Unlike many other liveaboards, we’ve been travelling in Northern Europe since 2022 and we also spend the winter on board. After one year in the Netherlands, we spent two years in Sweden. In 2025, winter in Norway lies ahead. Temperatures around and below freezing are nothing unusual there. In this article, we’ll share how we still manage to create a cosy home and the tricks that help us get through the cold, dark season: which must-haves have genuinely helped us, and what we wouldn’t want to be without any more. Everything is linked so you can take a look and buy it yourself.
Of course, it’s mainly the low outside temperatures that make winter on board challenging. But actually, getting the boat warm is the least of the problems. We have several different heating systems that we use individually or combine depending on what’s needed. Much bigger problems are usually caused by moisture on board.
In winter, we’re usually moored up in the marina. Not just because it’s practical, but also because for us it’s a few months of peace and quiet. A time of not travelling. In winter we usually work a bit more and take time for longer boat projects. Some of our must-haves are things that don’t work without shore power. But then that’s not a problem either.
Warmth & heating
After a lot of thought, we decided not to install a diesel or wood-burning stove. There just wasn’t really an ideal place for it without having to alter or rebuild part of the interior. We didn’t want that. And in the end, cutting a big hole in the deck put us off as well. We heat with four different elements, each of which we use for specific purposes.
- Webasto diesel heater: For quick basic warmth and heating at anchor or underway.
- Electric ceramic fan heater Ecomat 2000: Also affectionately known as our “stock cube”, again for quickly warming the air and as frost protection when we’re away from the boat for longer.
- Infrared radiant heater: Like a small stove, it doesn’t heat the air but the nearby fittings and your body when you sit in front of it. A wonderfully cosy warmth for an evening on the sofa. Ours is from Clas Ohlsen in Sweden.
- Oil-filled radiator: Since all the other devices are either noisy and/or carry the risk of fire or fumes catching you out at night, we only leave the oil-filled radiator on overnight. Unless frost is forecast, in which case we trust our fan heater and put up with the loud fan noise.
- Electric blanket: Buying an electric blanket was an absolute game changer for us. It sits under the sheet and warms the bed up beautifully.
Ecomat 2000 heater
Our little fan heater, the Ecomat 2000 – also affectionately known as the “stock cube” – is certainly not the cheapest. But the high-quality build, the low heat setting with only 450 watts consumption, and the stable design that stands firmly in place were worth the extra cost to us.
Consumption: In winter, we use roughly 600 to 700 kWh per month for everything. Most of that goes on heating. At an average electricity price of 35 cents/kWh, that works out at around €230. Fortunately, electricity in Scandinavia is significantly cheaper.
Insulation
- Yoga mats: Since a large part of the cold comes from below, it makes sense to insulate the floor in the living areas. We bought interlocking yoga mats from Biltema (a Scandinavian DIY store) for this. But you can get them from Amazon too. The advantage: in spring, they’re easy to take apart and store away more easily.
- Windows: After our first experiments with bubble wrap film, we picked up a great trick from our Swedish neighbours. We place Plexiglass panes on the outside of the frames and fix them in place with tape. That held up well all winter and really makes a big difference. Thanks to the warm air layer, we no longer have steamed-up windows, and our electricity consumption is around 100 to 200 kWh lower than before. The only slightly annoying bit is removing the adhesive residue in spring.
Moisture & condensation
- 3D mesh: To prevent condensation between the mattress and the bed, we use a thick air cushion. It’s made from a plastic mesh and is about 3 cm thick.
- Dehumidifiers (granules): In places that can’t be aired regularly, such as behind the sofa cushions and in the bilge, we’ve put out granule dehumidifiers.
- Dehumidifier (electric): Absolutely indispensable and more important to us than any heater is the MEACO Junior DD8l dehumidifier. We’ll probably still be using it later on when we’re sailing in warmer places.
MEACO Junior DD8l dehumidifier
From our point of view, it’s ideal for a boat because it’s (relatively) compact, pretty robust, and uses little electricity. It’s also comparatively quiet. Ours has been running continuously for 3 winters now.
Tip: ventilate in freezing weather! Even if it’s hard to do: the best thing is to air everything properly on a cold, sunny winter’s day. That’s why moisture wasn’t such a big problem for us in Sweden compared with the rainy, moderately mild Dutch winter.
Clothing & personal kit for on the go
- Merino base layers: There’s absolutely no alternative to a good set of wool base layers. We have the Devold Expedition Merino 235 (shirt and tights).
- Winter gear: For trips in winter, good sailing gear is obviously essential. Underneath that, we layer as needed with a quilted jacket, fleece jacket, wool jumper, and wool base layers.
- Gloves: Thick water-repellent gloves are a must for trips in cold or wet weather, alongside good sailing gloves. Ours are from Sealskins. They’re actually meant for cycling, but they still work really well.
- Hot water bottle: I like taking one with me and tucking it into the front of my offshore salopettes. It’s a bit like being pregnant, but you definitely don’t get cold any more.
- Thermal mug: Always filled up with coffee or tea when we’re out and about.
- Heated insoles: Absolutely brilliant! Especially because you don’t move around much underway, they’re perfect. Just pop them into your sailing boots and off you go.
Sealskins gloves
They’re actually designed for cycling (and are probably a bit cheaper because of that), but these gloves cope well with line handling. They’re nicely warm and water-repellent.
Life on board & comfort
- LED fairy lights & LED candles make things cosy.
- Projector, Playstation 4 & screen: That’s how we get through long winter evenings.
- Board games, books and puzzles: For fans of analogue entertainment.
World’s smallest puzzle with 1,000 pieces
Doing puzzles while listening to an audiobook is something we’ve somehow really loved ever since كورونا [idiom flagged]. We now have eight different designs of the little Cheatwell puzzles. The size is perfect for the boat.
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