No Insurance Cover Dehumidifiers For Fire Risk on Boats?

[Forum Admin Team]

You cynic. Surely you aren't suggesting anybody would join the forum and start a thread to post about a problem then shamelessly plug a particular brand of product or device as the solution?
Let's see what kind of Boaty Guy has and give him the benefit of the doubt, shall we?

It has been known, though I couldn't possibly comment in this instance without investigating...

But, hypothetically, if it were so it may be better that full disclosure were offered rather than being named and shamed as undertaking such a deceptive, and brand damaging practice.

 

[A1Sailor]

It has been known, though I couldn't possibly comment in this instance without investigating...

But, hypothetically, if it were so it may be better that full disclosure were offered rather than being named and shamed as undertaking such a deceptive, and brand damaging practice.

I think you are perhaps being a little bit unfair. BoatyGuy is online at present, but has not posted anything further. Your aggressive manner has clearly intimidated him. I don't think this is an acceptable way of treating a new user to the forum(s).
You should be ashamed.:disgust:

 

[JumbleDuck]

Sorry, but ventilation is second best, a long way behind using a dehumidifier, for keeping a boat dry and damp free. Try one before you knock it.

Third best. Best is keeping the boat in a heated shed over the winter.

Which is a silly point, but then so is yours. Dehumidifiers do a good job but they are (or should be) expensive to buy and expensive to run and the cheap ones boat owners try to get away with are often fire risks. I write this at home with a Mitsubishi dehumidifier about a foot from my left elbow. I happily leave it running unattended, but it cost £500 and is world away from the hundred quid toys.

Ventilation is free, easy and poses no fire risk. My boat stays absolutely bone dry all winter, using ventilation alone.

 

[boatyguy]

Hey Im only asking a question. I've done everything I can before parting with cash (I hate parting with the hard earned stuff boat costs way more than i first thought to maintain) but I would rather spend on something that will last. I've contacted retailers, you guys & guys at the marina. Nearly all said that dehumidifiers are better than ventilation but that the issue of strapping one down was an issue. The issue of fire is on my mind as it was mentioned by two retailers that "new legislation was out there from last year" I've asked them to send it but havent got it. Anyway Ive invested more than normal on a product that looks professional and hoping it does the job... We will see but the box arrived and it looks the business... I will update when I find a few hours....

thanks anyway for your input positive and negative.

 

[A1Sailor]

Hey Im only asking a question. I've done everything I can before parting with cash (I hate parting with the hard earned stuff boat costs way more than i first thought to maintain) but I would rather spend on something that will last. I've contacted retailers, you guys & guys at the marina. Nearly all said that dehumidifiers are better than ventilation but that the issue of strapping one down was an issue. The issue of fire is on my mind as it was mentioned by two retailers that "new legislation was out there from last year" I've asked them to send it but havent got it. Anyway Ive invested more than normal on a product that looks professional and hoping it does the job... We will see but the box arrived and it looks the business... I will update when I find a few hours....

thanks anyway for your input positive and negative.

Hope you enjoy your new purchase. I'm interested in finding out how well it performs. How much did you pay for it?
Can you reassure me/us that you have no association whatsoever with Ecor Pro, who manufacture and market the DryBoat®12?
http://www.ecorproducts.com/product/dryboat-12-litre-dehumidifier/

That seems a bit of an impulse buy - 2 days ago you knew nothing about it!
How much did it cost you? Did you get it from a chandler?

Edit: What boat are you using it on? You're profile doesn't tell us much... Welcome to the forums btw.:encouragement:

 

[RupertW]

Third best. Best is keeping the boat in a heated shed over the winter.

Which is a silly point, but then so is yours. Dehumidifiers do a good job but they are (or should be) expensive to buy and expensive to run and the cheap ones boat owners try to get away with are often fire risks. I write this at home with a Mitsubishi dehumidifier about a foot from my left elbow. I happily leave it running unattended, but it cost £500 and is world away from the hundred quid toys.

Ventilation is free, easy and poses no fire risk. My boat stays absolutely bone dry all winter, using ventilation alone.

Your boat and climate works when others does not so understand your ignorance about the benefits of the most highly used recommended and cheap dehumidifiers - they are reliable and used enough to give us all a good idea of their safety and far better than a heated shed, unless that shed had meaty enough dehumidifiers.

I'd love to smell that towel or jumper you leave in a locker all winter to see if your idea of dry is the same as mine.

