Condensation inside the cabin of the R-21.

[Shaun]

Just a quick question to all the over-nighters about large amounts of condensation building up on the walls inside the cabin. Does anyone have any tips on dealing with this. We have a 110 V dehumidifier from west marine that does a good job keeping it dry when no one is on board but doesn't seem to cut it when we spend the night on the boat. I was considering putting that fuzzy carpet type stuff on the walls around the V-birth but I thought I would check in first. Maybe we are just too full of hot air for our little boat.

 

[SlackwaterJack]

If by "fuzzy stuff" you mean, un-backed mouldable polypropelyne automotive carpet (like they make dash suncovers out of).....
I used that "fuzzy stuff" to line the fore and aft cabins of my old Albin25 and it completely ended the formation of condensation. I picked it up at a place called .... UFO-Upholstery Fabric Outlet, 1120 North Melrose Drive, Vista, CA - (760) 941-2345 ufofabrics.com . It came in several colors and was 54" wide (I think). It wasn't expensive at all ($6/yard as I remember) and it was in their automotive section.

It was very easy to work (even the headliner) using 3M spray adhesive (use the ultrahold), and it could stretch/compress/twist to fit almost any compound curves and bumps. I also used it under the v-berth and other interior cushions and completely ended the dampness that formed there too. It will not harbor mildew, and doesn't hold water. Besides the dryness it seemed to keep the heat in a bit better and certainly made things quieter.

Funny that this comes up now....Just yesterday I made a wire chase to cover/protect the Gps/spotlight/fishfinder cables that run to the ceiling-mounted displays. I used a 3" pvc pipe split in half and covered with the last piece of that "fuzzy stuff" I had left. While looking at it I was thinking,"I really should get some more of that stuff and do the rest of the cabin".

But then I remembered I still had some beer in the fridge and the sun was out ....

 

[NewMoon]

We had the condensation problem in our CD22. One thing that helped was to keep the hatch open at least a crack when sleeping, unless it was raining heavily or raining and pretty windy.

Our present boat has fabric of one kind or another covering all the interior, and thus no condensation. Keeps heat inside the boat much better as well.

 

[Shaun]

Slackwater,

Thanks for the info. Vista is only 30 mins or so south of here so that is a great place to start. I'm curious if the fabric you speak of is similar to fabric used to cover the piece that holds the lights on the ceiling of the cabin.

Shaun

 

[Portugeezer]

Boating at this time of year is definitely going to be met by huge condensation problems when cooking or sleeping. I was out for a week recently and encountered this problem too. I found that lots of ventilation is the answer. When it was not raining, I would open hatches so as to have cross-ventilation in my R21. The hatch over the V-berth seemed especially critical. When it is raining, I will open the door slightly (I have a Bimini) and just crack the hatches and windows. It is convenient that the hatches have a stop for the "ajar" setting which prevents rain entering the cabin.

No doubt it is a cold time of year and the urge is to close the openings, but this is counterproductive as the increased humidity makes everything inside damp and the ambient temperature feel colder. I considered a small catalytic heater, but was warned away as this increases the humidity for one thing and requires ventilation to ensure safety from carbon monoxide build-up. Instead, I found that when things got too bad I could light the Yanmar, throttle up slightly, and in 15 minutes the cabin was comfortable again. Hope this helps. I am inclined to practice this strategy for now before taking on the project of gluing fuzzy stuff to the walls. Mind you, it does remind me of my '70s van and all the fun I had...

Things that make you go Hmmmm....

 

[johnniethek]

I agree with John, aka Portugeezer.

My experience with condensation inside my R-21 EC dictates that you follow the "trial and error" method. Experiment with various window/hatch openings and inside temperatures to find the settings that work best for the particular circumstances.

There isn't going to be a "one size fits all" solution. You will need to learn more about your boat's "breathability" under varying conditions, and adjust your window/hatch openings to suit those conditions.

It's like most other things in life -- the more you do them, the better you get at them.

JtheK