When you live aboard a narrowboat or use one for holiday cruising, your stove isn’t just for cosiness — it’s your main source of heat. With limited fuel storage and a small burner, getting the most from every burn is essential. Here's how to keep your boat warmer, for longer.
Choose Dense, Dry Fuel
The biggest boost in heat comes from choosing the right fuel. Softwoods burn fast and waste energy, while traditional coal is dirty and less efficient.
Instead, go for:
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Wood briquettes – super-dense, low moisture and high output
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Kiln dried hardwood logs – like oak, ash or birch, always under 15% moisture
At The Logsmith, all of our fuels are Ready to Burn certified — giving you maximum heat with minimum waste.
Use Smaller Splits and Top-Up Wisely
Small boat stoves heat up quickly, but they can also overheat if overloaded. Use smaller logs or broken briquettes to keep a consistent fire going without spiking the temperature too quickly.
Top up once flames have died down and a glowing bed of embers has formed. This gives a cleaner burn and helps avoid sudden smoke bursts.
Keep Your Stove Well Maintained
A clean stove runs hotter and more efficiently. Regularly:
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Empty ash pans
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Clean the flue (get it swept every year)
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Check door seals and vents for air leaks
A well-sealed stove with good airflow control will hold heat better and burn fuel slower — ideal for small spaces.
Improve Airflow for a Hotter Burn
Don’t choke your fire — oxygen is essential. Open the air vents fully when lighting the stove and gradually close them down once the fire is established.
For small stoves, keeping the airflow balanced means:
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Quicker ignition
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Less smoke
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Longer, hotter burns
Use Fire Starters & Kindling Efficiently
Wasting loads of kindling just to get started? Use natural fire starters and just a few pieces of kiln dried kindling to get going. This gives you a fast, clean start — so you can get to the main heat phase faster without flooding the stove.
Consider Night Briquettes for Overnight Heat
For longer burns, night briquettes can help maintain warmth overnight or while you’re away from the boat. These are slow-burning, low-flame options designed for smaller spaces — ideal for boaters who don’t want to relight every morning.
Reflect and Insulate
Want to go a step further? Add a heat reflector behind your stove to direct warmth into the cabin, and insulate surrounding areas to trap heat. These tweaks improve efficiency without needing to burn more.
Stay Warm, Burn Smart
A small stove doesn’t mean small warmth. With the right fuel and a few simple practices, you’ll get powerful heat output and long-lasting comfort from your boat stove all season. At The Logsmith, our briquettes, kiln dried logs and natural fire starters are all designed for smart, compact living.