Last spring I went to a bus campout with some friends.  One of them had = a Coleman catalytic heater in his van (the old green style).  He left = a window open somewhat, had a warm night, and woke up the next morning = feeling fine.  However, his girlfriend woke up feeling very bad.  She = had nausea, dizziness, and was generally feeling sick.  She was very = sick for several days and she finally went to a doctor since she had never felt = that way before.  We suspected that she was more sensitive to whatever the = main reason is that they tell you to not use these things in an enclosed = area.  She told the doctor about the heater and he said that was the source of = her problems.  I don't really know the details of his prognosis.
 
Keep in mind that some people are more sensitive to "lack of = oxygen" or "extra CO2" or whatever these things do than others.  She = had a cracked window near her head and it didn't help.  These things = should not be kept on while sleeping. 
 
Steve
 
89 Westy
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing = List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf Of W. Silva
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 9:01 AM
To: = vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Coleman Plat Cat = Heater Report

Twenty years ago we had a '72 bus = and camped with five kids and huge canvas tent .  We  had a Bernz-O-Matic propane camping heater which is the same = "plat cat" style heater as the new Coleman, it was an avecado = green colored (that tells you how old it was) steel box with = room for two of the tall style propane cylinders inside and = the round element and controls mounted on the outside.  If you have one = of these dinosaurs in your basement, dig it out! We found  it to = work very well in the tent with proper venting on chilly fall nights and early = mornings in the mountains of New Hampshire and recently gave it = to our son to use on his family camping trips then promptly went out and = bought the Coleman version of the same thing.  If it lasts half as long = and works as well as the first one we owned it will be the bargain of the century. 
 
With The Coleman Duracat = heater and the Bloss Porta -O-Matic A/C,  every camper will have = the ultimate in comfort and climate control!
 
Happy Camping
 
Wendy & John
Cape Cod, = MA
'85 Westy,   "S-CAPE"
'98 Passat = The Do Dah Machine

CAMPERS ON CAPE COD = 2000