Xtreme Heaters Heater, Owner'S Manual

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6
Tips for Maximum Performance and Efficiency
Tip: Vents
Your Xtreme Heater will operate more efficiently when you have covers over the vents on your
boat. Consider having a canvas or upholstery shop, make a set of simple “snap-on” covers
to fit over the vents. When you are ready to use the boat, remove the vent covers. When
you leave the boat, snap the covers back on. Other Xtreme owners have reported using boat
shrink wrap material, or shrink wrap seam tape, which is designed to be removed without
leaving a residue on your boat. Left uncovered, your vents will allow heat to escape which
could prevent the heater from performing to its full potential, greatly reducing efficiency.
Tip: Trailer-/Lift-Stored Boats
A boat on a lift or a trailer will get much colder than a boat in the water. If you store your
boat suspended on a lift, in addition to covering your bilge blower vents, you might wish
to consider covering the outdrive unit. During extreme cold, consider lowering the boat
into the water to keep cold air from circulating around the bottom of the boat, and allow
the boat to extract heat from the water. You can also use a heavy mil plastic to slip over the
outdrive unit and/or exhaust ports and tie it at the top to prevent the heat in the engine
compartment from being lost by dissipation through the metal of the outdrive unit.
Tip: Cabin Spaces
Remember, your Xtreme heater is only going to protect the area it is placed in. A heater
placed in the engine compartment, will not protect the hoses running the plumbing in the
cabin area (sinks, showers, ice makers, etc). Some customers add additional Xtreme Heaters
to their cabin area to prevent freezing of cabin plumbing. When using an Xtreme Heater
in your cabin, it is best to open cabinets and drawers to let the warmth circulate to hidden
plumbing lines and fixtures.
Tip: Keep the Boat Covered
Keeping your cockpit cover on the boat will help preserve heat, reducing heater runtime and
maximizing effectiveness and efficiency of your heater.
Tip: Prepare for the Unexpected
Xtreme Heaters require a reliable source of power to operate properly. Should a storm knock
out your power, you will have a short window of time before freezing occurs. Always have
a backup plan.
Weather can be an unpredictable foe. Even if power remains on, if you’ve sized your heater(s)
for “normal” conditions in your area, they may not protect your boat as effectively during
extreme weather events. It is up to you to monitor your boat, and take the appropriate
precautions when extreme weather conditions threaten. Have supplies on hand, and be
prepared to winterize your boat according to the manufacturer’s instructions.