Keeping bedding feeling dry

[FairweatherDave]

Apologies for this domestic caravanning question but what do people do? Everytime we sleep on the boat (an unpredictable occurence but perhaps only five nights a summer with the whole family) I cart all the bedding over in dry bags in the dinghy. This is laborious and unnecessary I know but I imagine stuff would start to feel a bit damp unused for a month. Boat is on a swinging mooring. Ideally regular use and good ventilation would be the solution. My lot of softies like duvets and feather pillows.. ....(persuading them to come is everything)..... What do others do? Are there special bedding bags for the job?

 

[rafiki_]

We leave ours on-board over the season. On the odd occasion the pillows can feel a tad damp, but this is early or late in the season.

 

[theoldsalt]

FairweatherDave,

If you have power onboard I suggest using vaccuum bags. These are inexpensive plastic bags fitted with an air tight zip and an air valve that store the bedding and the air can be removed with a standard 12v electric dinghy pump on "deflate". This will keep the bedding dry and the vaccuum means they take up very little room.

http://search.qvcuk.com/QVCUK/Searc...s&cm_re=PAGE-_-SEARCH-_-SEARCH&cm_scid=SEARCH

 

[alahol2]

Ours just stays aboard, on the bunk, ready to jump into. They never seem to get damp but they are used most weeks. Duvets and feather pillows for us too.

 

[geoid96]

If you have power onboard I suggest using vaccuum bags. .......

You don't need onboard power. We keep our bedding onboard, and use, right through the winter with vacuum bags. Duvets, pillows in bags. Zip up and then sit on them to get most of air out. Then finish off with hand pump that came with bags.

Ours came from ebay similar to these:

 

[FairweatherDave]

Thanks all so far. More about the boat. The last two Summers have been with a Jeanneau Sun 2000 which means leaving bedding out was not an option ( a large?! open multifunction living area soon fills up) whilst next summer should be with a (spacious) 1977 Centaur (how dry/damp below we will find out).

I shall investigate these vacuum bags....

 

[VicS]

I leave my bedding on board during the summer.
Loosely rolled up and stuffed up the quarter berths.

 

[theoldsalt]

FairweatherDave,

As with almost any boat, she will be as dry as you keep her. My boat has plenty of ventilation and a bone dry bilge. Bedding left onboard all summer rarely feels damp(except during periods of heavy rain and high humidity). If, however a boat is poorly ventilated and constantly has water sloshing around in the bilge then of course she will feel damp.

 

[FairweatherDave]

Theoldsalt
Point well made....
but I'm on an exciting learning curve with the new older boat and also know I can't get over as often as I'd like so vacuum bags would be a good precaution. Would be great is all I know if the boat were bone dry .

BTW the vacuum bags I've seen so far on the net look like they are of variable quality.....

 

[Poignard]

FairweatherDave,

As with almost any boat, she will be as dry as you keep her. My boat has plenty of ventilation and a bone dry bilge. Bedding left onboard all summer rarely feels damp(except during periods of heavy rain and high humidity). If, however a boat is poorly ventilated and constantly has water sloshing around in the bilge then of course she will feel damp.

+ 1

And a hot water bottle adds to the comfort!

 

[theoldsalt]

FairweatherDave,

I bought my vacuum bags from QVC (see link on previous post). They are of very robust quality but they do not come with a pump (hence the suggestion of the electric dinghy pump)

Those on ebay I have no experience of, though the hand pump would be very useful.

 

[johnalison]

We use vacuum bags to keep spare bedding for guests as it saves space as well as keeping them dry. There is no easy way of keeping a boat sweet other than ventilation when a dehumidifier is not available. I doubt if moisture-absorbing granules would have much effect, though they might be worth a try. We used to use them in the winter and I suppose they must have done something as they got pretty sodden. It is always worth keeping the boat well aired and salt-free. Even bedding tends to absorb salty air and may need the occasional wash.

 

[theoldsalt]

FairweatherDave,

If you are interested in vacuum bags but not sure, remember if you buy from QVC you get a 30 day no quibble money back guarantee. So nothing to lose.

 

[V1701]

Fully waterproof dry bags/dry sacks would be more robust, sit on them to expel most of the air, roll the top and it's fully waterproof, used in diving/other watersports, come in all sizes...

 

[FairweatherDave]

Thanks for the further replies and recommendation. Looking forward to not making my Avon look like a bag pyramid with kids perched on top....

PS DJBreeze. I've done the dry bag route (certainly durable) but they are costly too with bedding for 5/6 (and my wife likes atleast 2 pillows)

 

[Heckler]

Apologies for this domestic caravanning question but what do people do? Everytime we sleep on the boat (an unpredictable occurence but perhaps only five nights a summer with the whole family) I cart all the bedding over in dry bags in the dinghy. This is laborious and unnecessary I know but I imagine stuff would start to feel a bit damp unused for a month. Boat is on a swinging mooring. Ideally regular use and good ventilation would be the solution. My lot of softies like duvets and feather pillows.. ....(persuading them to come is everything)..... What do others do? Are there special bedding bags for the job?

We go most weekends, we leave the bedding on board, no probs.
Stu