Winter storage - Condensation, dehumidification

[vineyardgray]

We have had a weird winter so far - freezing, mostly, but warmer than normal with a few really cold nights followed by really warm spring like days. This is a recipe for bad condensation.

I was in the 3867 Santego to pull the inop ice maker and see if I could fit a replacement and when I kneeled down, the salon carpet was soaking wet. The boat is wrapped, and I see no leaks, so this is definitely condensation.

Obviously, I yanked up the carpet and put as much stuff under it as I could find to promote airflow.

Then I put a few different no-damp jobs around the place. But I started thinking about these costly things and what a total hack they are. Why can't I dehumidify the living space properly using a dehumidifier??

This could be done when the weather is warm (after cold snaps) during the fall and spring days and could even be done on a humidistat so that no one actually needs to be there.

I have two issues with running a dehumidifier - one is that our marina does not allow overnight power during the winter months, and second is that dehumidifiers do not work in cold weather (unless they're special industrial low temperature jobs).

Any thoughts on this?

[mjk1040]

I'll assume your boat is covered during the winter storage and with shrink wrap. If it is I would suggest purchasing a half dozen or so shrink wrap insert vents. I use the triangle style you push into the shrink wrap, and then tape them with shrink wrap tape for security. Then I go in the boat and open the forward hatch, aft cabin and salon windows to allow air flow through the boat. I also go to the dollar store and purchase those moisture traps. One in the forward berth, aft cabin and 2 in the salon. Last year there was hardly any moisture in the traps.

[bud37]

I agree with Mike.....ventilation is the key to this , the no damp is basically just Calcium Chloride which works as well. We just buy bulk and refill the same traps every year, you can make your own absorbers as well.
Have to say , never came across the carpet being soaked like that though, you sure something didn't leak before ?

[Cooler]

Yep, agree with Bud & Mike. Those shrink wrap insert vents work well and they are cheap. Take care of that asap as that condensation can turn into mildew in no time. A neighbor of mine did not check his boat all winter some years ago. When he came back in spring, the entire cabin ceiling was covered in mildew. This was an express style so it hit him harder, but you do not want to deal with that! er

[denpooch]

If you take a look at the image of my 'shrink wrapped' boat on a recent post you will notice black vents. I used 8 this year. Two of them are directly 'in front' of the port lights which can be opened. One by the head and the other at the galley, which creates a cross ventilation within the cabin. The others allow airflow around the outside of the hull.

[vineyardgray]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone. I do need to get the air moving through the boat. adding vents where the port Does everyone leave their sliding door open as well to promote airflow?

I also started thinking about adding vents to where the engine bay dorade boxes are to promote airflow. Right now the shrink-wrap is over the vents to the engine bay and that seems wrong.

[denpooch]

Personally I don't like leaving cabin doors or hatches open. One for security reasons and the second, if there is a failure in the wrap one might wind up with a cabin full of snow, rain or some critters.