Moisture traps/dehumidifying

[kilkerr1]

Hey all

The fore cabin 'ceiling' in our little boat gets incredibly damp through the night with both of us breathing in it. We're talking dripping every 30 or so seconds. Not good. It's not headlined at all, so I guess this adds to the increased condensation. We'll be lining it over winter while she's out of the water, and will also be looking at increasing ventilation, but in the meantime (i.e. this weekend) is there a quick and, more importantly, cheap way of cutting down on the condensation (short of trying not to breathe or opening any hatches, as it's freezing)? I've been ogling those moistrue traps for about a fiver with the crystals as possible options - any opinions on how useful these are? Also found a mini dehumidifier for £20, recharges, don't know whether that would be a good investment.

Please help keep us warm and dry!

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[AndrewB]

Not crystals.

Forget the crystals, they are not effective. If you have access to mains electricity, then a basic domestic dehumidifier from Argos (cost about £100) is very effective, though rather a lump to store aboard. Marine versions are more compact, but no more effective, for a lot more dosh. When we're living aboard, my dehumidifier pulls several litres daily.

A small greenhouse heater used in conjunction helps the dehumidifier which won't work in very cold conditions, as well as helping to maintain the internal temperature above dew-point. But heat on its own is not effective when people are aboard.

 

[steve28]

Do what we do,
Put the standard parafin lamp inside a metal cylinder(couple of holes in the base) to sheild the light and this will raise the temp enough to prevent the condensation.

we have been doing this since early october and it works fine, you dont need to have the wick turned up much.

steve

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[Stemar]

If you use any sort of non-flued flame such as the paraffin lamp mentioned above, make sure you've plenty of ventilation or you could get a buildup of carbon monoxide in a confined space, with potentially lethal consequences

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[Rabbie]

I believe also that carbon fuels produce water vapour when burnt, therefore defeating the object!. I wait to be corrected.

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[vyv_cox]

Moisture creator

Burning any kind of flame, whether fuelled by liquid, gas or solid, with the flue exiting inside the boat is generating more water. It, and your breath, will always condense somewhere, if not on the headlining then on windows, hull, engine or any other cold surface. The only answers are either to raise the temperature of everything above the dew point or to extract moisture with some form of de-humidifier.

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[kilkerr1]

Re: Moisture creator

Riiight...so a few differing opinions, as was to be expected, but the overall suggestion is some sort of dehumidifier. That's fine - but can't really afford £100 or so squids right now. Would a mini one like <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.meaco.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DV300>this ickle one</A> be OK, or is it just to small and crappy? Thinking about it, something that's designed for the inside of a wardrobe may not really be that suitable for a boat cabin...having said that, our entire boat isn't much bigger, so it might be perfick!





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[snowleopard]

Re: Moisture creator

no use at all. it's just another of the crystal type and only any good for a small volume. it would take dozens of them to cope with the output from your breath.

the condensation problem can be tackled in two ways: reduce the humidity of the air (ventilation, dehumidifier or stop breathing) or raise the temperature of the surface by insulation and/or heat.

until you can apply insulation to the inside you could put it on the outside by applying layers of old carpet, blanket etc and covering it with something waterproof. it wouldn't look pretty but it would do the job.

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[pwfl]

Are you in a marina? If so, use a standard mains operated fan heater - a basic one should be very cheap from any high st. electrical store.

I spent 2 UK winters with 2 of us on a 28 ft boat, & that's the only thing that worked.

We had a standard domestic dehumidifier, & yes, it did take quite a bit of water, but that was still not enough to stop condensation.

Insulation definitely helps as well.

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[wayneA]

Totally agree with this.

We stay in and sail over the winter and use a 2kw electric fan heater - the saftey kind used in greenhouses that cost about £20 from B&Q. It has a thermostatic control and overheat shutoffs. We leave it on a low/frost-guard setting when not on the boat.

We also have a dehumidifier, but don't use it alot when on the boat. We are always opening hatches etc, letting more water ladden air into the cabin, which ends up being a waste of time. IMHO a dehumidifier is best used when a boat is laid up and closed for the winter.

