Condensation Under Bunk Cushions

[Ships_Cat]

Yes, we do have a shower on our boat, however, when away from shore for 3 or so weeks (which we normally do at least twice a year) we don't carry enough water to shower at all - we do wash though /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

As I alluded to before, the trick is to not have an impermeable barrier above you in the bunk as well. The same mechanism applies, the warmth of the bodies in the bunk drives the moisture upwards through the bed covers to the air in the cabin. In warm weather the coverings are just light or non existant, of course, and in colder weather the temperature gradient from in the bunk to the cabin air is greater giving greater driving force to the moisture through the thicker over covers used then.

I am not talking about using the cheap crinkly, smelly PVC'ish type mattress covers one can get for on land for invalids' beds, but the kinda stuff that is used in babies cots, for example. We haven't done this, but some boats upholster their bunks with the soft vinyl (or whatever it is) stuff used in conventional upholstery and that too provides a vapour barrier.

The perfect solution is a thick ventilated innersprung mattress like on land, but takes up a lot of room in a smallish boat and also an expensive special build to get one.

John

 

[bonny]

We had this problem and considered choir matting but considered it too expensive especially if it doesn't work as well as advertised (could get no first hand experience). Also considered bed slats but again seemed too pricy for same reason. Then we came across IKEA bed slats which will cover 2m long x 900mm wide for the grand sum of £12. Bought 2 and cut them to fit our double berth. The slats are made of beech so can be cut easily and simply push into rubber sidees to hold them together. Result, best god damn £24 ever spent on the boat. Instead of soaking wet mattresses every morning there is now just a slight hint of dampness under a couple of slats.