The pro's and con's of our diesel stove and its running cost through our first winter.

This week we take a look at the pros and cons of our diesel stove and go over the running costs as we look back at our first winter onboard our narrowboat.
Check out our website at www.cruisingcrafts.co.uk
You can help support our channel by hitting the subscribe button and notification bell, that way you will get notifications when we release a new video.
Why not join us on:
Twitter - / cruisingcrafts
​
Instagram - / cruisingcra. .
​
Facebook - / cruisingcrafts
​
Music from: www.bensound.com/royalty-free...

[@bryanmitchell1059]

We burn 12 cord of wood to heat our house. Every time I open the stove to put wood in, ash that you can't see floats through the house. Your system looks much cleaner. You save space by not storing wood or coal, and you handle each piece several times. Very interesting vlog. Thank you very much. Bryan & Donna, Quebec, Canada.

[@CruisingCrafts]

Yes its definitely a cleaner system. And like you say no constantly moving wood and coal around 🙂 thanks for your support ❤

[@TheSoulgirl]

What a great video, thanks. I'm getting my stove converted. Yes, similar running costs to multi fuel but I'm done with the filth and manual humping of wood and coal. 😊

[@pa_maj.MARTINI-van-MAN]

Thanks for sharing, very informative and well explained.

[@deanallan48]

Great video and well timed. I had just been deciding what stove to have fitted, you just confirmed my thoughts :)

[@dancarter482]

The foraging thing is a myth, unless you can do it all during a drought the stuff collectd will be damp and need drying. One of the _MANY_ reasons I kicked the woodstove out of my bus was the hideous damp mess I had in the kindling store full of woodlice and other creatures! I've fitted a Webasto and a Kabola linked together running radiators. Diesel for the WIN!

[@dmldml7886]

Lovely review. Great insight

[@trevorsbarkingmadchannel4501]

Great comparison ! Informative vlog thank u

[@CruisingCrafts]

Thanks 😊 glad you like it

[@sallyu1]

Very informative. Thank you.

[@CruisingCrafts]

Thank you hope you found it useful 😀

[@prestoncrewnarrowboaters8619]

we are putting a diesel stove in our new boat, what you don't miss is the dust, and like you said you can leave it on at a steady temperatures, so much more beneficial than roasting and having to open every window and hatch ,thanks for sharing, Alex and Maria

[@CruisingCrafts]

Yes defo cleaner and a constant temp 24 /7 with very little if no intervention needed. Turn it on and forget about it 😁

[@shnboardman1]

Fantastic video mate

[@CruisingCrafts]

Cheers thanks for that 👍

[@Boating_David]

Same stove as me apart from back boiler. Was topping up 19 litres a week at 69ppL through winter for it on 24/7. So similar figures!

[@CruisingCrafts]

Our cost would have been lower if we got our diesel from the same place as you but didnt want to travel. I need to see where I can save the extra 6 litres of fuel a week 😂

[@mwhitcombe]

Thanks for the informative video. How do get warm water in the summer when moored up for a longer period?

[@CruisingCrafts]

The stove only heats water for the radiators we heat our hot water for showers etc by running the engine or immersion heater if we are on shore power. We are looking into using solar to heat our water though so stay tuned for that one 🙂

[@helengreen6373]

Hi, we have a bubble mutlifuel stove and use smokeless coal and heat/coffee logs. Costs us less than £5 a day to keep fire in most of the time - prefer excel coal if we can get it x

[@waynewaring]

Hi Guys, was good to see and talk with you both today on the cut nr Pennington flash. Really informative vlog Gareth. It costs us quite a bit more to run our multifuel stove in our house. A 50kg bag lasts 5 days, not to mention the kindling and fire lighters. I think a diesel heater is the way forward. 😊🔥🍷

[@CruisingCrafts]

Great to meet you too 😍. WOW that is really going some on the coal front but I guess it may be different in a house to a boat. You would defo see a difference in cost on a boat. Stay safe hope to see you again soon. Enjoy the mug 😉

[@waynewaring]

@@CruisingCrafts Cheers, I had a brew in the mug when I got home. 😁. We'll pop back soon to see the rest of the shop, hope the rain stays off🤞

[@alanharbit602]

Great video, we have the same stove. At first. I hated it. It wouldn’t stay lit and stable. I tried everything, cleaned the filter in the regulator, chimney cleaned etc. Then one day I poked my iPhone in and snapped a picture. My boat had been marina moored for 4 years at crick and never moved and the ballast was mis laid so the diesel had pooled and congealed on one side. A quick move of a steal plate from one side to the other, wire brush and elbow grease. The fire works like a charm now, I wouldn’t change a thing, unfortunately the nickname I gave the fire initially still remains. I call it ALF (Annoying Little F#@ker or Fire if you prefer). I now have a much better relationship with ALF and look forward to cold days.

