Winter Moisture Control

M

Madifonzo

New Member
Sep 30, 2013
716
Boston, Ma
Boat Info
2005 280
Zodiac Zoom 310 9.9 Honda
Engines
Twin 5.0 MPI with Bravo III Drives
Last Season I used the damp rid buckets in the boat. They did not last the season and became saturated within weeks of the boat being wrapped. Just looking for recommendations on a better solution. Dehumidifier is not an option.

I was thinking a bunch of those hanging bags...
 
I'm trying something new this year. Apparently this has been around for decades and people that use it absolutely swear by it, but I am just now finding out about it. It's called Kanberra gel and the main ingredient is Tea Tree oil. One person even told me they put it in cabin that already had mold and it completely dried up the mold and turned it into dust.
 
How about vents in the shrink wrap? My buddy always uses them on his wrapped Cobalt.
I never shrink wrap, just a snow frame and tarp, and do not have moisture problems in the spring
 
Along the lines of what Slow mentioned, I have never really had a problem with moisture in the Sundancer. I make sure it is very dry before I shrink wrap it. I do use vents in the shrinkwrap. I also crack the forward deck hatch open, the cabin door is left slightly open, all compartments are opened and so is the engine hatch (propped slightly open). For the last couple of years, I've been using desiccant in small tupperware containers. I bought the desiccant at a craft store - I think it was 15lbs for about $20. It can be reused, too. It has NEVER been saturated come Spring.

I'm using the Kanberra gel in the Grady as I don't have the Sundancer anymore.
 
I use a couple of coffee cans in the cabin, I pierce holes around it and fill it with regular charcoal, not the match lite stuff. It's always worked well for me, though I use framing with a tarp to cover the boat, which gives you decent ventilation over shrink-wrap.
 
Yes...6 vents total. I couldn't use a tarp where I store my boat...the chafe would be killer. The winds are always howling in the winter here...then add a Nor'easter and its all over.
 
I use the hi capacity damp rid tubs. One in the galley sink, one in the cockpit sink, and one in the head sink. I keep the cabin door closed, and have 2 vents in the shrink wrap.
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/damprid--hi-capacity-moisture-absorber--8544009

Kanberra Gel contains a natural anti microbial that kills mold, but as far as I know, doesnt do anything for removing moisture. I had a small caulking leak at home that got some mold going in the bathroom, but between re-caulking the leak and the Kanberra Gel, the mold is gone.
 
I leave the hatch wide open and the door. Never thought about the engine bay but I will leave that open as well. Where I live there are dramatic temp swings from day to night. I didn't have mold issues but I was concerned when the damp rid buckets were used within weeks of last years lay-up. Might just buy a bunch of the hanging moisture bags and call it good.
 
cmount1 said:
I use a couple of coffee cans in the cabin, I pierce holes around it and fill it with regular charcoal, not the match lite stuff. It's always worked well for me, though I use framing with a tarp to cover the boat, which gives you decent ventilation over shrink-wrap.
Click to expand...
I used charcoal for several years with my 270. I had two small tubs and dumped in ~10lbs each and set them in the cabin... it worked great. Now since there is power in the unheated storage building, I use two of the electric air dryers from WM.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--air-dryer-with-fan-dehumidifier--P007867518
 
We use two of the damp rid containers also. (Get them at 'Bed Bath and Beyond' if we don't have WM coupons). One in the galley and one in the V-Berth. (Remember to dump and secure them before going out, or you can make an ugly mess). Not copping to anything, just saying...:grin: I might try the charcoal thing in the engine room this year. Sounds interesting. We do go in with a wet/dry vacuum and get all the water out of the bilge after each outing and after each winter washing/cleaning/checking day.
 
If you go the damp rid bag/tub route, I always recommend putting them in a sink or in something to collect any spilled water just in case. A friend used the tubs and over the winter the collected water in one tub froze and cracked the container. When it warmed up, the water and dissolved moisture chemical ran and dripped onto/into a cushion. Didnt seem like a big deal until the summer when the dissolved chemical that soaked into the cushion started absorbing summer humidity causing a long term wet spot in the seat. I wouldnt have thought of it myself, but it makes sense, and always good to learn from someone elses lessons learned the hard way.
 
JimFromMD said:
If you go the damp rid bag/tub route, I always recommend putting them in a sink or in something to collect any spilled water just in case. A friend used the tubs and over the winter the collected water in one tub froze and cracked the container. When it warmed up, the water and dissolved moisture chemical ran and dripped onto/into a cushion. Didnt seem like a big deal until the summer when the dissolved chemical that soaked into the cushion started absorbing summer humidity causing a long term wet spot in the seat. I wouldnt have thought of it myself, but it makes sense, and always good to learn from someone elses lessons learned the hard way.
Click to expand...
good info from an unusual situation :thumbsup:
 
JimFromMD said:
Kanberra Gel contains a natural anti microbial that kills mold, but as far as I know, doesnt do anything for removing moisture.
Click to expand...

Good question. I don't know. Two of the people that use this said they don't use anything else, though. One of them is a young woman who is now working for us, but comes from a family who owns a marina on the Chesapeake (for decades, now). She said they go through this stuff like hotcakes. The other is the marina in Maine where I had the Grady wrapped - same thing - it's the only thing they've been using for years. I figured those recommendations were good enough for me to try it. I guess we'll see!
 
I make my own desiccant from kitty litter, calcium chloride and a bucket.

I pour some kitty litter in the bottom of a bucket, then add a layer of calcium chloride to the top. The hygroscopic properties of the calcium chloride absorb the moisture from the air, and then the kitty litter wicks it away and holds it in the bottom of the bucket.

I make 4 of these, one goes down in the bilge, one in the salon, one down by the staterooms, and one up in the bridge.
 
I get a pile of the damp rid containers at the dollar store. I'll throw 6-8 of them around the boat. Seems to work fine. I make sure I am well vented too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,193
Messages
1,428,274
Members
61,103
Latest member
RealMarineInc
Back
Top