Narrowboat Stoves: The Burning Questions

Nothing beats a naked flame's mesmeric beauty. Just the sight of fire warms you to the core. There's something primeval about it.  

There's a reason why narrowboat stoves are so successful at heating our boats and have been tried and tested for centuries: They work! It's that simple.

And why are they called stoves when really they're multi-fuel burners? Well, the name derives from the days when the only cooking source and boat heating was the solid fuel stove. 

Narrowboat stoves are relatively cheap to run, have multiple uses and are super efficient. Some models only lose twenty percent of their heat up the chimney.

Canal boats suffer from condensation in the winter, and the best way to combat this is through heat. If you can keep your narrowboat at a steady warm temperature, it stops moisture from forming and decreases the humidity levels in the more heated air (thus preventing moisture and mildew from forming). 

Couple that with proper ventilation, and the narrowboat stove could be one of the most effective ways of banishing moisture. Now that has to be kind to your lungs.

Handy Uses of a Narrowboat Stove

Cooking

You might be surprised to learn there's considerable movement in the UK, and in other countries, for stove top cooking. Much like our boating descendants would have done, the stove is a heat source with many uses. 

Take my advice and get yourself a sturdy cast iron pot with a good lid and give it a go. Last winter, I cooked several casseroles and curries in my cast iron pot. Not only were they delicious (okay, I had help from the wife!), but it was free if you consider the stove was already lit. Now that's what I call eco-living!

You can even find recipes involving ash can cooking! Baked potatoes are a favorite, and at Christmas, what about hot chestnuts? 

Boiling Water

On a narrowboat, you need gas to boil water unless you're plugged into a shoreline. Gas is costly, but by placing the whistling kettle on the lit stove, you have another use for a stove's lovely heat. I know someone who boils their eggs for breakfast on the narrowboat stove.

Drying Clothes

This one's a bit controversial because damp clothing adds moisture to the atmosphere, but as a realist, how else are you going to get your clothes dry on a boat mid-winter? 

The key is not to stand the airer too close to the fire. The clothes should dry just fine in the ambient temperature of the room. 

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The Best Stove Vs. Size of Boat

Output

Here's where it gets a bit technical. A narrowboat stove's heat output is measured in Kilowatts, or kW for short.

To determine the production needed, measure the length, width and height of your boat's saloon where the stove is going. Next, multiply them together.

Width x Height x Length

I calculated my boat like this:

3.05 meters x 2.13 x 7.32 meters

This calculation gave me a volume of 47.55 cubic meters or 1,679 cubic feet.

To determine your stove's kW output, divide the total by either 15, depending on whether you have excellent insulation, or 10 if the insulation is poor.

This gave me around a 3kW output. But remember, you have an entire boat to heat, not just one room. When buying, it's better to overestimate the kW output. I always recommend a 5 kW stove to be on the safe side.

It's fair to say a stove's heat production matters, but what are other considerations?

Size

For all of the technical calculations about kW and output, one straightforward rule is to look at the stove's firebox size. Put simply: The more significant the firebox, the more fuel you can burn and the hotter the stove.

So, if you have a wide beam boat, like me, you'll want the biggest firebox for your money. It also means on the coldest nights, the fire can be banked up, to keep the boat warm until morning. That's not very technical at all, is it?

Stove Position

Think safety first: Don't position the stove near access ways. Try to avoid placing it near steps (difficult on a narrowboat where space is a premium, I know), and it shouldn't cause any obstructions.

Also, consider pets and children. Are they likely to come into contact with the burning stove if placed incorrectly?

The other consideration for your stove's position is heat distribution. On my boat, some bright spark placed it in the saloon's corner, away from the corridor leading to the bedrooms. This makes the heat distribution difficult. However, there are ingenious devices to help.

Stove top eco-fans help to move warm air around the boat, and best of all, the energy they use gets generated by the fire's heat. They're silent too.

It's also a good idea to check the clearance of the wall and surrounding cupboards where the stove sits. If surrounding surfaces get too hot due to heat transference, it could ignite.

Narrowboat Stove Safety

Make sure there is a minimum gap of 45mm (~2 inches) between your wall and the narrowboat stove. The wall area nearest to the stove should have a minimum of 25mm (~1 inch) fire-retardant board, with a 10mm (~½ inch) air gap between the wall and the board.

Follow the manufacturer's guidelines when fitting a new stove, and where possible, get the job done professionally.

Regularly check the door seals. The last issue you want is carbon monoxide escaping in such a small space. Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide meters (check price on Amazon), but don't make the mistake of fitting them up high, because not everyone will be as tall as you.

In the bedroom, fit them at breathing height when you're asleep. They're relatively inexpensive and might save your life.

Never leave a stove's door open. Logs can fall out and cause a fire.

What Are the Best Fuels for Narrowboat Stoves?

Multi-fuel stoves are designed to burn coal and wood, and they sure produce the heat needed to chase away the nip of winter. Burning coal is not good for the environment, however. Why not choose a greener fuel source?

Smokeless Coal

This stuff is great for the environment. In areas of dense population, smokeless fuel is generally the only accepted form of fuel for stoves.

You'll need a grate in the firebox to get the heat out of smokeless briquettes. Coupled with wood, they create a real cozy fire.

Seasoned Wood

Good old wood! It's plentiful, cheap and excellent for heating the boat. Most boaters source a lot of their wood along the canal side. Most towpaths border woodland and countryside.

I should point out that cutting trees down or removing branches is illegal, but the stuff on the ground is free to anyone willing to collect it.

Top Tip: Don't burn wet wood. It chokes up the stove's chimney and rarely gets to temperature. Let the wood season and dry. That way it burns super hot. Do mix it with smokeless coal for the best results. Wood burns quickly, and coal burns slowly, so the two complement each other perfectly.

