cabin ventilation

S

sebagoman007

New Member
Oct 6, 2006
352
Ipswich, MA & Sebago Lake, ME
I'm all winterized and wrapped up for the season, but that doesn't keep me from planning the next boat improvment. Which brings me to the question - what do you folks do about cabin ventilation while at the slip? I leave my boat during the week with a cockpit cover on and the cabin door slightly ajar, hoping to get some ventilation in the cabin, but it always feels damp and musty when I open it up. I can't (obviously) leave the portholes or the bow hatch open to get a cross flow of air because of rain, and I'm leery of leaving any kind of electric heater or fan running when I'm not there. I was flipping through an issue of WoodenBoat magazine the other night and saw a schematic of a Dorade-style vent on a classic sailboat that got me to thinking. I wonder if I could fabricate a functional equivalent of one of those to put in place over the bow hatch when I'm away from the boat? That would be rain-proof but would allow for for some airflow through the cabin whenever there's a breeze. Ideally it would be collapsible so it wouldn't take up much room when stowed, perhaps made from nylon or canvas with fiberglass rods (like in a dome tent) to hold its shape. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

Cheers,

Bill
 
Bill,

If you have power while in the slip you can have your AC cycle. This will help keep the moisture down in the cabin. Our AC has a programmable "dehumidify mode" which is just for this purpose.

Mike
 
Hey Bill,
Do you have power though so you can maybe get a portable dehumidifier?
 
I close the cabin up tight + place a Dry Z Air dehumidifier on the shelf above the sink. Aside from a small amount of mold in the frig (because I leave the door closed) and under the head lid, we have not encountered moisture issues in the cabin over the winter. We leave our boat in the water all year.

http://www.drizair.com/
 
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I second the solar vents. My dad has two on his trawler and they work as advertized. No leaks and can run on solor or internal battery. By the way, the one in the head exhausts out and the one in the forward cabin draws air in.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I may try the dehumidifier route as I do have shore power, I could set it on the counter and have it drain into the sink and right overboard. Still, I was really hoping to figure out a passive (non-powered) solution. The solar powered vents are neat, but I'm not sure I want to put any more holes in the deck if I can possibly avoid it. I guess I could make a new hatch cover and put the solar powered unit in the middle of it...........or one that I could clamp in place from below with the stock one open fully for when I'm away. I guess I'll just have to puzzle on that one a while longer. April's a looooong ways away.......

Cheers,

Bill
 
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