We brought our boat down to Ft. Pierce for the winter at the end of October. We just got back to it in early February. Despite some so-called mildew preventatives, bought off the the shelf at West Marine (i.e., little hanging bags, the Turbo Dryer) and keeping the portholes in both heads and two hatches under the dodger open, there were mildew stains throughout the boat. My slip neighbor, a large power boat, uses quite a large dehumidifier ($139.00) at Lowes. But this thing would be quite cumbersome on our boat. Have been looking for a smaller version, but no luck. Does anyone have any better suggestions? We'll be leaving the boat again for about a month and are getting quite concerned about how to deal with this problem.
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mold & mildew
I have used the drying your using for many years with great results, but not in Florida. What about a small fan to move the air around with the dryer? or you vould look at this one http://tinyurl.com/2qoqe
I have used the drying your using for many years with great results, but not in Florida. What about a small fan to move the air around with the dryer? or you vould look at this one http://tinyurl.com/2qoqe
Fans do help.
I'm w/Ken. If the Turbo dryer (assuming these are the ones with the fan) are not doing the job (and you should have a couple of them aboard). I would suggest 2-3 small fans. You can get them as a desk top unit or clip on units. You will only be able to use them on A/C power, but that should do the trick. If these don't do the trick, I would try an Ozone generator. You can put it on a timer (2-3 hours/day) and see if that helps. You really don't want to run it all the time, but in your case you may need it more than some others. They claim it can be hard on rubber (lots of Oxygen).
I'm w/Ken. If the Turbo dryer (assuming these are the ones with the fan) are not doing the job (and you should have a couple of them aboard). I would suggest 2-3 small fans. You can get them as a desk top unit or clip on units. You will only be able to use them on A/C power, but that should do the trick. If these don't do the trick, I would try an Ozone generator. You can put it on a timer (2-3 hours/day) and see if that helps. You really don't want to run it all the time, but in your case you may need it more than some others. They claim it can be hard on rubber (lots of Oxygen).
Many ways to tackle this, Maeve...
Your neighbor probably has the best single antidote in his dehumidifier. We picked one up before wintering in London and, even in the pricey UK, got a smaller, portable plastic-cased unit for less than $170. It's been a huge help while the boat's been sweating and we've been comfy. The groundrules in the tropics (we were there 2 of the last 4 years, and are homeported in central Florida - we speak mildew/mold!) are air circulation and antifungal treatments. We wipe down the bulkheads, shelves, etc. periodically with a diluted Chlorox mixture, and keep a small spray bottle (Pssst!) of the stuff handy inbetween treatments. (Patricia's alergic to moth balls, but we hear that works if you seal up the items you are concerned about in a plastic bag, and throw some of those inside). We added 3 solar-powered Nicro ventilators after suffering with a still/hot/humid summer only once, and they made a huge difference. We tried to be thoughtful about which fan blades to use so you get good airflow thru the boat (fans for both sucking and exhausting are provided with each unit). The snag with leaving a regular fan blowing is of course that you have some live circuits in the boat plus a motor energized; some would find that a fire risk on an unattended boat. A good wipedown with antifungals, reducing humidity via a dehumidifier, and maximizing airflow are key weapons. Jack
Your neighbor probably has the best single antidote in his dehumidifier. We picked one up before wintering in London and, even in the pricey UK, got a smaller, portable plastic-cased unit for less than $170. It's been a huge help while the boat's been sweating and we've been comfy. The groundrules in the tropics (we were there 2 of the last 4 years, and are homeported in central Florida - we speak mildew/mold!) are air circulation and antifungal treatments. We wipe down the bulkheads, shelves, etc. periodically with a diluted Chlorox mixture, and keep a small spray bottle (Pssst!) of the stuff handy inbetween treatments. (Patricia's alergic to moth balls, but we hear that works if you seal up the items you are concerned about in a plastic bag, and throw some of those inside). We added 3 solar-powered Nicro ventilators after suffering with a still/hot/humid summer only once, and they made a huge difference. We tried to be thoughtful about which fan blades to use so you get good airflow thru the boat (fans for both sucking and exhausting are provided with each unit). The snag with leaving a regular fan blowing is of course that you have some live circuits in the boat plus a motor energized; some would find that a fire risk on an unattended boat. A good wipedown with antifungals, reducing humidity via a dehumidifier, and maximizing airflow are key weapons. Jack
De-humidifier is the right solution,
I tried fans, leaving ports open(letting the humidity in), the hanging and potted solutions and none really did the job. I have the smallest de-humidifier I could find; as you say, it's big. I stow it for day sailing and remove it from the boat for longer cruises. Haven't had mildew since. We're 50 miles up the coast from you in Melbourne.
I tried fans, leaving ports open(letting the humidity in), the hanging and potted solutions and none really did the job. I have the smallest de-humidifier I could find; as you say, it's big. I stow it for day sailing and remove it from the boat for longer cruises. Haven't had mildew since. We're 50 miles up the coast from you in Melbourne.
I agree
i also keep a boat in melbourne Fl and also use a 2nd hand dehumidifier. I sit it on my galley counter and it drains directly into the sink so i never have to empty it... been doing this for several years now and it seems to do the trick. i also keep 2 fans runining to keep the air moving. when sailing we stow it in the aft cabin of our 37 cutter... i don't remember what size boat you have so i am not sure if storage is a problem
i also keep a boat in melbourne Fl and also use a 2nd hand dehumidifier. I sit it on my galley counter and it drains directly into the sink so i never have to empty it... been doing this for several years now and it seems to do the trick. i also keep 2 fans runining to keep the air moving. when sailing we stow it in the aft cabin of our 37 cutter... i don't remember what size boat you have so i am not sure if storage is a problem
Marine Dehumidifiers are Expensive
There are several small, stainless steel dehumidifiers for marine use. I used to use a bulky unit until a friend was getting out of boating and I bought his old marine unit for $200. It works great, but so did the old non-marine unit. They run about $500 new. Here's a link to one from Mermaid: http://www.mmair.com/product/Dehumidifier.html Bill
There are several small, stainless steel dehumidifiers for marine use. I used to use a bulky unit until a friend was getting out of boating and I bought his old marine unit for $200. It works great, but so did the old non-marine unit. They run about $500 new. Here's a link to one from Mermaid: http://www.mmair.com/product/Dehumidifier.html Bill
mildew in Florida
For mildew control first make sure that there are no small leaks that keep hull cloth cushions, etc wet from time to time. The day and night nicro solar fan has kept my H33 free of mildew for about 4 years in the Florida panhandle, I recommend them highly. Mine always blows in with the rest of the boat vents kept open all the time.
For mildew control first make sure that there are no small leaks that keep hull cloth cushions, etc wet from time to time. The day and night nicro solar fan has kept my H33 free of mildew for about 4 years in the Florida panhandle, I recommend them highly. Mine always blows in with the rest of the boat vents kept open all the time.
What Terry Said
I have an O34 at Pickwick Lake right on the Mississippi/Tennessee border which is a very high humidity area. I have two Nicro power vents, one in the v-berth area, pulling in air and one in cabin area pulling the air out. The cross ventilation keeps the boat fresh and without mildew. Keeping the cabin vented 24/7 also prevents any sweating. Worked for me. Luck with it!!
I have an O34 at Pickwick Lake right on the Mississippi/Tennessee border which is a very high humidity area. I have two Nicro power vents, one in the v-berth area, pulling in air and one in cabin area pulling the air out. The cross ventilation keeps the boat fresh and without mildew. Keeping the cabin vented 24/7 also prevents any sweating. Worked for me. Luck with it!!
mighty dry
The link below will take you to the web site for MIGHTY DRY dehumidifiers, a small stainless steel unit made for boats and RVs. I've installed mine permanently, with ducted vents and a pluming line led to a shower sump. It's relatively quiet, especially compared to the larger household units. I keep my humidistat set at about 50% relative humidity, or else the boat gets uncomfortably dry.
The link below will take you to the web site for MIGHTY DRY dehumidifiers, a small stainless steel unit made for boats and RVs. I've installed mine permanently, with ducted vents and a pluming line led to a shower sump. It's relatively quiet, especially compared to the larger household units. I keep my humidistat set at about 50% relative humidity, or else the boat gets uncomfortably dry.
Heaters
We have a centyer cockpit boat with no communication between forward and aft cabins (O'Day 37). We have 24-hour solar Nicro vents, one in each cabin. We also have low level electric heaters for each cabin. The combibnation of constant air change and ever so slight temperature increase above ambient keeps the humidity down, the mold out and boat fresh at all time. We learned it from our old boat, also a CC Dawson 26. The aft cabin could not be kept free of mold while the forward cabin with the constant running cooler discharging warmer air into the cabin had no mold problem. Small heaters in each cabin solved the problem. Basically, it's a humidity problem. Keep the relative humidity down and mold won't form. A tiny temperature increase does that.
We have a centyer cockpit boat with no communication between forward and aft cabins (O'Day 37). We have 24-hour solar Nicro vents, one in each cabin. We also have low level electric heaters for each cabin. The combibnation of constant air change and ever so slight temperature increase above ambient keeps the humidity down, the mold out and boat fresh at all time. We learned it from our old boat, also a CC Dawson 26. The aft cabin could not be kept free of mold while the forward cabin with the constant running cooler discharging warmer air into the cabin had no mold problem. Small heaters in each cabin solved the problem. Basically, it's a humidity problem. Keep the relative humidity down and mold won't form. A tiny temperature increase does that.
works for me
First, fix all the leaks. Then wipe down the interior with a dilute solution of Clorox. Needs to be strong enough to remove the mildew. Next, buy a large size box fan, costs about $15 a and two or three 100 watt bulb. Also purchase at any hardware store plug ins with a socket for the bulbs. Leave the fan on low in a central position on your boat or near the major problem area. Mine stays mildew free year round. You might want to spray all of the cushions(both sides) with a heavy coat of Lysol, also any nooks etc. to kill spores there. John
First, fix all the leaks. Then wipe down the interior with a dilute solution of Clorox. Needs to be strong enough to remove the mildew. Next, buy a large size box fan, costs about $15 a and two or three 100 watt bulb. Also purchase at any hardware store plug ins with a socket for the bulbs. Leave the fan on low in a central position on your boat or near the major problem area. Mine stays mildew free year round. You might want to spray all of the cushions(both sides) with a heavy coat of Lysol, also any nooks etc. to kill spores there. John
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