Drying wet insulation

[roaringgirl]

I've recently re-sealed the saloon windows. I'm very happy to say the butyl tape has worked a treat. There is a horizontal beam in the hull about 60cm below the window, which forms a small shelf. The side of the hull and the shelf are covered in some kind of foam and then the foam is covered with the usual thin carpet stuff. Now there's no more water coming in, I'm hoping to dry out the foam insulation where the water has been gathering at the point where the shelf meets the hull.

I've had the dehumidifier on max, blowing dry air in that direction for 48hrs, but it's still damp. I do not want to open the can of worms that is peeling off the insulation. Does anyone have any tips or tricks for drying it in-situ?

 

[iamtjc]

If it is very wet, pressing a newspaper hard against it can draw some water out.
Since you have a dehumidifier you must have power so I might try running a travel Iron over it. Have to get the temperature setting right though not to melt stuff.

 

[jdc]

Make sure that it's not salty. Often the best technique on a boat is thoroughly soaking and rinsing the area to be dried with fresh water before drying it. If it's only fresh water the dehumidifier will work, but it'd take a fortnight of not living on board.

 

[roaringgirl]

it'd take a fortnight of not living on board.

Not going to happen!

 

[rogerthebodger]

My view is you need dry hot air so the water will evirate quickly you may also need time to get it as dry as possible.

I had issues with foam filled mooring floats and I removed all the foam to remove the water that had soaked into the foam

 

[jdc]

Not going to happen!

I suspected as much which is why I put in that bit! So you'll have to apply local heat, still after making sure no salt 'tho.

 

[Boater Sam]

Warmth, ventilation and time will dry it.

 

[2Tizwoz]

I've recently re-sealed the saloon windows. I'm very happy to say the butyl tape has worked a treat. There is a horizontal beam in the hull about 60cm below the window, which forms a small shelf. The side of the hull and the shelf are covered in some kind of foam and then the foam is covered with the usual thin carpet stuff. Now there's no more water coming in, I'm hoping to dry out the foam insulation where the water has been gathering at the point where the shelf meets the hull.

I've had the dehumidifier on max, blowing dry air in that direction for 48hrs, but it's still damp. I do not want to open the can of worms that is peeling off the insulation. Does anyone have any tips or tricks for drying it in-situ?

You could try a vacuum cleaner.

 

[ashtead]

Which dehumidifier are you using? The Meaco can dry clothes as it heats up air and I recently used it to dry the carpet in the car effectively -2 days on took out 2 of the inbuilt containers worth of water but appreciate car internal volumes smaller than a boat.

 

[B27]

A wet vac is worth a try.

While it's still wet might as well get the carpet shampoo out and freshen it up?

Lots of ventilation is good on dry days.
Dehumidifier and fan heater on damp/humid days.

I dried out my car by driving with the windows open on the fast bits of road, heater and aircon on the slow bits!

 

[roaringgirl]

The answer turned out to be: a hairdryer