Testing weather - which is fairing better

As forecast the weather is coming in  - the north westerly weather we are now getting at this time of the year is a test for heating systems. As I type this on Saturday afternoon it's gusting and bright but cold. The wind is now close to east by north east and is bitter. We've just been into Newport for a few supplies and lunch. It is a nice town always worth a visit, nicer in the summer when more options to eat and drink outside are sensible ! 

I've been keeping a watch on our temps at home for the guests. We are burning through some oil  - I think yesterday the Google nest tells me the boiler was running for 6 plus hours. That is to keep the cottage at 18-19c which is a comfortable temperature. The dog house is down to 10c but that is all electric heating and is being held there with the far infer red panel. Obviously not being used right now but it soon can be up to 19c. 

The boat heating has been on since we got on board. The 5kw iirc Morso Squirrel with its long run of 38mm copper pipe is a brilliantly engineered heating system. The boat is easier to heat and cheaper. We are chewing through the coal but the boat is a lovely place to be when its so cold - certainly much warmer than the cottage. However if we light one of the two stoves at the cottage it can easily compete. we have a 4kw multi fuel stove and a 8kw wood burner... the latter in the middle of the cottage and it can easily heat the whole place but it can consume copious amounts of wood ! 

So both are looking after themselves, obviously with the tech at the cottage its easier for that to be left. When we leave Percy tomorrow she'll slowly cool to 5c and hibernate for as long as we are away. It is not lost on me how capable the boat is to live on  - bigger issue and what kept us off last summer was the heat - but then again there are solutions to that with portable AC units that with the amount of solar would be a viable option. 

Back to this morning it was cooold outside, I had to venture out to get a shot of the moon setting and the sun rising. 

I must sort out a proper chimney for the boat. The double skinned one we have the inner skin does not seal the flue so we still get condensate onto the roof  - this simple rolled up sheet of aluminium( ?) seals perfectly so we get nothing onto the roof. 

A proper winter picture of our boat Percy 

Even colder tonight apparently, the coal cage will do its job again, keeping the boat warm but not too warm. I've a few logs left for heat tomorrow that soon expires something we need when leaving the boat. 

Right coffee is on .....grab a mug !