"Vacuum" storage bags

sarabande

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How practical are they on board a small boat for clothes that one wishes to leave between visits ? Main thoughts are stopping kit becoming damp.
 

Yngmar

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Fantastic, but make sure you buy good quality ones. The cheap ones I tried at first didn't hold the vacuum and soon puffed back up to original size. The linked ones held vacuum for an entire summer, and reduced the size of my winter duvet from "where the 'eck do i put this massive thing" to "oh neat, now it fits on top of the water tank under the bed". Also obviously you'll need a vacuum (or a hoover) if you actually want to flatten the contents. They will keep moisture out even if you don't, but make sure you have reasonably dry cabin air when packing things up, else you're just creating a mould greenhouse.
 

Pye_End

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I put a pipe on the suctions side of a dinghy foot pump to draw the air out. Not quite as good as the vacuum cleaner at home, but a respectable second.

Otherwise, once opened, you may consider it 'used' till you take it home. Several small bags therefore may be more practical than a couple of larger ones.
 

Caer Urfa

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How practical are they on board a small boat for clothes that one wishes to leave between visits ? Main thoughts are stopping kit becoming damp.

Used them for years I keep my bedding in them when I am not aboard in the winter and they keep them 100% dry, then before use stick hot water bottle in them for a few hours to be 100% :)
Agree seal using a vacuum cleaner
 

jac

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I've been using some this season and i'm happy. I used Packmate which seemed to have a good reputation.

I donlt suck air out but will squeeze as much air out as I can before closing up. Works well with bedding as well.

I bought some silica gel pouches and pop one or two into each bag to take care of any moisture trapped inside the bag. Available on Amazon. No issues with damp to report.
 

Pagetslady

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Hi has anybody come across a vacumed bag large enough to take a full size double bed appropriate 6' x 4'6" if I could put my mattress in one of those for the winter I could leave it on board?
Mike
 

Slocumotion

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Hi has anybody come across a vacumed bag large enough to take a full size double bed appropriate 6' x 4'6" if I could put my mattress in one of those for the winter I could leave it on board?
Mike

This seems to be the opening round of a new "Pi##ing up the wall" contest and since Lakey appears not to be around just now may I step in here to point out to potential new entrants that a simple addition or multiplication of any dimension is not currently regarded as a valid bid (though here Pagetslady has left him/herself open to an obvious counter by not specifying that third dimension)
Doublings (and beyond) are acceptable ..."I really need a six-pack of the abovementioned size for MY boat", but "I'm refitting this winter, you can have my old ones" would earn more style points.
So, step up to the wall gents . Zips down and lets have a good clean contest (No video entries, please)
 

jac

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Hi has anybody come across a vacumed bag large enough to take a full size double bed appropriate 6' x 4'6" if I could put my mattress in one of those for the winter I could leave it on board?
Mike

I leave mine on anyway. She is ashore for 3 months from December to March with a dehumidifier and tube Heaters and mattresses are turned on edge so that top and bottom will air and don't have any issues.
 

Neeves

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We don't have winter, or not as you know it, so its not an issue :)

Its like all the talk of 'foul' weather gear - we need sailing gear to stop us getting skin cancer and keep us cool :(

You worry about mould we worry about salt water crocodiles, great white sharks and Ross River Fever

Different phobias

Jonathan
 

charles_reed

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We don't have winter, or not as you know it, so its not an issue :)

Its like all the talk of 'foul' weather gear - we need sailing gear to stop us getting skin cancer and keep us cool :(

You worry about mould we worry about salt water crocodiles, great white sharks and Ross River Fever

Different phobias

Jonathan

Jonathan,
Thou should not mock the afflicted - anyway with global warming Brits will soon be able to enjoy tiger sharks and salt-water crocs.

In answer to the original OP, I've found them invaluable, they reduce clothing, sheets and towels to 50% of their volume, whilst keeping things from getting damp in the Med climate.
Whilst it's possible to withdraw air, from them, to get a vacuum, by mouth, I use a €19.99 cleaner that I bought in Carrefour which is invaluable for boat cleaning as well. Cuts down breadcrumb removal from 25' to 30".
I'd reiterate getting good quality ones (@ least 1100microns thick) is essential or you have to treat them as 1-trip devices. The usual sizes are too large for most locker-entries, get what are referred to as "small".
Because Jonathan is a boong he never uses such European niceties as plastic bags :)
 
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bitbaltic

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Fantastic, but make sure you buy good quality ones. The cheap ones I tried at first didn't hold the vacuum and soon puffed back up to original size. The linked ones held vacuum for an entire summer, and reduced the size of my winter duvet from "where the 'eck do i put this massive thing" to "oh neat, now it fits on top of the water tank under the bed". Also obviously you'll need a vacuum (or a hoover) if you actually want to flatten the contents. They will keep moisture out even if you don't, but make sure you have reasonably dry cabin air when packing things up, else you're just creating a mould greenhouse.

Timely thread as I was just about to buy vacuum bags for winter storage. We bring all the bedclothes back to the house for washing and storing, but it takes up so much space in our spare bedroom that this year I am decided to vacuum pack it all and put it back on the boat. It'll all be packed up at home so no issues with damp air etc. The bags you linked to look much better than anything I was looking at so I have ordered a pack- thanks for the heads up.
 
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