Many narrowboat and other rivercraft owners use solid fuel stoves to heat up their boat during the winter. Stoves have the power to heat up a boat in a very short period of time and therefore are a very cost effective way for narrowboat owners to keep warm during the colder months. There are several uses of stoves for Narrowboat owners; cooking, heating, hot water and even, drying clothes.
Although solid fuel stoves may keep you warm during the colder months, it is also important to remember that incidents can happen if they are poorly maintained. The Boat Safety Scheme mention in their article that approximately two dozen boat owners were seriously hurt or even killed over the past few years. Some cases, where no-one was injured, it still caused damage to boats and the contents kept within.
Make sure the stove is at least 2 inches away from the wall and that there is a 25mm fire retardant board with a 10mm air gap between the wall and the board.
It is advised that you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when fitting a new stove to ensure the stove is installed correctly. Learn how to install a new stove safely with the Boat Safety Scheme’s article: https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/stay-safe/solid-fuel-stoves/new-stove-new-chimney/
Another important thing to remember is to get smoke alarms and carbon monoxide meters fitted in an easy accessible place.
With our narrowboat insurance you are covered for loss or damage including accidental damage. As a narrowboat owner, if you were to experience any damage caused by your narrowboat stove, you may be covered.