[@CruisingCrafts]

Ha Ha ALF love it. We wouldn't change ours and I think we would get another if this one every god forbid broke. They can, as you know though be temperamental at times. Thanks for watching and Stay safe

[@gregfawcett5152]

So...thought I would give you a comparison regarding costs. I have a similar diesel heater ( Dickinson bulkhead diesel heater) I use a separate day tank with gravity flow so no pump at this time. The heater burns approximately one gallon per 24 hours on low. As of December 2021 in Seattle the cost for one gallon of diesel is four dollars. So in a month the cost is @ $120 dollars per month. Over a five month period November-March=$600 dollars which is slightly higher then the 400 pounds=528 dollar figure that you used. In summery about the same cost. Very pleased with the Dickinson heater so far...puts out a beautiful lemon yellow flickering flame and there is no smell of diesel or combustion. Best SV Aquila.

[@CruisingCrafts]

Thanks for that it's great to know the costs are about right. I wouldn't be without mine. Thanks for watching 🙂

[@gregfawcett5152]

you bet...go to Dickinson Diesel Heater best install ever...I hope to put out a new video on January 2024 with the completed heater install with lots of snow...Best.. SV Aquila. .Seattle.@@CruisingCrafts

[@kayleighrobinson9359]

I will be moving onto my narrowboat next week and it has a diesel stove like yours. Do you have a video on how to use it as the previous owners never used it and I can't figure it out and it is blummin freezing! There is a leaver to turn to get the diesel running to it and the previous owners said they think there is something you turn to add oil or something?!

[@CruisingCrafts]

Good luck with your move 😍 unfortunately this is the only vlog I have done on this but if your stove is the same as ours then I may be able to help as we still have the operating manual 🙂

[@karlos543]

Having had both I would add that when a diesel stove stops working. .and they do, you're completely knackered for heat. Also if you're moored up on a frozen canal and you get low on diesel, things can get very stressful.

[@CruisingCrafts]

I wouldn't be without mine. We always keep a reserve of fuel just incase of frozen canals breakdown etc

[@russellesimonetta3835]

Hey you live in a confined space. Coal bricks and wood is a royal pain! As for supply I'd look into a header tank or just a couple of jerry cans to assure supply doesn't run out.

[@CruisingCrafts]

Yes I agree. We do now keep a jerry can just in case of emergency as you never know

[@TheMadTatter]

With the imminent ban on "house coal" Coming in, I've been wondering whether going to a diesel stove down the line might be a better option in case coal gets a bit more scarce in general, I don't think it will necessarily affect boaters that badly, but I'd think it could push the price up.

[@CruisingCrafts]

it should not affect boaters as most of the coal is smokeless fuel anyway but as you say it could start to push the price up. That is also the case for diesel though the price does fluctuate quite a bit.

[@bernardsmith152]

Hi , good information thanks . On our 65' narrowboat:- We have the same model Morso but in its original multifuel state , but no back boiler. We also have a Hurricane diesel system supplying finrads. Have you considered doing an update with the costing comparisons to 2023 prices - ie :- Coal at £17.50 per 25kg and Diesel about £1.05 per litre ? Do Lockgate still do the conversions ? And are the running costs similar to a Refleks ? I am 69 this year so thinking about the future, but at the moment I actually enjoy foraging for my own wood . Regards , Bernard , N.B " T4 the Tillerman " currently on the Ashby.