 

[boatyguy]

Slightly odd thing to say but I think the product is from holland... My Dutch extends to Edam, Tulip & well thats about it... so hope that answers your question A1Sailor. Its not rocket science... just put in "Boat Dehumidifier" into google and it came up on an advert. cost £599. Nice little movie there that convinced me. The smaller one is £100 quid less but I went for more expensive stainless version as I may want to put it into the vent system and it can blow out dry air into the vents I hope and I got stainless because as I'm coastal based. I agree with JumbleDuck. If it looks good trust it. if it looks rubbish then it probably will be. I dont even leave the christmas lights on unattended so Im safety minded. Ill let you know if this box floats or sinks but only after my hands thaw out. I work outside and its freezing out there.

 

[CJU]

I have been using a dehumidifier on board for the last 15 years of 25 years of boat owner ship and have found it much better than ventilation in reducing mould & condensation during winter.
One thing to check is that it will restart if the mains power supply to the boat is accidently disconnected, as some go into standby mode on reconnection. This also means you can run it via a time switch for better economy. Obviously if you visit the boat often it wouldn't be too much of a problem.
A friend of mine works for BSI and has said that anything tested by them will have been checked as safe under lots of conditions i.e. what happens if the fan motor stalls or unit falls over. So lookout for their kite mark.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Your boat and climate works when others does not so understand your ignorance about the benefits of the most highly used recommended and cheap dehumidifiers - they are reliable and used enough to give us all a good idea of their safety and far better than a heated shed, unless that shed had meaty enough dehumidifiers.

I think you are agreeing with me, aren't you? That what's best is very dependent on local conditions and that saying "dehumidifiers are always the best" is just asking for someone to point out that you don't need a dehumidifier if you don't have dampness in the first place.

I'd love to smell that towel or jumper you leave in a locker all winter to see if your idea of dry is the same as mine.

You want to sniff my clothing? Good heavens, I didn't know you cared. That aside, I have learned not to leave wooden spoons on board, but apart from that, not a speck of mildew or a whiff of damp. No need for a dehumidifier, in my case. Your boat may well need one, in which case why not, if you can't afford a heated shed.

 

[Lucky Duck]

I have been using a dehumidifier on board for the last 15 years of 25 years of boat owner ship and have found it much better than ventilation in reducing mould & condensation during winter.
One thing to check is that it will restart if the mains power supply to the boat is accidently disconnected, as some go into standby mode on reconnection. This also means you can run it via a time switch for better economy. Obviously if you visit the boat often it wouldn't be too much of a problem.
A friend of mine works for BSI and has said that anything tested by them will have been checked as safe under lots of conditions i.e. what happens if the fan motor stalls or unit falls over. So lookout for their kite mark.

Last season my marina installed a new electrical system which can be controlled via the web - for the first time I have found a use of it in that I can switch the dehumidifier on and off via the mains electricity supply.

 

[RupertW]

I think you are agreeing with me, aren't you? That what's best is very dependent on local conditions and that saying "dehumidifiers are always the best" is just asking for someone to point out that you don't need a dehumidifier if you don't have dampness in the first place.



You want to sniff my clothing? Good heavens, I didn't know you cared. That aside, I have learned not to leave wooden spoons on board, but apart from that, not a speck of mildew or a whiff of damp. No need for a dehumidifier, in my case. Your boat may well need one, in which case why not, if you can't afford a heated shed.

Yes I am agreeing with you that each circumstance can have a different best option. I do believe that ventilation works well enough for you but am very sceptical that a dehumidifier will wouldn't make it even better- but i haven't changed my CQR for a definitely better anchor because it's never dragged so why spend the money.

 

[[163233]]

There's something about yachtsman that makes some of them prone to inventing rules for themselves and trying to convince others to follow them. I've never come across it amongst any other group of people (except maybe local councillors). I've never had rules on de-humidifiers mentioned by any insurance company, and I read the small print.

+1 Just checked mine over and the closest exclusion would be "recklessness of the insured" and I doubt they could seriously call using a dehumidifier "reckless" with a straight face.

I don't use one myself though, the boat is generally dry enough as it is.

 

[Tranona]

I think you are agreeing with me, aren't you? That what's best is very dependent on local conditions and that saying "dehumidifiers are always the best" is just asking for someone to point out that you don't need a dehumidifier if you don't have dampness in the first place.



You want to sniff my clothing? Good heavens, I didn't know you cared. That aside, I have learned not to leave wooden spoons on board, but apart from that, not a speck of mildew or a whiff of damp. No need for a dehumidifier, in my case. Your boat may well need one, in which case why not, if you can't afford a heated shed.

