Heat Sources

At this time of year we should be boating!

Last year we were sweltering in tropical heat and daytime temperatures of 21 degrees C. This year we have night time temperatures of minus 3 degrees C and a wind chill factor of -3 degrees if the temperature in the day creeps above freezing.

So we are not boating.

SONFLOWER has two sources of heat inside the cabin. The gas cooker and the solid fuel stove. The glass in the door of the stove broke and seized nuts have meant that we are without it while an engineer rectifies the problem: removing the nuts with heat and re-threading the holes as required. So we have no door on the fire. I think it is too risky to move the boat with an open fire on board. Lighting the oven for cabin heat isn't really on either.

I am not just a fair weather boater but no heat on the boat in weather like this is not my idea of fun!

The best heat source of all is the sun. But that source is letting us down at the moment. When the sun comes out for a lengthy period and the night time temperatures stay above freezing we will join the rest of you out on the water.