Date:         Thu, 6 Jan 2000 10:51:02 -0500
Reply-To:     "Fitz-Randolph, Douglas" <dfrandolph@TALKAM.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Fitz-Randolph, Douglas" <dfrandolph@TALKAM.NET>
Subject:      Re: Coleman Plat Cat heater report
Content-Type: text/plain

Malcolm wrote:
<<Each winter, we get around to discussing how to heat the
interior of the van...>>

The heater Malcolm describes can be had in the US at WalMart for $44 and
change. it's called the "Black Cat". Also available from Home Depot for
$49 and change as the "DuraCat". I can attest that it does a fine job
in the van - perfectly quiet, easy to light and very stable. I spent some
time waiting for/riding on the Lake Champlain ferry this past weekend -
I just lit the heater when I parked and in minutes was warm and cozy
stretched out in back reading a book. (If you check out the e-bay auctions,
you'll also see quite a few older propane and gasoline catalytic heaters
for sale which will provide similar performance. Note that the gasoline
models must be lit outside as they burn with quite a sizeable flame for
several minutes while "priming".)

However, as quiet and flameless as the Black Cat heater is, it still
consumes O2 and produces some CO - so it is not a substitute for a true
Plat Cat, or a Carver, Suburban, Espar, Webasto, etc. These heaters are
all vented heaters and vented heaters are the only ones that are safe
to run while sleeping. Period. Malcolm was very correct not to run the
heater while sleeping. If you read the instructions for the Black Cat,
it specifies not to use it while sleeping. Even if you don't read the
instructions, you can't help but notice the poster-sized skull and
crossbones on the warning about the proper use of portable heaters
that comes in the box - and in the box with every portable heater Coleman
sells.

A friendly public safety message from
Doug Fitz-Randolph
Yarmouth, ME
'90 Syncro