Help, condensation problem

J

Jon945

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Hi all

Purchased first boat earlier this year, a 1990 Rinker V190, she's in need of some work inside and out which I'm looking forward to doing over the winter months, mechanically she's ran great all season. Anyway, got new canopy fitted last week and think floor got a bit wet when fitting, went down to boat yesterday (Loch Lomond) and water was dripping everywhere. I have a tarpaulin covering her as well so not sure if this is keeping all the moisture in.

Any tips on keeping her dry. She's on a trailer so don't have any electricity.

Thanks

Jon
 
The only surefire solution is a dehumidifier, but that is not possible without power. The tarpaulin will not be helping - the boat is already wet, so all it is doing is keeping the moisture in. The other traditional measures are heating and ventilation - but, once again, without electricity your heating options are limited to burning things which will just put more moisture into the air within the boat.

I think you need to ventilate it well and hope for a cold, dry spell within the next few weeks when the atmosphere will dry out a lot. You may then be able to seal the boat up and retain that dry air inside till the weather warms up. Is there any possibility of towing it somewhere where you do have access to power, at least temporarily, and borrowing a dehumidifier to get her dry before you seal her up and return her to the usual storage space?
 
Presumably the tarpaulin is covering the ventilators. Why not arrange some good through ventilation, and mop up what wetness you can to give it a head start.
 
As well as ventilation, you can also use the moisture absorbent granule type dehumidifiers.
Basically a plastic tray into which you put dry white granules out of a packet.

They do absorb moisture very well, and they're widely available at low cost.
Available at swindleries, hardware shops etc. Cost around a fiver.

As mentioned above, best to try and dry everything out manually as best you can to start with - wipe everything down, mop up, dry with a towel.
Then let ventilation and moisture traps do the rest.
 
omega2 said:
Leave it uncovered, it's a boat!
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Tarpaulin may be fine for a week or two, after that you risk dust and grit being blown in and you may have effectively covered your boat and canopy with sand paper, the wind will move the sand paper constantly and wear a hole in your canopy and take all the shine off your gelcoat.
 
Yep, you will get a large granule dehumidifier at Aldi, with 3 spare packs of granules for £7.99. Good bit of kit, but will not dry out your boat as it stands. This will work if you start with a dry boat.
 
The granule pot things were useless on our small fairline
The cure a proper dehumidifier, make i cant remember but model number i can! DD8L
Just googled it, http://www.meaco.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DD8L
Most dehumidifier are air con type machines and all seem to break down and die, the DD8l is a dessicant type machine with a dryer built in.
Done loads of research and basically this is what the liveaboard canal boaters are using.
 
lynall said:
The granule pot things were useless on our small fairline
The cure a proper dehumidifier, make i cant remember but model number i can! DD8L
Just googled it, http://www.meaco.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DD8L
Most dehumidifier are air con type machines and all seem to break down and die, the DD8l is a dessicant type machine with a dryer built in.
Done loads of research and basically this is what the liveaboard canal boaters are using.
Click to expand...

Agreed the Meaco is the only dehumidifier worth having - but not much use to the OP since he does not have access to power. I'm afraid the only solution is really good ventilation.
 
Like the look of these fans, not sure where they could be fitted though, and yes we do get sun light in winter, maybe about 10 hrs just now. Going to get down and get tarp of asap, as I thought this is acting as a trap.
Cheers
 
Jon945 said:
Like the look of these fans, not sure where they could be fitted though, and yes we do get sun light in winter, maybe about 10 hrs just now. Going to get down and get tarp of asap, as I thought this is acting as a trap.
Cheers
Click to expand...


And tilt the trailer so any water runs off over the stern??
 
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