rainy, damp days!I wanted to find an easy way to warm up MiniD, our micro camperboat! My solution was to make dual use of our Alcohol cook stove! The key was to creat venting, which the exhaust pipes radiat heat, while removing fumes! Cobbling together parts I had or picked up cheap at yard sales, a stainless shop vac pipe became the main chimney, a baking pan became the "hood", a stainless fuel filler, deck mounted port, worked to go through the roof, capped with an old camping lamp top, and a few other odds and ends completed the job. The set up has a 2 hr burn, which can be extended by refilling the alcohol! I'll keep an eye out for a larger burner but as is, the heater makes the cabin much more comfortable! The temp was minus 2C and was raised to 12C (about 54*F), which is excellent as we rarely will be camping in minus temps!

[@michaelsimpson9779]

As always, nice work Roy.

[@roydesignedthat]

Thanks Michael!

[@sailawaybob]

such a cool boat/camper i think of them as shantyboats the alcohol stove is a cool idea . years ago i had a small basic camp not much luxuries and one weekend we went camping in the fall woke up in middle of night freezing . i cracked the window and lit the alcohol stove and wow did it heat up my little camper , yeah not safe but darn beats being cold . i think you could also use a clay pot over the heat source .

[@roydesignedthat]

I believe you can buy safer alcohol that is less toxic but then the cost is very steep! Methal hydrateis fairly affordable but it needs to be vented for longer burns! We cook with it and don't need to vent but do crack a window as you mentioned! I'm excited to do more testing in colder temps!AllthebestRoy

[@oddlytimbotwillison6296]

What a cozy setup! Hey Roy, I am fortunate to have an alcohol stove made by Dometic. It uses these fuel tins that are full of some kind of fiberglass insulation. You pour the alcohol in and it fills up the fiberglass like a wick. The nice thing with that is that the alcohol really can't spill out even if it gets bumped around. I understand Dometic does not make these any more, which is a real shame. But if you can get one, they're great.

[@roydesignedthat]

I have a double Swiss alcohol cooktop oin our DIANNE'S ROSE! We only use one of the canisters, so I may try to do another burner, for heat with that. It has the G;ass filler (not 100% if it is glass but looks like). That said, I'm pleased how well this one worked! I'm still playing, though! AllthebestRoy

[@eric-qi1os]

Hi Roy. It’s Eric, the guy that mentioned your beautiful Crow had similar hull lines to the Brazilian Jangada. I’m glad I subscribed, I am building an off roadish school bus camper. I was researching heating sources but now I’m done looking. This is perfect for my needs! The part hunting begins tomorrow!

[@roydesignedthat]

@eric-qi1os just be careful to vent and have some fresh air and a co2 detector! The bus might be a bit big. For our DIANNE'S ROSE, we have a Cubic Mini woodstove, and it is perfect for it! MiniD was too small for a woodstove, though, or I would have gone that route, Eric! Try the alcohol and see. I've also heard good things about Desiel heaters! That option would be too hot for MiniD and the alcohol is an excellent fit for her. Hope this helps! AllthebestRoy

[@FrenchCrow]

It looks excellent.

[@roydesignedthat]

I also could work on a bleader feed or a larger resovour, but for my purposes, this set up will serve well! Another idea is to add a secondary back pan, inverted and filled with sand! This would retain heat better and if I found the same type of pan, they would nest together when stored! Aslo a small fan to drive down the heat is an option! While the temp raised about 15* , I'm sure it was more up on the ceiling! It wouldn't change the average but would even it out! AllthebestRoy

[@DinghyCruisingTrim]

Good job Roy. Seems to work well.

[@roydesignedthat]

I'm pleased Tim! If I had refilled, I'm sure it would have bumped up the temp but even at 54F/13C it is more than comfortable when compared to -2c! Dianne and I carry 12hr non parifane candles from MEC that we use to take the chill out through the nigh with a bit of ventalation, this would be our night time go to! When awake, the alcohol is ideal! AllthebestRoy

[@stevelansdowne]

Such a creative guy!

[@roydesignedthat]

@@stevelansdowne thanks Steve!

[@andycumming60]

Innovative idea Roy, concept looks good. My camp boat is a trailer sailer but this could be adapted for any boat. (Already have a carbonmonoxide detector fitted, for cabin cooking)

[@roydesignedthat]

I think you'd like! The hard part was finding an alcohol stove with a decent resoviour! BestRoy

[@tomlambert1833]

Awesome idea. Alcohol is still very a economical heating fluid. When the stove is at full intensity it has bloomed ..

[@roydesignedthat]

If I needed, a second fill would bump the interior temp some more but I found it more than comfortable! in the 13c temp. We rarely will have -2c when on the boat but if rainy and damp, this set up will make our cabin very comfortable! BestRoy

[@LateralThinkerer]

Great idea - could you harvest more heat that goes out through the exhaust by running a small battery fan (Caframo or similar) with the airflow along the length of the metal tubing?

[@roydesignedthat]

Great Ideai!

[@stanp6126]

Another idea for heating is small boats.

[@roydesignedthat]

We love our Cubic Mini wood stove in our DIANNE'S ROSE for those damp colder days! For MiniD, though, we needed a more compact idea! I think this Alcohol Stove will fit the bill! BestRoy

[@andrewjacoby4475]

Oat in a boat!

[@roydesignedthat]

If careful, it is a good way to warm up the boat! One must be careful, though, I do these mods for my own use!!! BestRoy

[@edenglish8318]

Do you sell plans for the MiniD boat?

[@irish-simon]

great idea for my camper thanks