Hi, everyone.
I searched the forum looking for the keyword "dehumidifier" but found nothing.
I have significant mildew in the boat interior, both on the hull liner and in the cushion foam.
I'm going to clean the hull liner with diluted bleach (as I've read about), and am going to take out the cushions and have them cleaned (again as I've read about), but to stop further mold/mildew I was thinking about purchasing a regular home dehumidifier from Home Depot.
My plan is to set it next to the bilge and run a hose from the dehumidifier into the bilge, and let the bilge pump eliminate the water overboard. I would use a bit of plastic sheet to cover the crack in the bilge cover, so the water wouldn't get a chance to recirculate back into the air out of the bilge.
Has anyone ever tried this? Did it work?
Ben Ethridge
Ben Ethridge
Miami, FL
1984 MK1 Hull# 263
Ben - and other newbies on this forum - please provide more information about yourself and your boat. Stating your hull number and where you're based, the type of sailing you do (cruising vs racing) etc, is in your best interest.
In this case, knowing where you are based would be helpful to those of us who would like to help you. You will get one set of opinions if you are based in Seattle and another set if you're in Sarasota, because the nature of the mildew problem and potential solutions would be different.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Ben,
I don't have any direct knowledge for using a dehumifier, but when I was looking at buying a boat there were several that had them. This was in the Houston area, high humidity, and most of them were sitting on the galley counter with the unit draining into the sink instead of the bilge. Most of them were low profile units.
Just a thought,
Ralph
Still a Thrill # 765
WK, STD Rig
Lake Texoma, TX
[QUOTE=lcbrandt;1229]Ben - and other newbies on this forum - please provide more information about yourself and your boat. Stating your hull number and where you're based, the type of sailing you do (cruising vs racing) etc, is in your best interest.
In this case, knowing where you are based would be helpful to those of us who would like to help you. You will get one set of opinions if you are based in Seattle and another set if you're in Sarasota, because the nature of the mildew problem and potential solutions would be different.[/QUOTE]
Sorry, I didn't see that in your new user FAQ anywhere. Maybe I just missed it. In any case...
I'm a fairly experienced boater, with mostly small sailboat experience. Some large (30-40') charter experience. I do both cruising and racing. I don't know my hull # yet, but I'm based on Lake Lanier in Atlanta GA. It's a 1984 model.
Ben
Ben Ethridge
Miami, FL
1984 MK1 Hull# 263
Hi, Ben.
I started using a small dehumidifier on the galley counter draining into the sink a few years ago. It really helps to keep the mildew down in the boat.
Our boat is at our backyard in SW Florida and we do get high humidity for many months.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/
Ben,
I use a dehumidifier purchased at Home Depot from September through April in Seattle. It's great to go to the boat in December and have a fresh smell. No mildew, either.
The first unit I had was drained through the sink. The new one has a holding tank big enough to go from Saturday to Saturday, a good excuse to go to the marina :)
Bruce Campbell
Evergreen Dreams #1409
Ben, how do you heat the boat in the winter, to keep the dehumidifier plumbing (and boat systems) from freezing? I typically just keep a small West Marine 1500 watt heater on top of the stove, plus a 90 watt "can" (with tiny internal fans) in fore and aft cabins. I had the idea once upon a time to use a dehumidifier, but when I read the instructions it seemed that their effectiveness at lower temps was not very good.
If a dehumidifier has been successful for you then I will try it down here in Portland.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Hi, Larry. I'm guessing you meant to address Bruce from Seattle and not Ben from Atlanta with your last question.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/
Ach! (I am married to a Bavarian, thus the "Ach!".) Yes, that was a Seattle dehumidifier question, not a southern dehumidifier question. Thanks.
Bruce???
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
[QUOTE=lcbrandt;1246]Ach! (I am married to a Bavarian, thus the "Ach!".) Yes, that was a Seattle dehumidifier question, not a southern dehumidifier question. Thanks.
Bruce???[/QUOTE]
Larry,
Because we don't get the silver freezes that you get in the gorge in Seattle, I haven't had a problem in 6 years of using the dehumidifier. I do have a WM heater that has a "freezing" setting that turns the heater on low if the temperature drops below 32 degrees.
In the event that the weatherman says that there will be an extended period of freezing temps, I will turn the heat on. The attention to keeping the dehumidifier functioning is well repaid when the boat stays fresh.
Regards,
Bruce
Bruce Campbell
Evergreen Dreams #1409
Bruce, that's a great idea. I am going to do that next winter.
Thanks!
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Bruce,
What brand/model of dehumidifier do you have? I was looking for one last fall, but couldn't find anything that wasn't pretty darned big. I ended up getting one for home that works pretty well, but never found one for the boat.
(by the way, I have hull #1016 that used to be moored a few slips south of you)
Mark Swenson
Everett, WA
Hull #1016, unnamed