Open Hatch during winter time

[baz]

Is there any valid reasons to have one or more hatches ajar during winter time ? During summer time I tend to leave the brass portholes open.

I plan on having a very small dehumidifier running during the winter time to keeps things kinda snug and dry inside with the head door slightly propped open. At this time I intend to have all hatch and portholes closed as well.

 

[Auklet]

I have always left a couple of hatches open about a half of an inch all winter. Some circulation helps keep mold from forming. This would probably not work in other parts of the country but I have never had any moisture problems in any of my boats.

Years ago I found a gadget that plugs into the wall socket that has two recepticles and a thermostat (goes on at 38 and shuts off at 45). I plug a ceramic heater in one side and an electric clock in the other. Most years the heater never runs but last year it ran about 20 hours. Here in the Salish Sea (it's official now) we have a serious freeze about every five to seven years. Last year was one of them.

Besides your head door, keep all the cabinet doors and the refrigerator door open.

 

[rt11002003]

The hatches on my R-21 EC have two closed positions, ie, two tabs for the rotating latch. Using the first (top) tab results in the hatchs having small gaps for ventilation. I'm in a covered slip and leave the hatches in the position with the gap. Have tried it with the boat motoring and didn't get water in, but it looks like it might if heavy blowing rain was present.

Gene

 

[Bruce Moore]

We used a dehumidifier through most of the winter, with head door ajar. Usually had one vent in locked-open position, unless significant rain and wind were forecast. We ran a small ceramic heater during cold spells (and snow storms). Didn't have any moisture problems at all.

Moondance is in the water all the time. We do get down to the boat often, and used her though the winter, so there were intermittent periods when she was well ventilated.

One thing I would recommend checking, if you haven't already. Make sure the plug has been pulled from the bottom of your chain locker. Run some water through the locker and establish it is draining properly. On our '09 R25 the drain is on the port side just aft of the bow. If the drain is plugged or blocked, the box can fill with water (think snow melt), overflow, and result in wet V-berth bulkheads and upholstery.