When the weather starts to turn cold and the wind picks up, you need to make a decision about how to stay warm and keep your boat as safe as possible. Your options include choosing boat bilge heaters or winterizing your vessel.  If you into spending as much time on the water as possible an engine compartment heater is the right way to go.

Learn more about your heating and winter options to protect the integrity of your boat.

What Are Boat Bilge Heaters?

If you're looking to keep critical components of your vessel safe, you need Boat Bilge Heaters. These engine compartment heaters are explicitly designed with boats in mind to keep your engines and plumbing from freezing. They automatically turn on and off to maintain a consistent, safe temperature.

How Do Boat Bilge Heaters Work?

Our heaters are built to be the safest, most reliable, and most efficient products available to protect you and your boat. They're intuitive to use, easy to install, and keep your engine compartment dry and mildew-free. 

We built our boat bilge heaters to run efficiently and only run when necessary. Unlike other options on the market, Xtreme Heaters automatically turn on at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and off at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Once our boat bilge heaters are triggered, the temperature is maintained consistently to ensure your bilge space is safely in the high 30s to mid-40s, despite freezing temperatures outside. 

Our boat heaters also use Positive Temperature Coefficient technology to create a self-limiting functionality. It means once our heaters reach their operating temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit, they will turn off. This makes our heaters incapable of overheating. 

What About Winterizing My Boat?

Winterizing a boat can cost a few hundred dollars on up to $750, depending on the size of your vessel. But when you fail to protect your boat, you could spend thousands repairing it from winter damage and expanding ice.

Whether or not you winterize your boat depends on the weather and your goals. If you live in a climate where the water constantly freezes and thaws, you could damage your boat's hull. But if you just need some protection as the temperatures dip, boat bilge heaters may be a good option for you. It protects your engine without the expense of going through winterization. 

If you do winterize your boat, you may still need an engine compartment heater to ensure its safety during storage. Our heaters are safe to use, even while unattended, and prevent mildew and mold from taking root.

Do I Need a Heating System for My Boat During Winter?

Whether or not you upgrade to a robust heating system for your boat depends on your goals. Spending time cruising around a chilly lake on a cold, windy day probably isn't very comfortable without a good heat source. Camping out on your boat also requires warmth and safety from the cold in mind.

Heating systems are expensive but may be worth it if you want to stay on the water as much as possible. Make sure the investment is worth the trade-offs, and enjoy it while entertaining friends on the water.

But if you love the cold and just want to enjoy a few hours on the water, you can probably layer your clothing wisely and use a marine stove to produce warmth. Start with a quick-wicking base layer and move your way up to a waterproof and wind-resistant jacket. 

Next Steps

If you're ready to maximize your time on the water this winter, make an affordable investment in our boat bilge heaters. Browse our entire selection today from small to extra large or get in touch to find out which heater will work best for your size boat.