THE HEATER’S ON

The essence of a good day afloat is a cracking sail, some fine scenery and the promise of a warm, dry berth when you turn in. Our maritime climate often provides the first two in the list, but the last one can be a challenge, especially on older boats.

A heater can help set that straight by removing humidity from wet sailing clothes and banishing the chill of a night-time anchorage. Starting at around £1,500, if you shop around, they are relatively cheap to buy and fit, and can revolutionise life aboard, especially for less fanatical sailors who miss the creature comforts of home. And if you plan to venture north into higher latitudes, a heater is a practical necessity.

There are three basic varieties to choose from. These days, the most common on sailing boats is a lorry-style hot-air blower that runs economically off your diesel tank. Larger yachts often prefer the efficiency of a system based on circulating hot water, while the traditional option is still a stove heater mounted on a bulkhead in the saloon, also run off diesel. Alternative