Condensation in the cabin

[ancient kayaker]

- or a lightbulb for an incubator.

[Submarine Tom]

Originally Posted by hoytedow

You can do that with an incandescant - until the m0r0ns finish banning them.

Electric heat is also 100% efficient.

90 watt heaters with a small fan are available and are designed to run full-time. They offer an good solution. I believe they go by the name "Turbo Dryer" and are about $75US.

-Tom

[Dr. Peter]

OK,
This is interesting. The forum is suggesting candles put out x watts and that only a little heat is required to make a substantial difference.

My boat, the boat with the problem which began the thread, is an 18ft 6" fibreglass trailer sailer with no lining. It has a pop top. We noted ventilation plus a candle 'helped' a lot but not in those unventilated areas like the foot end of the quarter berths.

What I do have, thanks to the previous owner, is a gel battery and a solar panel. The switch gear and wiring is updated. All it does is run lights and charge my phone.

I reckon there is capacity for a small 12 volt heater. I am conscious we are not trying to 'heat' the cabin as such but reduce condensation. Even a couple of degrees above ambient could help. It also makes the cabin warmer (at least less chilly).

So has anyone any experience with this?

Peter

PS I would like to apologise about my earlier coarse remarks about the posters getting into tangents about spell checkers. My comments were thoughtless, rude and uncalled for.

[viking north]

DR. Peter even a small electric heater could deplete a battery fairley fast, you might be better to install a couple of 12 volt computer fans to move the heavy damp air from those trapped areas. They draw next to nothing. In winter storage I build what is labelled a Humidex unit. A 6in. plastic pipe with a computer fan installed within,one end in the bilge and the other exausting to the outside. It does an excellent job, my boat is fresh as can be in the spring.--Geo.

[Submarine Tom]

All this can be done passively with sunshine and convection currents.

-Tom

[cthippo]

They make solar powered fans that are built into hatches and are totally self contained. It wouldn't be a ton of air movement, but it would be fairly constant

[ancient kayaker]

It takes very little power to keep humidity from building up, just enough to raise the temperature of the air a degree or so and to keep it moving. However these low power devices are not going to take care of existing moisture so any significant accumulations should be removed by other means.

[CatBuilder]

Dr. Peter: Sorry for the thread drift.

You are half way there. You are now understanding the principles of reducing condensation: Ventilation, heat and dehumidification or controlled condensation.

You must simply apply these principles to every area of your boat that you feel is getting too damp. That is, literally, all there is to it.

Being a trailer sailer, you are not going to be able to do any decent heating. You also do not have the power to run an electric dehumidifier (or heater). That leaves you with ventilation as your only choice.

Ventilation, as mentioned, can be accomplished through forced air (fan) or convection (carefully planned sunlight, which won't work at night).

The small, solar self contained muffin fans that Cthippo mentions are probably your best bet.

[Dr. Peter]

Thanks for the input everyone.
Looks like its now time to do some cutting and drilling.
Peter