I think that is the whole point. I have never had a problem with damp or condensation in either of my recent GRP boats, both of which stay in the water all year round. My latest one is as dry and smells the same as when it was first delivered.

Even my old wooden boat suffers little and then in the past mainly from minor leaks. For the last 4 years it has been laid up with an overall cover with a hatch open. Even though some wind blown water does get it it remains dry overall with no condensation.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Yes I am agreeing with you that each circumstance can have a different best option. I do believe that ventilation works well enough for you but am very sceptical that a dehumidifier will wouldn't make it even better- but i haven't changed my CQR for a definitely better anchor because it's never dragged so why spend the money.

Believe me, I have thought about dehumidifying and I have nothing against the things - as I wrote, I have a kick-arse Mitsubishi one right beside me which beautifully compensates for the Galloway weather. It's just that I've never needed one on the boat. I leave cushions on board as well - not a speck or a whiff.

My Hunter 490 lived in a covered but not heated shed, and damp was more of a problem there than in the lean-to she lived in before. Less ventilation, I guess. There wasn't much damp, and a crystal dehumidifier sorted what there is with just one batch of crystals per winter. She's outside again now and seems to be coping fine.

My CQR does just fine too!

 

[A1Sailor]

Hope you enjoy your new purchase. I'm interested in finding out how well it performs. How much did you pay for it?
Can you reassure me/us that you have no association whatsoever with Ecor Pro, who manufacture and market the DryBoat®12?
http://www.ecorproducts.com/product/dryboat-12-litre-dehumidifier/

Slightly odd thing to say but I think the product is from holland... My Dutch extends to Edam, Tulip & well thats about it... so hope that answers your question A1Sailor. Its not rocket science... just put in "Boat Dehumidifier" into google and it came up on an advert. cost £599. Nice little movie there that convinced me. The smaller one is £100 quid less but I went for more expensive stainless version as I may want to put it into the vent system and it can blow out dry air into the vents I hope and I got stainless because as I'm coastal based. I agree with JumbleDuck. If it looks good trust it. if it looks rubbish then it probably will be. I dont even leave the christmas lights on unattended so Im safety minded. Ill let you know if this box floats or sinks but only after my hands thaw out. I work outside and its freezing out there.

Well I'm afraid I disagree - it isn't an odd thing to say. I was simply seeking reassurance that you are an independent thinker like me.
The fact that given the opportunity to reassure me that you have no association with Ecor Pro, and chose not to do so, is somewhat revealing.

I suspect you may be a salesman, or similar, for Ecor Pro and joined the forum simply to plug your product(s). If true it is indeed pretty damaging.
If it isn't, I apologise.

It has been known, though I couldn't possibly comment in this instance without investigating...

But, hypothetically, if it were so it may be better that full disclosure were offered rather than being named and shamed as undertaking such a deceptive, and brand damaging practice.

 

[boatyguy]

A1sailor are you a member of the Scottish Tourist society? To be honest you have put me off ever visiting North of the Border.

I had hoped for information from this forum but I dont think its for me.

Thanks All who contributed positively

 

[boatyguy]

And just to clear the matter (because subtle doesn't work with A1Sailor) I'm a Tree Surgeon with an 8 year old Beneteau Oceanis 43 who wont be returning to this site.

 

[JumbleDuck]

A1sailor are you a member of the Scottish Tourist society? To be honest you have put me off ever visiting North of the Border.

I had hoped for information from this forum but I dont think its for me.

Thanks All who contributed positively

And just to clear the matter (because subtle doesn't work with A1Sailor) I'm a Tree Surgeon with an 8 year old Beneteau Oceanis 43 who wont be returning to this site.

But still no answer to the question, eh?

 

[RupertW]

But still no answer to the question, eh?

Quite - clearly some link to the company - usually it's a brother in law so with no evidence but a hunch I demand to know who is brother in law is.

Doubtless I will just get a name

 

[A1Sailor]

There's a video "promoting" the DryBoat® dehumidifier here:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/you-would-leave-your-toaster-home-unattended-so-why-martin-gray/
I came across it in the LinkedIn public profile of:

Martin Gray
Director, Ecor-Pro B.V. Manufacturing Air Treatment Appliances & Catering Grills

https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-gray-46527715/

Wouldn't it be hugely ironic if BoatyGuy were Martin Gray!
Are you, Guy?

btw I think there's a spelling mistake in Martin's narrative about DryBoat®:

We saw the problem long ago and set about designing the solution. The Ecor Pro DryFan® & DryBaot® are commercial grade units, the size of a shoe box & designed for home use. Above all they are commercial grade & unique.

Happy to help.:encouragement: