Condensation under v-berth cushions

[LadyJ]

I'm keeping the boat in the water and using on calm days through the winter. Does anyone have advise on what to use to cut down/eliminate the condensation under the cushion. I've seen utubers putting wooden slats and others putting a type of membrane down but looking for the best/low cost simple solution for the winter months. Any help appreciated.

 

[andy59]

We used a mesh under our mattress for 3 years with no problems , http://www.marinebedding.co.uk/Dry-Mesh-Anti-Moisture.aspx

 

[Seastoke]

do you have dehumidifier

 

[Hadenough]

I'm keeping the boat in the water and using on calm days through the winter. Does anyone have advise on what to use to cut down/eliminate the condensation under the cushion. I've seen utubers putting wooden slats and others putting a type of membrane down but looking for the best/low cost simple solution for the winter months. Any help appreciated.

Mesh is ok for occasional use. DH won't work unless you lift the mattress. Slats are good. View attachment 54904 as are BIG holes in the plywood base, if that's what you have. Real secret though is to insulate the hull under the bunk with 20mm closed cell foam.

 

[SteveSarabande]

Would it work just to insulate under the bunk, rather than on the hull.

I have a similar problem, i just pick the cushions up and the dehumidifier dries it out.

 

[LadyJ]

do you have dehumidifier

I don't as I'm only a 25 footer so went with three of the Starbrite Dehumidifier Buckets. There is no sign of damp but I was at the boat today to run my heater for a couple of hours and noticed a slight dampness under the bed.

 

[wipe_out]

Can you stack/layer the cushions in a staggered style so that there is minimal surface to surface contact and lots of air flow? That's what I did in the last boat and it worked pretty well.. Also meant the under cushion storage lockers were being ventilated as well..

 

[Hadenough]

U

Would it work just to insulate under the bunk, rather than on the hull.

I have a similar problem, i just pick the cushions up and the dehumidifier dries it out.

Probably but my objective was to drive the dew point (look it up) to the hull rather than the interior of the boat. Which is why you are really wasting your time with anything less than 15/20mm closed cell foam. When I did the job in the photo recently I stripped out 5mm self adhesive H***e H***e foam which was sodden against the hull under the foam. DH is great but who wants to lift the mattress every day?

 

[elton]

My last boat had a kind of rigid plastic matrix under the v-berth mattresses, raising them about 1/4 inch off the base I don't know what it's called, or where to get it, but it looked like it was designed for the purpose.

 

[scubaman]

We used a mesh under our mattress for 3 years with no problems , http://www.marinebedding.co.uk/Dry-Mesh-Anti-Moisture.aspx

I've used the same product for about five years. Quite expensive but very much worth it. Just to be on the safe side, I always chuck something under the mattress for the day to allow it dry out properly. As a result, there isn't a hint of mould and the cabins smell fresh.

 

[sprocker]

We just stand our cushions on their edge when leaving the boat. This leaves plenty of airflow around them.

 

[KevB]

We used to suffer badly from moisture under the mattress, now I use mesh and also drilled about 50 2" holes in the bed base and prop the mattress up when we leave. Always as dry as a bone.

 

[CLB]

Dry Mat is what you need

 

[alt]

We just stand our cushions on their edge when leaving the boat. This leaves plenty of airflow around them.

^^ This. Such a simple solution. We do it even in the summer... no moisture issues! Only take 10 seconds to put back when you return to the boat the following weekend.

Now that it's winter, ALL cubbords / fridges / doors left open

 

[pks1702]

My last boat had a kind of rigid plastic matrix under the v-berth mattresses, raising them about 1/4 inch off the base I don't know what it's called, or where to get it, but it looked like it was designed for the purpose.

We fitted this to aid mattress comfort but as the mattress sits proud of the base it allows good air circulation.

 

[LadyJ]

Appreciate all the solutions and for now am going to try the marine bedding DRY Mat. The moving of the cushions in the v-berth is a pain as there is one substantially long cushion with the last 3 feet under a low area so simply putting the cushions on their side is not workable. The other solutions would work I'm sure but for ease I will try the mat and report back on how it goes.

 

[Spi D]

We too use Dry Mat with good result during the season. For winter storage the boat is emptied and everything brought home for indoor storage.

There are two sides to the humidity problem:

Keeping dry when boat is left and when in use for overnighting.

Putting cushions on end obviously a bit problematic for overnighting