Curtain or Bulkhead?

[Squire]

I think it would work . A lot would depend where the heater pumps out the heat into the cabin and if you can more the air around. It is nice to have warm/hot air blowing on the inside of the windshield in damp cooler weather for defogging porpoises .

Our boat has aluminum walls with no insulation and the air gets toasty inside within half an hour or so. . It taskes more time to heat up the surfaces. When we are tied up at a Marina we have one of those keep your boat warm in the winter electric heaters we run on low on ocassion (fall and spring)

There are no drafts with the rear door shut and we open the side windows to keep some fresh air coming inside.

I think the heater venting plan would be key and depending on the age of the women on the boat it is either "Freezing" or "Oh my gawd, I' m burnig up, I can't breathe in here. So there is that to manage as well. (no humour intended -it must be f'ing awful)

If the air gets sucked out though the curtains I think the heater might need to be located more forward

My heater blows across my feet at the helm seat and out the top of the dash toward the windshield. I also have a third vent blowing in to the cuddy which I latch open on colder days to let that heat into the cab as well.

I don’t think there is a right answer to this question because it depends on your intended use as well as the size of the boat. I am full utility in terms of cruising, fishing, prawning etc. and never sleep on the boat so my setup is all I need.

 

[CIVANO]

Do what you are ok with and more importantly makes the wife happy

 

[BC Coast Pilot]

I switched from a bulkhead hourston to a canvas back whaler, thought it might be a problem for security but really theres nothing to steal up top without cutting it out. I really enjoy having the back open and it affords some shelter from the elements for everyone on those rainy days. Theres also a PILE of room down below. I don't open the rest of the canvas just the back panels and its really great in the summer! The ability to still use your main nav and sounder screens from the back deck is great too! We let the diesel heater run down below and everything stays nice and warm, if its really cold we drop the back but rarely happens.

 

[Aquaholic]

I switched from a bulkhead hourston to a canvas back whaler, thought it might be a problem for security but really theres nothing to steal up top without cutting it out. I really enjoy having the back open and it affords some shelter from the elements for everyone on those rainy days. Theres also a PILE of room down below. I don't open the rest of the canvas just the back panels and its really great in the summer! The ability to still use your main nav and sounder screens from the back deck is great too! We let the diesel heater run down below and everything stays nice and warm, if its really cold we drop the back but rarely happens.

A similar Whaler was my first reference. I thought it worked very well too. (love those 300's)

 

[Rain City]

Mine has a big slider that opens up wide to give that open feel as well. So that's why it works for me. I never loved the steps down and narrow door of the commander. Like others said it made it so you HAD to have a second station.

 

[Nootka4life]

24’ bulkhead love it fix six adults inside rain,cold or snow heater on all comfortable.
Fishing time 7 1/2’ deck door open people can move inside or out second steering station under cover can’t beat it

 

[Eden Island]

If I was mainly fishing and day-tripping, I'd probably say curtain. We cruise a 23' Hourston 10-12 days at a time, and the warm dry cabin is important on wet trips. We have a bimini canvas across the back of the cabin so its possible to stay dry fishing and pin the cabin door open without having rain blowing in. Alaska bulkhead for me.

 

[barkerfam]

Curtain for me. I want the open feel. If you go bulkhead there are many options. With curtain, very few. I went with a NorthCoast 235. Added a kicker with a remote. The kicker remote is a game changer.

 

[One More]

Removing the curtain for hot summer days makes for a much cooler cabin. Diesel heater has no problem keeping up in the winter.

 

[ReelSlim]

I had my boat built for fishing, so the drop curtain was what I wanted. It fits snug and even with the center rolled up and the Espar heat on it will cook you out. I find it warm up front without the heat on to be honest. I like to run the boat from the back deck anyways. Again, it was built to fish not to be 10 feet from the rods with my back to the action...lol I understand some security concerns, but the cuddy door locks. Where I am the gear just stays out all summer. I have zero issues with otters etc but again it will depend on how the drop curtain is done. Mine is in 3 sections and if you roll up all 3 it really opens up the deck. If you have a level deck, then the solid door wouldn't be bad and I did consider it. If I had a step-down cabin, it would be a hard no.

 

[Aquaholic]

That is a well fitting curtain. Bulkhead door fans, take note.

 

[tbeatm]

I had my boat built for fishing, so the drop curtain was what I wanted. It fits snug and even with the center rolled up and the Espar heat on it will cook you out. I find it warm up front without the heat on to be honest. I like to run the boat from the back deck anyways. Again, it was built to fish not to be 10 feet from the rods with my back to the action...lol I understand some security concerns, but the cuddy door locks. Where I am the gear just stays out all summer. I have zero issues with otters etc but again it will depend on how the drop curtain is done. Mine is in 3 sections and if you roll up all 3 it really opens up the deck. If you have a level deck, then the solid door wouldn't be bad and I did consider it. If I had a step-down cabin, it would be a hard no.

Who did your curtain work if you don't mind me asking, looks great.

 

[salmonkiller01]

I like the bulkhead, never worry about interior gear, electronics…. Plus on those cool days the diesel heater keeps me warm

 

[ReelSlim]

Who did your curtain work if you don't mind me asking, looks great.

I'm not sure who Robert used for the curtain and upholstery, but I can ask him and I'll let you know.

 

[ab1752]

I'm not sure who Robert used for the curtain and upholstery, but I can ask him and I'll let you know.

May very well be Seatops in nanaimo. They are doing mine in April, full enclosure. With a nice heater i would also go drop curtain or you could fry in summer.