I was walking through the local huge discount store when I spied the 3000
BTU Coleman "Black Cat" Heater for $44.96. Also available as the Coleman
"DuraCat" at the local huge hardware store for $49.95. It's an appealing
little thing - looks like a 12" round subwoofer and grille on a little
bipod. Being the curious sort, I purchased one and tried it out as a "keep
the van warm while fiddling around in the morning" heater while camping in
Quebec this weekend. It worked just fine - the usual
run-the-engine-'til-the-heat-comes-on ritual wasn't necessary to be able to
move about the cabin in comfort. Definitely keep the window cracked as the
little guy's emissions are quite reminiscent of something that sent me into
a half-hour long coughing fit during a college chemistry lab. And yes - it
certainly does nothing to dry things out. But if an unvented catalytic
heater is what you want, you can get one for less than $50. Note that this
is not something to leave on while you are sleeping or are likely to fall
asleep.

Doug Fitz-Randolph
Yarmouth, ME
'90 Syncro