[@julesroberts9723]

Can you do a video showing how noisy the stove pump is please

[@CruisingCrafts]

We will probably do an update but the stove won't be on till winter now 🙂

[@michaelconnor333]

Hi Guys, another great vlog, thank you. I have just bought a narrowboat and would like the same setup as you a diesel stove with radiators. Can you tell me where do I get one as I am new to all this. I have found lots of wood burning versions but can’t find any diesel versions. Many thanks. Keep the vlogs coming I really enjoy them, I will say hi if I see you out on the cut Kind regards Mike

[@CruisingCrafts]

Ours is a morso squirrel but it has a diesel conversion kit added to it from lockgate. I dont know if they still do the conversion but have you tried looking at bubble stoves?

[@michaelconnor333]

Many thanks, I am new to all this, yes I just found Bubble so will be going there for my heating. Thank you for the reply, I enjoy your vlogs, keep up the good work. Kind regards, Mike

[@CruisingCrafts]

Thanks glad you like them good luck with the heating 😀

[@andy_nye]

Looking at boats to be a CC'er .. your info made my idea concrete in purchase of a diesel stove . 1 question .. does the top get hot enough to boil a kettle??

[@CruisingCrafts]

Omg yes it does, through winter we would put the kettle on top of the stove first thing while we got ready, then use the gas to bring to boil. For the rest of the day we had the kettle on the stove. You just need to watch as it can up the moisture and condensation, so maybe leave a window open 🙂. Good luck with the boats

[@geoffreynolds8835]

@@CruisingCrafts use a Pressure cooker to heat up the water, boiling water for very little heat, but it takes a time, but saves a lot of money.

[@hazchemel]

Hmm, apart from the understandable atavistic pleasure in a wood fire, that diesel system sounds very good, with the heater outlet higher in the main fuel tank than the engine outlet admirably simple and effective. Assuming that the water jacket/tank is fixed to the back of the heater, there doesn't seem to be a way to stop the radiators, which I think, would need the tank removed, since even draining the fluid would dry bake the tank; probably not good.

[@CruisingCrafts]

I must admit we still love our system it may not suit everyone but we love it

[@hazchemel]

@@CruisingCrafts yeah, looks like boat heating is sorted ;).

[@larrycounce4509]

Is there any fuel smell from the heater?

[@CruisingCrafts]

99% of the time no absolutely none but sometimes in strong winds you can get a little blowback and you can smell it but this is only for a few seconds.

[@clenaghan1]

Thanks so much for the video. We're hopefully having our boat into the water in a couple of weeks....we've gone for diesel on a boat just a couple of feet less in length than yours, so was very interested in your thoughts (though it'd be a bit late to change our minds) 😊 also we've been looking at becoming traders too. Lots to sort out before we get started with that idea. Full time C Cers in fact we look like were mirroring your experience of starting off in October/November.... Will keep an eye out your channel from now. Many thanks Mark

[@CruisingCrafts]

Thanks guys give us a shout if we can help you in any way. Stay safe and good luck

[@trevormegson7583]

I guess I'm a youtube continuous cruiser as I don't have a boat. But, I like to watch channels like yours. Because, one day I might live on a boat. So all very informative. The one question that hangs in the air though, What is it about clicking the dislike button twice? I heard somebody else say that and I don't understand it. atb Trev. (clicked like btw)

[@CruisingCrafts]

Thanks for your support ❤. The trick with the thumbs down is that if you double click it it cancels it out 😂 its all interaction though and you can't please everybody

[@trevormegson7583]

@@CruisingCrafts Right. Got it now. Cheers.

[@CruisingCrafts]

No probs

[@borderreiver3288]

wish you would number your vlogs....makes it far easier to follow....

[@CruisingCrafts]

They are numbered in the corner of the thumbnail 🙂

[@colbolt54]

Have you tried kerosene?

[@CruisingCrafts]

No we don't have a separate tank for the stove and engine

[@ujustgotpwned2008]

Great video, thank you. You may have made a diesel convert of me ;)

[@korteway1970]

You can also use waste motor oil, or used cooking oil, it all burns just fine, and restaurants are more than happy to give it away, since they usually have to pay for removal

[@billbradley2480]

Too bad diesel is soooo expensive these days. Diesel is cheap to make compared to gasoline yet it’s $1 more per gallon here. What a ripoff.

[@CruisingCrafts]

It is expensive but it still works out about the same as burning coal would l