Condensation

[Coupe]

Hi all, I used to post here as straight6 in a previous life. Since then, laptop stolen, trien logging on a few times on new laptop, gave up, tried again this evening, no good so I re-registered - Coupe it is then.
Had a great winter boating up and down the coast, over to Conwy a couple of times and much living aboard. Most new boat niggles sorted out now except - fresh water leak and condensation in cabin when we sleep aboard. Leaving the fresh water leak aside (for the moment), I would welcome opinion on the condensation problem.
As we sleep aboard at least every second weekend, whatever the weather, obviously the problem is worse when the weather is colder. We are now into warmer weather and I feel that the problem is going away (until next winter!). Sealine have been kept informed throughout the winter but have not offered a solution. Warranty is up on May 1st, have I left it too late?
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[BrendanS]

2 things. Where are you getting the condensation? ie which surface? Is it occuring in unlined lockers, on hull, or just generally. Have you considered using a dehumidifier?

Warranty. If you think you have a warranty claim, then put it in writing now. If they don't respond by May 1, that's their problem. However, condensation is probably not a warranty issue, it's just about inevitable on boats to some extent, though you can alleviate my insulation

 

[powerskipper]

Hi glad your enjoying the boat,
try a dehumidifier or leaving a porthole open just a Little, I have found this helps, and on a warm day open all the porthole/window and let the air flow though her, this can help too

 

[Coupe]

Hi Brendan,
Good to see that you are still posting.
The condensation only occurs in the cabin when we sleep aboard. It gathers on the ceiling to the extent that it wakes us early in the morning when it starts to drip.
We have dehumidifer which we use on a timer when we vacate the boat.
We use the rev cycle air con when on board, but not when we sleep.
You are probably right regarding the warranty. Most warranty issues have been dealt with by Sealine. They are trying to locate water leak (local dealer) and this should be resolved soon. They are however caught a little bit on this problem. My opinion is that we all know what happens if we breathe into a plastic bag - so vents should be installed.
What do you think?

 

[Coupe]

Hi Julie,
Hope you have been keeping well since we met at SSUK.
Tried porthole open but gets very cold in a short time.
Also, tried porthole open in en-suite. This helps if we leave door open. But, again - gets very cold.
Also, you may remember my post regarding trim tabs. I was blaming the boat, however, I am afraid that the fault was with "the nut behind the wheel". Sealine Mallorca showed me that lowering the legs to -4 and lowering the tabs fully = on the plane in a jiffy with much reduced hump /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. Gets a bit frantic though when revs reach 3000 as you need 3 hands to lift tabs, legs and throttle back /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[powerskipper]

Hi
does she have the vents in the top of the door to the cabins, could you leave a window open somewhere else, or .....ooo....or
woolys was selling or was it aldi cheap dehumidifiers under a £5 with 2 refiled. the stand in a basin type, they would work... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif


nice to see you posting,

 

[hlb]

I get condensation on the escape hatch above my head. It drips straight down my ear or eye about 6 am. Course this is all cos I'm far to lazy to put the cover over it. So first I'd make sure that you have a cover over the sky light!! after that,,,,, er fresh boat??

 

[Coupe]

No vents in cabin door - should be easy to fit though.
We did'nt have this problem on the S28 as there were vents over galley into the cockpit.

 

[BrendanS]

The fact that the condensation only occurs where you are sleeping, suggest it's not surface condensation where uninsulated hull meets outside. Rather that it's higher moisture content in the air due to your bodies being in the room, and no movement about the boat with doors opening and closing as you'd get during the day, and the aircon.

There is only one, maybe two, solutions for this. More ventilation, or run the dehumidifier in the cabin during the day when you are onboard, with door shut, as that will reduce moisture content to a minimum. Ventilation is the key though!

 

[Coupe]

We have cover over the skylight.
F42/5 under consideration for next year and the new Oyster LD43 looks like our perfect boat - very pricey though.

 

[hlb]

Eeer. Buy a Princess?? Leave bedroom door open, It's much more exiting... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Coupe]

No need to run dehumidifier as the aircon dries out the air completely.
Agree that ventilation is the key. I have looked at some Fairline Phanthoms and they have two vents in the cabin roof. Maybe I am being nieve, but I thought that a large builder like Sealine would be aware of this issue and factor it in to the design. Somewhat surprised that after spending over €300,000 that we have to find a solution ourselves.
Now in fairness to Sealine, they tell me that they have not come across this problem before.

 

[hlb]

I thort that the vents were law now. I got two and my boats 89 vintage.

They lied????

Fit vents then, prob solved.

 

[PhilF]

hold your breath whilst sleeping, or do as we do, leave the heating on low, we never leave portholes open and leave the humidifyer on too

 

[kindredspirit]

Hi Michael,

Good to see you back.

Are you still going to the "Tall Ships" in Waterford?

Kevin.

 

[davedpc]

Condensation occurs when water suspended in the air [in gas form] cools below the dew point. This point is relative twix the amount of suspended water and the temperature. The lower the temp. the less moisture can be held in suspension.This happens in any structure house,car,boat or outside in the open where we call it dew,hence 'the dew point'. When using a dehumidfier it is best to keep the temp. up and most vents closed including those to the engine room if using a d/h when the boat is laid up. You may find that if you leave all the internal doors open when away from the boat and set the d/h to dry the boat drier than usual [turn the humidistate lower] then the onset of condensation will be delayed as the fabrics within the boat will be capable of absorbing even more moisture. As already mentioned a insulated cover over the bed hatch will cut down the dripping a lot.

 

[MedDreamer]

Why not use the dehumidifier when you are on board sleeping?

 

[KevB]

I guess using a dehumidifier when on board asleep is too noisy and leaving a window open in winter is too cold. Have you tried Hydrium crystals, these absorbe water in high humidity and release it when humidity is low.

 

[Planty]

We have the same "dew" problem on the fore cabin "skylight" on our F43 when people sleeping in there, but only if we do not leave dehumidifier on all week when not there draining into shower tray, and continue to dehumidify whilst on board. At least until Early May. If on board we site the dehumidifier on the lower helm steps and it is no noisier than the fridge in truth. Other beauty is we very rarely get condensation on windows of Saloon or windscreen either, which is nice.

As posted above, you still do get a little condensation but certainly not enough to drip. There is more than enough ventilation on the boat naturally IMHO even when battened down tight. One way or another most floors which are not particularly well sealed are connected to the engine room which has 2 bloody great vents in it. Paul

 

[moondarra]

Leave the air-con heating on while you sleep......... if it gets too warm then open a crack of ventilation.........

If the air con heating is noisy, try a small electric oil-filled radiator instead.

The condensation will not form if surfaces are kept above dew point; what is happening to you is that the cabin cools overnight (walls and ceiling first, air second, you tucked up in bed last), condensation then forms on the coldest surfaces and finally wakes you.

PS although when the air con is running, it dries the air, when it is switched off the water collected in the air con vapourises again, so this could be the source of your condensation (you may have sen the same thing happening on your car windscreen). You may find less condensation if you don't use the air con at all!!!!

Are these problems resticted to owners of expensive boats; my Bayliner cost 1/10 as much and has no air con to warm the cabin. The £15 fan heater I bought from Currys keeps it warm enough, what the heck........it floats and its almost paid for!