How to remove moisture from the boat? Here is the topic with which today’s column dedicated to those of you who, like me, have always had the dream of living aboard a boat. In addition to the many tips and seafaring culture found in the literature (Motor Boats also made its contribution with the manual Living on Board, which you can find HERE), I want to share with you many tricks and curiosities that have come to the surface both from experience on board with some sea wolves and from small adventures that have turned out to be “educational” accumulated personally over years of “seafaring” life.
How to eliminate moisture
The first topic is humidity in boats and how to defeat it, without passing out.
You are as welcome as water on board, says a sailor’s proverb. Two undesirable guests on the boat: seawater and … condensation! In fact, humidity in the boat and cabin is among the most disliked and annoying problems of the yachtsman. It must be said that the droplets that soak the interior are annoying but also quite harmless to the boat.
The real nightmare is the resulting mold! Wherever condensation stagnates, in fact, many layers of greenish mycelia will quickly form (green, it is known, leads to evil aboard, because it is the color of mold), and their spores, will take a time inversely proportional to cabin humidity to infest any room.
Spots on pillows, mattresses or on clothing left in cupboards will be the first alarm bells. Then they will dye the galley green, especially the refrigerator area, all the paperwork (logbook, charts, pilot books…), the rubber gaskets, and finally every material, from the respect tops to the interior linings… in short, because of the humidity, your cabin will end up being eaten by mold!
We have already talked about important (and more financially challenging) solutions such ashow to virus-proof your boat (including DIY)andothers. I want to summarize here a number of simpler and cheaper solutions and tricks that can make a difference in the fight against condensation and moisture in boats.
TWELVE NO-COST (OR ALMOST NO-COST) TRICKS TO BEAT HUMIDITY IN THE BOAT
- Extensive use of absorbers. They do not consume, and I have personally verified their effectiveness by monitoring the on-board hygrometer daily during a long berth. In one week relative humidity reduced from 80% to 40%. Always use the appropriate tray (which is sized according to the salt cartridge). It is dangerous not to use it and discharge condensation directly into the sink, worse with the overboard sockets left open! Salts (e.g. calcium chloride) can be corrosive to seals and harmful to marine environment.
- Silica-gel bags everywhere. They are almost all regenerable by leaving them in the sun one day or putting them in the microwave.
- Ventilate. Open cupboards, lockers, under benches, circulate air, at every opportunity. Especially the closets, the ones you would paradoxically want to keep closed so that moisture does not get to the clothing, better be ventilated as much as possible.
- Wind sleeve. In the roadstead, either a commercial thin canvas, or a more artisanal cardboard box on the open forward hatch to let in some dry wind.
- Solar fans. For the boat at the mooring, easy to install are small self-contained fans powered by solar panel, suck in air and provide recirculation without having to leave the boat powered. A simple 12V table or car fan provides good flow, but don’t leave it on if you are not on board!
- Grids. During storage, you can request for little cost the installation of additional air vents or grilles. There are all kinds, both for hatches and for the deck, watertight, equipped with mosquito nets… Before drilling holes in the deck, rely on the experience of shipyards: maintenance, type, placement, and proper sizing are important, including for safety.
- Interspaces. Create air space between surfaces and cushions . There are many insulation materials specifically designed to circulate air. Lifting mattresses and pillows whenever they are not in use makes a difference; a good diameter dry line put between the pillow and the serpentine surface can ensure a good release.
- Sun baths. Not very elegant if you are at anchor in Portofino, but on dry, windy days, spread out as much deck material as possible and give the cushions a sunbath; in addition to removing the moisture trapped inside, the UV rays will kill lots of micro-organisms.
- Always the lid on the pots! The lid will be the preferred condensation surface for all kitchen vapors. Note that pressure cooker is definitely fast but the valve releases a lot of steam in the cabin.
- Wash indoor surfaces with fresh water. Inevitably some saltiness will always settle, and salt will attract moisture.
- Shaving foam instead of expensive anti-fog products on portholes. Just spread a small amount on the glassware with a cloth and you will solve the fogging. This little trick I learned from a camper, and it works: beware, however, that shaving foam is corrosive on plexiglass and abs glassware.
- Do not go below deck with wet bathing suit and towels. Talk about mold between the sheets to your l crew and you will see how they will be more likely to comply with this rule.
Luigi Gallerani
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