It is reliable DRY heat, it uses cabin air for burning and exhaust through deck. When it is dripping wet out in PNW this heat dries things out below. A HVAC guy told me that the relative humidity of outside cool wet air is less than warm air inside the boat. There is a soot issue on deck even when it works perfectly however, not much but how much soot will spoil your day. Also it is not very adjustable, burns best (cleanest) nearly all on, when the temp outside is in the 50's we start opening the boat to keep from overheating. It does not use much fuel and is quiet and cheerful with the glass front and fire showing. Only electric it uses is small pulse pump in engine room. We start it in the morning and shut it off when we go to bed or are gone for over an hour.