Port Napoleon for the winter? How dry is it?

[whiteoaks7]

OK - dry in the sense of atmospheric moisture, before some wag tells me port are usually wet places. We're leaving our Moody there over winter and I'm wondering whether I'll need the dehumidifier. Looking at the cost of electricity there (3E per day - still can't believe it!!!!) the question is almost answered for me, but, if anyone has experience which may sway me one way or the other please reply.
Cheers, David

 

[Twister_Ken]

Not specific to Port Napoleon, but generally for the SoF, where we spend a lot of time...

Winter day time temps can be very pleasant, high teens or low twenties, but evenings and nights are chilly. Therefore you can expect quite a lot of condensation to form overnight and dry off in the morning. However, this affects outside surfaces more than inside ones, so wouldn't have thought it would be a particular problem with a boat.

Rainy or misty days are unusual , and when it does rain it is usually the short sharp shock sort of thing, rather than hours and hours of drizzle, so the atmosphere is generally quite dry.

As well as moisture, worry about wind. Winter mistrals can be very strong, so loose canvas may be damaged.

Most boats overwintering have power leads going to them, but whether this is for heating/dehumidifcation or just battery charge, I'm not sure.

 

[Squeaky]

Good afternoon:

I might be wrong but it would seem to me that any moisture in your yacht could condense when it is cold but would evaporate when it warms again. In other word it would be re-cycled and not do much harm. I think I would be inclined to make sure that there was good circulation under cushions etc so any condensation could evaporate - stick a jar or something to create space under the cushions etc.

Of course if there was a leak, there would be a serious problem but if the yacht is leak free, I don't see the need to worry.

Cheers

 

[Cspirit]

We have left our boat both ashore and afloat in the Western Med (including two winters @ Port Nap) for the last six years. We've never used a dehumidifier there, although now we're back in the UK, we find it essential. However, we have always used small solar panels to keep the battteries charged and on returning to the boat after five or six months, we've never been greeted with the UK damp boat smell. And the batteries have always been fully charged and have lasted six years. So, I'd say, don't bother with a dehumid. Just make sure you have good ventilation. Hope this helps.

 

[Abigail]

Agree with Cspirit, if you are leaving the boat there, which we did last winter. But don't leave the ventilation to open as the air is very dusty and it will get in if you leave too much space. Our dorado funnels kept it out. Also put rags in your seacock through-hulls to discourage creepy crawlies.

People do live aboard all winter at Port Nap (including Zigmundo van Dog of this parish) but it's pretty isolated and it helps to have a car. If you are going to be aboard then look also at the town dock or at the marinas around Toulon.

 

[blueglass]

Port Nap staff will plug your boat into the power once a week or once a fortnight for 24 hours to charge your batteries up and give the Dehumidifier a blast. Did this 2 winters ago and was only charged for the electricity for the days it wa plugged in - a major saving on permanent supply