I take a different approach in protecting my shrink wrapped boat in Huntington, New York.
1) Remove as much stuff from my boat as I can and clean all the surfaces. Anything big that remains like bed mattresses, I turn on their sides for maximum exposure of all sides to air. I think the mattresses, which get really dry, help buffer sudden spikes in humidity, but have no scientific evidence.
2) Reduce the amount of air circulating in the boat, e.g. close wind scoops, etc. Only way in for the air are a few slots in my cockpit door. E.g. a little moist air can get in as temp changes, but it won't circulate much. (My theory ... is to suck as much water out of the air, so there isn't an ability for water to condense on boat surfaces. )
3) Place chemical dehumidifiers throughout the boat. Including cockpit lockers. I use containers with sturdy bottoms that won't break if the collected water freezes, and put them in an additional plastic bucket for protection. You don't want the liquid getting out, it can do big damage.
4) Add to that, the hanging chemical based mildew prevention boxs on sale at west marine, that are good for a few months. Although they do smell bad, the smell dosn't stay with the boat or the contents. I rather don't think these are necessary but I am overly cautious.
5) I set up a radio shack temp/humidity meter which remembers minimum and maximum humidities, and check it every month when I come by to charge the batteries. After the first month, as surfaces are completly drying out, I generally find it reading 45-55% each time I check during the winter.
What I like about this approach:
- No moisture = No mildew
- No powered humidifiers = No power issues
