This is NOT the World's Best Diesel Heater for Boat, Bus or Van

After five Canadian winters living full-time aboard our 78-foot aluminum trawler, and now in Alaska, we’ve learned the truth about the Dickinson diesel heater—and let’s just say it’s not exactly “the world’s best.” This isn’t a sponsored video it’s our honest opinion and we don’t sugarcoat things here onboard Tangaroa. We bought our Dickinson Alaska heater five years ago and have used it every winter while living aboard in Canada. We are currently living on our boat in Alaska and it’s running right now. It keeps us warm, but it comes with some serious downsides. In this video, Blaine breaks down the five biggest issues we’ve had: soot everywhere, painful clean-outs, a cheaply made fan-assisted flue, a sticking needle and seat that can leak diesel, and that lingering smell that never quite goes away. Yes, it produces a dry, steady heat with no condensation—but after five winters, we’re done pretending it’s perfect. If you’re thinking about installing a Dickinson heater in your boat, van, or bus conversion, you’ll want to see what five years of real-world use actually looks like. #DickinsonHeater #DieselHeater #vanlife 👉 Want to go deeper into life onboard Tangaroa and get early access to every video from both of our channels? Join our crew at www.onboardtangaroa.com or right here through YouTube Memberships. We’re not on Patreon anymore—we’ve built our own space where we can connect directly with you, share behind-the-scenes updates, and offer crew-only perks like: ✔️ Early and ad-free access to all videos ✔️ Real-time Wheelhouse Weekly Video updates ✔️ Our Monthly Captain’s Log newsletter ✔️ Discounts on exclusive crew-only and other merchandise ✔️A Crew-Only Discord Community - we're in there LOTS! Whether you're here for the tech builds, the off-the-grid living, or just the adventure of it all—your support helps us keep sharing it every step of the way. And in return, you get the full story—not just the YouTube edit. ⚓ Join us here: www.onboardtangaroa.com or click “Join” on our YouTube channel to become part of the crew. ✅ Also check out our other channel: Exploring the World Onboard Tangaroa 🆓 Our free newsletter is launching soon—sign up on the site! 📢Tried, Tested & Tangaroa Approved 🧭... We use TIMEZERO for all our navigation — it’s the system we trust to keep us safe out there. They’ve also given our viewers 10% off any product on their site with the code TANGAROA. 📧 Questions/Business Inquiries? Reach us at: [email protected] Programs We Use: 🎵 Music from: Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/3jxxv9 📅 Social media scheduling made easy: SmarterQueue https://smarterqueue.com/?afmc=207 🤣Do you know what BOAT stands for? Bring On Another Thousand. – Unknown (but very relatable)