Fighting Winter Condensation

jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,455
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
I love my diesel heater. Sleeping the boat a couple winters ago when temp outside was 11F and the storm raged. I was a cozy 68F in the salon. This past winter was mild, temps ranging from 38-51F. I have an oil filled electric heater that keeps the boat at about 65F. Very comfortable. It takes some time to raise the boat temperature as the hull is cold to the touch. I used some rolls of bubble insulation on the hull in the V Berth, over the hatches, and the salon ports, which helps to reduce the chill and saves the heat during the night.

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Upon arrival at the boat I fire up the diesel heater for a couple of hours and switch to the electric to maintain the temperature.
 
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JBP-PA

.
Apr 29, 2022
782
Jeanneau Tonic 23 Erie, PA
thinwater said:
Throw a large beach towel over the companionway to reduce drafts. Easy. Often, you can secure it with the winches. This worked so well that I later built a two-layer (inside and outside) version with a window that replaces the drop boards. Very warm. I can typically heat-up my 24-foot boat in 15 minutes or so. If your house was 20 degrees, furniture, walls, and all, and you turned on the heat it would take several hours to warm up.
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A few years ago I made this companionway cover to help keep the boat warm. Sunbrella on the outside, polyester insulation, and some random canvas for the inside. It turned out to be extremely handy in other situations too. If it's raining or cold but Ineed to go in and out frequently, I can use the cover alone and leave out the washboards. It's easy to go in and out and yet the rain and cold air mostly stay out. I modified it from the photo to put the snaps on the inside of the sliding hatch to keep out water dripping between the gap.
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Project_Mayhem

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Sep 24, 2018
4,448
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
I too have a snap on companionway cover. It's much more convenient than hatch boards when you have to go in and out frequently. Even though mine isn't insulated, I didn't notice much difference in leakage. Unfortunately it's on my repair pile but thanks for reminding me about it. Perhaps I can get the stitching wrapped up today
 
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thinwater

thinwater

.
Mar 26, 2011
3,943
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
JBP-PA said:
A few years ago I made this companionway cover to help keep the boat warm. Sunbrella on the outside, polyester insulation, and some random canvas for the inside. It turned out to be extremely handy in other situations too. If it's raining or cold but Ineed to go in and out frequently, I can use the cover alone and leave out the washboards. It's easy to go in and out and yet the rain and cold air mostly stay out. I modified it from the photo to put the snaps on the inside of the sliding hatch to keep out water dripping between the gap.View attachment 236914
Click to expand
My beach towel suggestion was a get-it-done solution for the OP's current problem.

A week or two later I made this one, with reinforced holes to drop over the winches and a chain in the bottom seam. Fast to slip in and out, without chilling the cabin. Later I added snaps, so that I could use it when sailing. I also added a window. Mostly, I just drop it over the winches.
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Later, I made an inner blanket to make it really snug. Not used when coming and going. Zero draft, but it still breathes enough to prevent condensation without needing to crack a window.
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Project_Mayhem

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Sep 24, 2018
4,448
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
I'm a bit jealous of those of you with a headliner. Velcro sticks to it, holes don't really show when screws are removed and you can easily replace rotten cores without worrying about how it looks. Of course it's prone to stains and eventually needs to be replaced
 
thinwater

thinwater

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Mar 26, 2011
3,943
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
a.
Project_Mayhem said:
I'm a bit jealous of those of you with a headliner. Velcro sticks to it, holes don't really show when screws are removed and you can easily replace rotten cores without worrying about how it looks. Of course it's prone to stains and eventually needs to be replaced
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The headliner in the photos is 25 years old, and I have not been easy on it. They clean well with the proper cleaner and an upholstery vac.

If you don't want to drill holes, YKK SNADS work quite well. Good on the deck as well. The all-plastic ones are best.
 
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Project_Mayhem

.
Sep 24, 2018
4,448
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
thinwater said:
a.


The headliner in the photos is 25 years old, and I have not been easy on it. They clean well with the proper cleaner and an upholstery vac.

If you don't want to drill holes, YKK SNADS work quite well. Good on the deck as well. The all-plastic ones are best.
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Your headliner looks like new! I've been using VHB pretty heavily to install a 24v LED lighting system. Your tip a few months back regarding Isopropyl alcohol or a proper primer definitely makes a difference. Thank you for that.
 
Hayden Watson

Hayden Watson

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Apr 5, 2009
3,288
Catalina '88 C30 tr/bs Oak Harbor, WA
dlochner said:
...
Light the work area with halogen work lamps. In addition to being bright, they throw off a lot of heat. This will help warm the area you are working in.
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When I was building my house in Spokane, I would use a stand light with a pair of 500W halogen work lights. It needed to be well below freezing for me not to be able to work in front of those heat nachines. They did not do much to increase the temperature but the radiant heat on the body made it feel nice and warm.
 
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Project_Mayhem

.
Sep 24, 2018
4,448
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
Hayden Watson said:
When I was building my house in Spokane, I would use a stand light with a pair of 500W halogen work lights. It needed to be well below freezing for me not to be able to work in front of those heat nachines. They did not do much to increase the temperature but the radiant heat on the body made it feel nice and warm.
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I tossed a 500w halogen work light on a project I'm working on at my shop. It was putting off so much heat that I tossed a dimmer on it. I've gotten used to LED's. For winter time in the boat, I picked up a 5000lm overhead light from Harbor Freight. I still have a couple of small LED worklights for working in tight spaces but the HF one works great!
 
thinwater

thinwater

.
Mar 26, 2011
3,943
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
Don't forget the fire hazards of portable heaters. A fellow formite went to the chandlery for some parts. 15 minutes. He came back to this. Something fell on the heater. Turn them off when you leave and place them very carefully.

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Tally Ho

Tally Ho

.
Jan 7, 2011
5,906
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
The portable diesel heater seems like a good investment for sub-$100.

Reflexite would make a decent insulation layer on the windows and hatches. I use it to keep the heat out in the summer.

Greg
 
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