What is the ideal humidity?

65% was what was recommended to me. What make / model is your unit?
 
IMO 65% is at the top end, if you peruse antiques sites with this question they tend to indicate 40/65%.

My house with its collection of priceless veneered furniture /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif, seems to sit at 45%ish for most of the winter and we don't get any probs. I think I would rather be a bit dryer with no risk of mould in the crevices.
 
I used to work in the humidification industry (note not de-humidification). The ideal rH (relative humidity) is between 40%-60% rH - this is the comfort zone. Below 40% you risk static and drying out of material, above 60% and you risk condensation.

The mid-point on most de-humidifier controls should be 50% - buy a cheap humidity guage to confirm and ensure that the boat is closed up completely otherwise you are asking the de-humidifier to de-humidify the whole world which will be beyond its design capabilities!

Hope this helps
 
55-60% relative humidity will do nicely - cushions will dry.

Drying down below say 50% for extended periods is going to cause solid wood components to shrink slightly, but you'll only get serious problems below 40% RH.

Our boat has no power on mooring, but we leave blinds and dorade vents open - solar gain (even in winter) and natural ventilation do the rest!
 
agree. as long as it's within reaonable limits, whatmatterswhen it comes to stopping timber splitting is keeping the RH stable, orput another way don't let it change too quickly.

a semirelated anecdote:
I know of a concert hall with a 'Transmission Quality' Steinway, (the dog's knees of pianos, worth many 10's of k's) and they keep the hall at 50% RH +/- 3% 24/7. the AC system is unfortunately a bit rubbish and they could almost afford a new piano every year for the amount the spend on the energy bills! No sign of cracking tho /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
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