Condensation drips - how to make them drip somewhere else

[Conachair]

I've got an irritating drip above my bunk from a hatch above the bunk, anyone know of a way to get the condensation to run to one side of the hatch and drip over the cabin sole and not me? Steel boat is well insulated but in this cold weather the windows seem to get a bit of condensation, diesil heater seems to keep rest of the boat warm & dry.
Thanx

Paddy - Conachair

 

[oakum]

Heel her over a tad !

 

[Cardo]

You need to let me pop round to visit, I'm sure I could make lots of comments. Not sure if they'd be of any help, though

 

[RickMoss]

I normally just stuck a small wad of toilet paper in the corner of the forehatch; that seemed to sort it for the night.

Replace as necessary....

 

[bdsweeting]

Do you have an vertical surface running from the hatch down to the ceiling line?

Could you run a small bead of silicone sealant from the high point towards the low point to form a sort of gutter to lead the water elsewhere?

 

[robind]

Does the hatch have plastic or glass in it and is this the reason for the condensation? If so then a piece of polystyrene sheet cut to fit tightly over the hatch with a temporary polythene or canvas cover over it will stop the condensation dead. The thickness of Polysryrene will depend on the amount of condensation remaining. I have covers for my window and hatches and in the winter I slip a piece of Polystyrene the same size as the hatch under the covers and no condensation. I also have a dehumidifier which also help.

 

[heerenleed]

we have the solution

We had the same problem. I really think every liveaboard boat has it. Our solution was a side effect from another problem solved: we wanted to keep the hatches open a bit without rain coming in. We built boxes for each hatch, about 10 inches high square boxes that are larger than the hatch, the box has no bottom and the "lid" is perspex. at the bottom end we fixed 4 small rubber door stoppers, one at each corner. Just put the box over the hatch. the rubber stoppers keep it off the deck so air can ventilate underneath. The perspex allows daylight in. If you open the hatch a little bit the warmer air from inside slowly spills into the box where it is taken away by the airflow. The constant airflow through the slightly opened hatch will keep condensation away.

simple, really... and it works a treat. As the boxes look horrid I will soon make folding ones that are easier to stow when not in use. We now leave them ashore in summer or when we take the boat out in winter.

If you need any piccies just send me a PM

cheers

 

[robind]

Re: we have the solution

good Idea but doesn`t the fresh airflow bring in more moisture?exasibating the problem elsewhere perhaps?

 

[trouville]

Re: we have the solution

I agree with the toilet paper, but i find kitchen paper better as the sheats are bigger,even rain leaks are fixed this way for the night!
If im really sleeping then i lead a edge of the paper so if it needs changing and starts leting drips out they drip on another paper or bucket not me!

In Sweden i slept mostly with a bucket! If you move to much you know almost at once, better stay still and rest than sit allnight in discomfort. This summer i had a lot of practic.

 

[heerenleed]

Re: we have the solution

No it doesn't. Warm air wants to flow upward. And you DO need a proper ventilation at all times. Trust me, it works a treat. We have been living aboard Heerenleed for six years now and the boxes have been made four years ago. Wouldn't go through another winter without them!

Anyway, the boxes provide some suction through the hatches. The fresh air comes in from other ventilation openings. We also use a heat exchanger in our Kabola and radiators heating system, so we add forced ventilation to our natural ventilation

Could go on and on about heating and ventilation but don't have the time right now

cheers

 

[Conachair]

Thanks all, may try the gutter option, maybe with bluetack for starters. But now the temps gone up a fraction prob has gone away! Thought also of installing some small computer fans, heat from heater seems to stay at top.

Padz - Conachair

 

[kds]

I think it was Denny Desouter who used string. Stuff one end into leak and take string downwards in an arc to a spot where the drips will not wet you. Water follows the string down and you stay dry.
Ken

 

[pernoll]

Re: we have the solution

Cut a plastic plate to messure, very thight. Add a some 12 x 12 self addehessive foam list on the inside and insert as a doubble window. This has served us well in foggy Venize and now in Levkas, Greece.

 

[Abaker]

Our forward hatch--aluminium frame with plastic insert--above V-berth where we sleep while in harbour drips condensation in chilly damp weather. My wife made a screen and a thin cotton curtain which attach to the headliner via velcro tape glued on just outside the hatch frame. By chance we discovered that the curtain also solves the problem of dripping condensation. The curtain provides an air space of a couple of inches between it and the hatch, giving some insulation. Any drips that still come fall on the curtain where they evaporate.

 

[pernoll]

Re: we have the solution

A Swedish cosailor in Chiogga, Italy had boxes made of plexiglas, bent and glued by a professional. We copied with a wooden frame, 10 cm. high, 4 boxes all made so they can be stowed into each other. They functioned perfectly avoiding condensation in foggy and humid Venetian winter.
For the hatches not to open, we cut out plexiglas fit to messure of our mosquito screens. The fixed windows were also fitted with a plexiglas cut tightly and fitted with 10x12 mm self adhesive insulation tape. Mount the tape slightly outside the edge of the "2nd. window" so it will be in place even if the wall is leaning inwards. They have even been fitted now in Levkas and makes our lifes better /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif