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Dehumidifers can make a huge difference...
Jeff, we put one aboard when leaving the boat for a few months during the wet season down in Trinidad, and we do think it helped. (No mildew...). However, we especially appreciate having one while wintering in London, where it's not only wet but where interior temps are well above outside ambient. Most boats there with liveaboards are so equipped...or the crews are walking to the showers because they are reluctant to shower aboard and disperse all that humidity into the cabin. Our unit is built in the UK so I can't help on brand recs. It is relatively small, quiet and has a smooth, plastic case. It perhaps weighs 18#, and is quite easy to live with. Be sure any unit you consider has not only a collection tray (for the condensate) with an auto shut-off feature, but can also be drained directly via a tube vs. using the tray, allowing you to walk away from the unit with it draining into a sink. Jack
Jeff, we put one aboard when leaving the boat for a few months during the wet season down in Trinidad, and we do think it helped. (No mildew...). However, we especially appreciate having one while wintering in London, where it's not only wet but where interior temps are well above outside ambient. Most boats there with liveaboards are so equipped...or the crews are walking to the showers because they are reluctant to shower aboard and disperse all that humidity into the cabin. Our unit is built in the UK so I can't help on brand recs. It is relatively small, quiet and has a smooth, plastic case. It perhaps weighs 18#, and is quite easy to live with. Be sure any unit you consider has not only a collection tray (for the condensate) with an auto shut-off feature, but can also be drained directly via a tube vs. using the tray, allowing you to walk away from the unit with it draining into a sink. Jack
check out the specs
Dehumidifiers make a huge difference but if you are in an area where the air temperature goes below 50 degrees F check the specs on the unit - some models will not work below that temperature. They also use a fair bit of power and can be a little noisy but otherwise certainly do the job.
Dehumidifiers make a huge difference but if you are in an area where the air temperature goes below 50 degrees F check the specs on the unit - some models will not work below that temperature. They also use a fair bit of power and can be a little noisy but otherwise certainly do the job.
RV Dehumidifier from Camping World
Hi Jeff - We run a dehumidifyer when not on the boat during the winter to keep air flow going and mildew from forming. Truth is we usually don't leave the boat unattended for more than a few days at a time, but the unit we use definitely keeps things dry. It circulates a lot of air, but is rather noisy, so we typically turn it off when aboard. Downside is that it's pretty heavy and little bulky to store. It's also spendy at $350 - bought it from Camping World: info from website below (Related link below has image): Description Keep your RV free from moisture, musty odors and mildew. DryAir Dehumidifier has an automatic humidistat that lets you preset and control humidity. Circulates 150 cu. ft. of air per minute. Compact, lightweight, portable unit sits on the countertop to drain directly into sink. No drain pan to empty, no shut-down when full. Stainless steel and copper. 115V. 1.5/1.7 amps. 150 watts. UL approved. 15"L x 12"W x 12"H. Mfr. one year warranty
Hi Jeff - We run a dehumidifyer when not on the boat during the winter to keep air flow going and mildew from forming. Truth is we usually don't leave the boat unattended for more than a few days at a time, but the unit we use definitely keeps things dry. It circulates a lot of air, but is rather noisy, so we typically turn it off when aboard. Downside is that it's pretty heavy and little bulky to store. It's also spendy at $350 - bought it from Camping World: info from website below (Related link below has image): Description Keep your RV free from moisture, musty odors and mildew. DryAir Dehumidifier has an automatic humidistat that lets you preset and control humidity. Circulates 150 cu. ft. of air per minute. Compact, lightweight, portable unit sits on the countertop to drain directly into sink. No drain pan to empty, no shut-down when full. Stainless steel and copper. 115V. 1.5/1.7 amps. 150 watts. UL approved. 15"L x 12"W x 12"H. Mfr. one year warranty
More info on dehumidifiers
Lyle is correct. most models work down to 55 F. units with a "hot gas defrost" cycle will run to 35 F. If you are looking for low temp unit check out ebacusa.com model SPP6A this model was developed for the military. retail $935.00, 61 lbs., 150 CFM air flow 17ppd capacity @80F60RH 10"h x 17"L.
Lyle is correct. most models work down to 55 F. units with a "hot gas defrost" cycle will run to 35 F. If you are looking for low temp unit check out ebacusa.com model SPP6A this model was developed for the military. retail $935.00, 61 lbs., 150 CFM air flow 17ppd capacity @80F60RH 10"h x 17"L.
Windchaser Mini Dehumidifier
I bought one of these about a year ago from e-bay. I have been very impressed with it so far. It works on the same principle as those 12v min-fridge units. It comes with a very small reservoir (2 pints) but I easily modified mine to drain directly into my head sink (Hunter 34). I am amazed at the amount of water this thing pulls from the air. I keep planning to buy a timer for it so it doesn't run 24/7, but so far it hasn't skipped a beat. When I'm sailing, it is small enough to fit in the cabinet beneath the head sink, so it is completely out of the way. Gary
I bought one of these about a year ago from e-bay. I have been very impressed with it so far. It works on the same principle as those 12v min-fridge units. It comes with a very small reservoir (2 pints) but I easily modified mine to drain directly into my head sink (Hunter 34). I am amazed at the amount of water this thing pulls from the air. I keep planning to buy a timer for it so it doesn't run 24/7, but so far it hasn't skipped a beat. When I'm sailing, it is small enough to fit in the cabinet beneath the head sink, so it is completely out of the way. Gary
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