Heatstrip on Boat Install & Review

While in Brisbane, Australia in 2014 we installed a Heatstrip patio heater and just love it. A key advantage of the Heatstrip is a nice, even warmth with no red glow. You can’t tell it’s on and it doesn’t change the lighting at night. Spitfire appreciates the heater too, and usually finds a spot underneath whenever it is on. In the photo above, we’re enjoying a chilly late-December sunset in Albermarle Sound, North Carolina.

And the Heatstrip apparently is built like a tank. It has run flawlessly for the past four years, surviving a salt-water drenching during our 69.1° Rollover and countless soakings during several north Atlantic gales. We may never use the two spares we purchased.

Below are details of the install.

Boat Installation Notes:

These may be different for each boat or vehicle, please contact HeatstripUSA team for advice to suit your needs.

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Testing the heater

Position: 153 2.32, -27 28.24

Before purchasing the heater, we’d checked with the manufacturer for compatibility with our boat’s 60Hz power. They said it would run on 50 or 60Hz, but all the documentation that came with it indicated 50Hz only. We have no 240-volt outlets, so James temporarily wired it into the 240-volt system to test it. He used the leftover end of the extension cord we’d adapted for shore power, and ran an extension cord to the heater outside on the foredeck.

6/5/2014

Mounting the heater

Position: 153 2.32, -27 28.24

Working on the mounting location for the heater. One advantage of this unit is it radiates heat unidirectionally, and so can be mounted quite close to an overhead surface.

6/20/2014

Plugged in

Position: 153 2.32, -27 28.24

To power our new patio heater, we installed a 240-volt, 15-amp IP66 outdoor socket in the cockpit ceiling. The matching plug screws into the socket securely and is sealed against water intrusion.

Junction box

Position: 153 2.32, -27 28.24

The white junction box at the right side of the service opening connects a 240-volt branch circuit with the patio heater and its controller.

7/2/2014

Junction box

Position: 153 2.32, -27 28.24

The patio heater branch circuit begins at this new junction box in the lazarette. It’s the final stage of the patio heater install, and we’re using it daily.

Patio heater

Position: 153 2.32, -27 28.24

Enjoying the sunset in 60-degree weather under the new patio heater. The patio heater is completely amazing—we feel like we just nailed that one. A key advantage of the Heatstrip is a nice, even warmth with no red glow. You can’t tell it’s on and it doesn’t change the lighting at night.