A bilge heater is a heater that is designed for the engine room of a boat. Typically the engines are located at the bottom of a boat and many people seem to think that they can simply use a light bulb to keep that area warm. However, that is not a very effective way. The best bilge heater for boats is lightweight and very compact and is designed specifically to be on a boat. They will keep the boat’s liquids in the engine and engine room from freezing.
Often, people get a bilge heater so that they can leave the boat in the water in the winter without engine damage. It is also a great way to enjoy your boat in the late fall or early spring.
Like most heaters, there are different wattages to choose from. If you are not sure, use a simple formula that 10 watts are enough to heat 1 square foot. So, the 300-watt heater is good for 30 sq/ft. This isn’t exact but it is a good rule of thumb.
A boat bilge heater is great to ensure that your engine isn’t affected by freezing water in the colder months. It can only protect the equipment that it is mounted in, so be sure that you get one for each area of your boat. Most boats have different types of engines and equipment on board. You also want the bilge heater to be mounted in a fashion that provides good airflow. In other words, you want the heat to be distributed properly thus ensuring that there are no cold spots that could freeze. Bilge heaters can be permanently mounted with the wiring going into a spare breaker or it can be plugged, depending on the model.
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Top 5 Best Bilge Heater For Boats
Now that you know why it’s important to have one, it’s time to take a look at our reviews of the top 5 best bilge heaters for boats. After reading our reviews, you should be well equipped to select the best one for your needs.
- Caframo Pali 9510CABBX Ignition Proof Engine Compartment Heater
- Xtreme Heaters XXXHEAT Large 600W 110v Boat Engine Compartment Heater
- Twin Hornet 45 700w Boat Bilge Engine Compartment Heater
- Hornet 45 700w Waterproof Enclosure Heater
- Hornet 66 1000W Boat Bilge Engine Compartment Heater
Best Bilge Heater For Boats Reviews
*Our Top Choice*
1. Caframo Pali 9510CABBX Ignition Proof Engine Compartment Heater
 | Caframo Pali 9510CABBX Ignition Proof Engine Compartment Heater Review Pros: – 400 Watts – Self-regulating PTC heating element that cannot overheat – 20′ Cord Cons: – May not be good for larger boats over 25′ |
The Caframo Pali 9510CABBX Ignition Proof Engine Compartment Heater is our top choice for the best bilge heater for boats.
This bilge heater offers an ignition-protected design, dual airflow redundancy, omnidirectional airflow discharge, and safe thermostat temperature control. It regulates itself and is hermetically sealed to prevent fires. There are automatic settings to turn on at 45°F and shut off at 65°F. It offers very little maintenance because of this self-regulating feature. However, from time to time you should check on it as it might need a good vacuum. When you are cleaning the heater be sure to shut it off to prevent damage. This heater complies with both the CSA and UL standards of operation.
600W
2. Xtreme Heaters XXXHEAT Large 600W 110v Boat Engine Compartment Heater
 | Xtreme Heaters XXXHEAT Large 600W 110v Boat Engine Compartment Heater Review Pros: – 600 Watts – 20′ cord – Self-regulating PTC heating element Cons: – May not be good for larger boats over 25′ |
The Xtreme Heaters XXXHEAT Large 600W 110v Boat Engine Compartment Heater offers some of the tightest tolerances on the market when it comes to when to turn on and turn off. It is automatically set to turn on at 40°F and offer at 55°F. It offers a unique failsafe design that comes already prewired to be plugged into a 110 outlet. Its true forced air heating design allows for better airflow and it is suitable for boats up to 35′ in length.
At 600W and given it’s affordable price, we think this is an excellent value when it comes to bilge heaters.
700W
3. Twin Hornet 45 700w Boat Bilge Engine Compartment Heater
 | Twin Hornet 45 700w Boat Bilge Engine Compartment Heater Review Pros: – 700 Watts – Waterproof – Dual Components Cons: – Not good for boats over 30′ |
The Twin Hornet 45 700w Boat Bilge Engine Compartment Heater is one of the safest heaters on the market that is both waterproof and will withstand being around combustible gases.
This waterproof heater is perfect for engine compartments. There are dual heaters built into this unit, so if one failed, there is a backup onboard. Time and time again we see $1000s of damage done when the heater fails due to a component issue. Don’t let that happen to you, get yourself a dual heating system, and give yourself peace of mind.
4. Hornet 45 700w Waterproof Enclosure Heater
 | Hornet 45 700w Waterproof Enclosure Heater Review Pros: – Waterproof – Stainless Steel heating modules – 700 Watts Cons: – None |
The Hornet 45 700w Waterproof Enclosure Heater is very similar to that of the Twin Hornet but it only has one heater on board. It is waterproof and mostly built in the US. It is also certified to be in rooms or areas where there are combustible vapors.
While this is an overall great bilge heater, we would still recommend the Twin heater model previously mentioned.
1000W
5. Hornet 66 1000W Boat Bilge Engine Compartment Heater
 | Hornet 66 1000W Boat Bilge Engine Compartment Heater Review Pros: – 1000 Watt – Waterproof – Stainless Steel heating modules Cons: – None |
The Hornet 66 1000W Boat Bilge Engine Compartment Heater was designed under stringent requirements. It is one of the larger heaters and is a dual heater, which means that you have backup protection should something go wrong. This heater does not carry a UL rating but is certified under the Imanna Labs. It comes with a power cord that makes it easy to install and use. This heater will heat from 40°F to 45°F which will save up to 35% of the energy wasted by some of the other heaters that tend to go much higher.
Best Bilge Heater For Boats Buyer’s Guide
When you are purchasing a bilge heater for your boat, there are several factors that you need to consider. They include the wattage of the heater, device safety, reliability, and efficiency.
Wattage
The wattage of the heater will help guide you on how big of a heater you need. For larger boats, you might consider more than one heater and place them throughout the boat strategically. This will ensure proper airflow.
First, you will need to determine the square footage of your engine room. This will tell you how many square feet you will have to keep warm. After that, you purchase knowing that every 10 watts will heat 1 square foot. Also, you want to consider if you have engines and other components in separate areas and rooms. Those will need their own heaters.
Safety
You need to purchase a bilge heater that will endure the water, moisture, and combustible gases found in an engine room. Luckily, all bilge heaters are designed for this purpose. This is why you cannot simply buy any type of off-the-shelf space heater and use it in your engine compartment. Doing so could be a serious safety issue.
Reliability & Durability
Of course, a dual heater is best for reliability. Durability will depend on the circumstances and the materials that the heater is made from. Be sure that you are purchasing one that will work for your current situation. Take the time to read the specs.
Efficiency
Positive Temperature Coefficient technology at the core of the heaters is what makes these heaters turn on and off. These ensure these heaters are self-regulating. The tighter the tolerances of that regulation the less costly it is to run. Most bilge pumps are self-regulating as most people are not on their boats turn them manually on and off.
Conclusion
Your boat is a huge investment. So why wouldn’t you go the extra mile and ensure that the engine room is well taken care of? Ice and freezing temperatures can ruin a boat engine and other components found on a boat. These bilge pumps are some of the best on the market. Of course, there were others, but we wanted to show you what the best bilge pumps for boats are and save you some time in doing all that research on your own.
We hope that you enjoy the choices here and have helped with the understanding of what you should be looking for in a boat bilge heater.
Last update on 2021-10-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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