Artificial Fire Logs

Fire logs are a great alternative to wood. Made from industrial waste products like sawdust, they are pressed into log shapes and coated in wax, just like a giant candle.

They produce very little in the way of particle pollution and carbon monoxide, but be careful. They have been shown to be less efficient than wood. So, they're cleaner but produce less heat.

You could choose to burn coffee logs, a new alternative on the market. They smell lovely, filling your boat with the aroma of our favorite hot drink.

Narrowboat Stove vs. Other Forms of Heating

Narrowboat stoves aren't the only way you can heat your craft. There are other alternatives.

Diesel Heating

Manufacturers like Webasto (check price on Amazon) produce fantastic heating systems and act just like central heating in homes. They have programmable timers, just like the ones at home, and the heat gets distributed via radiators.

The only issue with this system is it runs on the diesel in your fuel tank and can be costly to run. Most narrowboats have diesel heating as a backup source of heat.

Electric Heating

Some boaters try electric plug-in heaters (check price on Amazon) as a quick fix for colder nights. While electric heaters are capable, they are super expensive compared to a multi-fuel stove. They offer instant heat but are not considered a long-term solution. Again, as a supplement to your narrowboat stove, they are excellent but don't rely on them.

Diesel Stoves

Similar to Lockgate diesel stoves, some boats use these fitted as an alternative to the multi-fuel stove. The benefit of a diesel stove is that it doesn't burn solid fuel or coal, which reduces smoke, ash and particles in the atmosphere.

There is no need to store and season wood, and buying smokeless coal will be a thing of the past. Now that's got to be good for the bank balance!

The downside: It burns diesel! This is bad for the environment and drains your diesel tank. As for consumption, you'll use approximately 0.3 liters per hour. So if you're running the stove 24/7 in the dead of winter, it could severely dent your diesel tank levels.

Diesel stoves often come with attachments to heat your water, which is excellent. Just make sure you seek proper separate heating for the summer months because you're not going to light the stove in 30-degree heat just to get hot water.

The Most Popular Narrowboat Stoves on the Market

Morso Squirrel

This little stove is by far the most popular make found on narrowboats and has been for over three decades. It comes in various sizes, and is reliable, efficient and has an air of tradition in its design.

The Morso Squirrel was designed by a Danish company to withstand harsh Scandinavian winters, which just might be another reason why narrow boaters love it so much.

The Squirrel comes in 3 to 5 kW output, and for its size (significant when you live in a steel tube no wider than 6 ft 10 inches), it's compact.

Hamlet Hardy Series Stoves

Small and compact with a sleek design, the hamlet range of Hardy stoves are ideal for small space living. They have a more modern feel, which is fine if you want a less traditional look for your narrowboat.

I know plenty of boaters who reject the "Roses and Castles" look, opting for a minimalist modern style. The Hardy fits this bill perfectly.

They come in sizes and output ranging from 1.5 kW to 5 kW. So keeping warm shouldn't be a problem.

Aga Stoves

Everyone is familiar with the Aga brand, right? Well if you're not, you should be. They're famed for their traditional solid fuel kitchen ranges often found in farmhouses across the world.

The Most Popular Marine Heaters on the Market

If you live in the states, narrowboat stoves may be hard to come by. Instead, to accomplish the same concept, what you should be looking for is a "marine heater."

You can find stove-like heaters, of course, but a heater is essentially what you'll need to search. Here are a few recommended heaters specifically made for boats:

Dickinson Marine Newport Solid Fuel Heater

This Newport Solid Fuel Heater is practically a stove, in the sense that it can use wood, charcoal briquettes or coal. The only problem is you might not get that soothing warm glow you're seeking.

This marine heater can, however, still warm a boat anywhere from 25-35 foot in length and is excellent for saving space. It's designed to be mounted in the bulkhead.

Because it burns diesel, it's quite efficient and economical, but not great for the environment. But it's important to note that this diesel heater can also be turned into a kerosene heater and a stove oil heater with a simple calibration. Additionally, it can be turned into a hot water heater with a coil attachment.

Dickinson Marine Newport P9000 Propane Fireplace

Another model by Dickinson is the Newport P9000 (P for Propane). It's similar to the bulkhead Newport Marine Heater, but the difference, as you can see, is the glow of that fireplace! With a large glass viewing window, it adds a nice touch to your liveaboard home.

What puts the marine in these Dickinson products is the non-rust stainless steel construction. This means it will hold up quite well to humidity and salty atmospheres. Dickinson is a reputable marine brand and boaters swear by them.

Camco Catalytic Safety Heater

These Camco heaters are perfect for those who don't necessarily need the ambiance of a flickering fire. Actually, there's no flame at all, but it still puts out tons of heat and is simple to light.

One upside is that there's no flue or chimney that needs to be installed. Another advantage is that it doesn't need a fan or blower to push smoke up said flue or chimney, making it a quieter option. Having said that, however, it's still safe to place a vent hole close to the unit. 

This heater is meant to stand on the floor, but some boaters have figured out how to safely set inside plywood inside the wall.

Camco offers three heaters, each with varying heat outputs for your boat's space:

• Wave-3 (3,000 BTU) | 100 square feet

• Wave-6 (6,000 BTU) | 200 square feet

• Wave-8 (8,000 BTU) | 290 square feet

Conclusion

Whether you're living on a barge or a narrowboat, the multi-fuel stove is an essential piece of gear if you want to stay warm in winter. I wouldn't be without mine, that's for sure.

They have multiple uses, and best of all, they create a warm friendly glow in the boat that's hard to beat. I for one cannot wait for the nights to draw in dark and cold. Bring it on!