It is quite wintery, now. The clocks went back a couple of weeks ago, so it is getting dark at around 4.30pm. We have had a few bright crisp frosty mornings, where the grass crunches when you stand on it and people are busy scraping their windscreens.
This is our first winter onboard, and when we chose the Big Blue Boat we made sure that she had good heating, but we haven’t needed it all that much, until now.
Over the summer and autumn, we occasionally used the diesel heater which heats the water and radiators, to keep the boat toasty, if needed. It is quite cheap to run and works quickly. But it is a bit like living with a dragon! It starts up with a massive plume of smoke and a loud rumbling roar. The first time it started up I quite genuinely thought the boat was on fire! After the first couple of minutes, it quietens down to a dragon-sized purr. It only stays on for a few minutes, so the dragon sounds are okay.
Now that the weather has turned colder we thought we should use the multi-fuel stove (burner) for heat. It looks nicer and is quieter to run. We have no idea which is more economical, so we decided to try both and see how it works out.
The diesel heating is much easier, though! It seems to me that lighting a fire is a bit like looking after a newborn baby! Everyone else knows how to do it, and they are all successful at it. It can’t be left alone and needs near constant attention!
Before we tried to light the stove I sat down and read the instructions. It seemed quite easy. Put on paper/firelighters and kindling. Once that is burning well, put on bigger fuel. When I did that, the bigger fuel (logs) smothered the fire and it went out.
After another trip to buy more kindling we tried starting with more kindling. That made a lovely roaring fire. I added a log, and it charred the edges of the log, before going out.
A third trip saw us buying smokeless coal. Maybe that will be easier? With many attempts, we got to the point where the coals were glowing.
Thank goodness! Should there be flames as well? Glowing seemed to be good- at least it was warm! Then I added more coal, a few bits at a time and the frustrating thing went out again!
We have quite a few friends with burners, so we asked for advice. Make a tower with paper, firelighters and then kindling and don’t add the coal until it is all very hot; put coal on the bottom, then kindling, then firelighters; make a roaring fire with kindling then add coal (I am NOT putting my hand anywhere near there!). The range of advice was enormous! And nothing seemed to work well.
Between us, we seem (fingers crossed) to have mastered it in the last day or two. Fires are unique things. The reason the instructions and advice didn’t work is that it all varies so much! Get it lit, and do whatever it takes to keep it lit.
As I said earlier, it’s like a small child. Younger Mr BBB put it quite well when he said ‘Fire is like a small child- you need to keep it enclosed, but give it as much freedom as you can’. Also, what works one day doesn’t the next. Just like a toddler!
As I write this I am sat in a lovely toasty warm boat looking outside at the fog rising from the river, shining in the lights from the boat; with a delicious cup of hot chocolate made from water that was heated on the of the stove.
Finally, we have mastered it. Don’t follow advice or instructions – just follow your instinct and hope!
The men/women that discovered fire must have been incredibly patient!
Definitely! It’s hard enough to do with matches- rubbing sticks together must have taken forever!