Wayne

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[Miquel_Culzean]

We are 4 to sleep in a 26', and now we use an electric heater with a thermostatic control. No dehumidifier. Up to now (and those last week-ends, the temperature here in Belgium was about 3-5°C in the night), it has worked perfectly.

Fair winds,

Miquel
Culzean

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[Talbot]

Re: Moisture creator

Instead of buying your mini device - look at this http://www.duogen.co.uk/damp.htm

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[kilkerr1]

Not in a marina - on a fore and aft drying mooring, acces 1 hour +/- HW, there's the rub. So no power, otherwise would go straight for the fan heater option, sounds great.

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[vyv_cox]

You'll find that insulation will make an enormous difference. A camper van I built originally had a GRP hard top that poured condensation whenever anyone slept in the roof. Lining it with carpet overcame the problem totally, but the windows streamed instead.

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[kilkerr1]

Yup, this is what's happening first thing she's out of the water.

Sounds like a fan heater's the best thing for us. Cordless rechrgeable fan heater, anyone..?!

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[richardandtracy]

The crystals cost a fortune to use regularly, don't absorb much more than 30% of their mass of water, and dehumidifiers need lots of power (they're modified fridges after all). Can I suggest a sideways looking, cheap, temporary solution until you improve the insulation & ventilation this winter.

String up a tarpaulin under the ceiling to catch the drips.

Not pretty, not refined, but it'll enable you to sleep without getting dripped on.

Regards

Richard.


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[AndrewB]

Fan heater

Given you've ruled out most other options for the moment, a fan heater sounds like the best short term solution. But don't expect it to work very well when you overnight aboard. If the moisture is in the air then it's the steepness of the temperature gradient on the hull that causes condensation. But at least you won't have to climb into damp bedding.

If squids are in short supply, I think you may find it hard to beat this problem with your present boat, which I believe is totally unlined solid GRP. It takes good insulation to do the job, equivalent to creating an inner lining. Glue on carpet and my guess is you'll just end up with mouldy, damp carpet.

When times were hard I lived aboard a Kingfisher 20 one autumn, up one of the Medway creeks, and was forced by the damp simply to abandon the forepeak. Nothing could be left there without going mouldy. Keeping the hatches wide open at night may have been chilling, but it was the best way I had to keep things dry in the main cabin. A hot water bottle is a good companion!

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[kilkerr1]

Re: Fan heater

You know whereof I speak then! Main cabin has good headlining so we're going to try a night in there this w/end. Fun and games!

So it's sleeping in the main cabin, open fore hatch a tad to allow ventilation, with fleece sleeping bag liners and hot water bottle (unless husband and I manage to squeeze into one berth together - haven't tried this yet, may give it a go...).

Thanks for all suggestions, I kind of thought there wouldn't really be a mega cheap/easy way to keep totally dry and warm at the same time in our boat - can't wait to get the boat sorted over winter.

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[Robin]

Do the squids run to a visitor night in a marina, plus a fan heater?

Been there and threw the mouldy tee shirt away on small boats on cold nights - try 2" (sorry 50mm) icicles in an unlined forecabin....

You MUST have ventilation, the smaller the boat the more important this is unless you can stop breathing. This applies just as much if the boat is lined, the moisture has to go somewhere and it will find the coldest spot, windows, hatches, engine etc. Dry heat ie fan heater, diesel heater (Eberspacher etc) is required, gas catalytic or gas radiant (dangerous) create moisture as does your gas cooker. A de-humidifier is great when the boat is put away for the winter but not otherwise unless you are liveaboard and have heating as well.

The only other option is the fire in the pub till closing time then cuddle up in the main cabin with the forehatch and mainhatch part open, too much 'activity' might increase the moisture creation though.....



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[AuntyRinum]

"Not in a marina - on a fore and aft drying mooring"

All of the suggestions I've seen here are very good but, if you're going to sleep aboard in winter, there is no alternative to proper heating. Dehumidifiers are not the answer. My suggestion is to move into Brighton Marina, link up to shore power and buy a greenhouse heater for £30, never mind the squids. As an aside, I wish I'd met a woman who was prepared to put up with a small boat in winter. You're a heroine.

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