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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
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 keeping cabin dry in winter
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cayugaboater
1st Mate

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50 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/18/2009 :  11:44:31  Show Profile
What do you guys do to keep cabin dry and not moldy during winter when you have the boat all tarped up? Do you put any kind of dessicant in there or something else and if so, what do you use? Do you open hatchboards to the air?

89 wingkeel;std rig.
Sail #5811

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2009 :  12:10:02  Show Profile  Visit delliottg's Homepage
We run an electric heater constantly to keep humidity down in the cabin. Our marina's electricity is free, so there's no cost to us to do so. We do the same when the boat's in the side yard over the winter. WM sells them for about $35 or so.

We also keep some desiccant in the the sink, I think it's Dry-z-air, or something like that? It has replaceable crystals that suck water out of the air that eventually turn into a solid mass (or mush if you leave it too long), simply pour it down the toilet at home (not your head) and add more crystals to the dehumidifier.

We have a very small amount of mildew on the forward hatch, but nowhere else in the boat. I may start keeping another tub of desiccant up on the V-berth, but it's such a small cleaning job that I might not bother. A bit of chlorine solution & time cleans it up very quickly.

Other folks will chime in with their experiences with vents, which I think are a good idea, I've just never installed one, and SL doesn't have any (yet).

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2009 :  15:31:23  Show Profile
Some folks use the Nicrovents to keep the air circulated. You have to allow sunlight to hit the top of the vent for some portion of the day, so the tarp can't cover the vent. Not sure whether you can mount a separate solar panel above the tarp to keep the batteries charged up.

[Edit] I prefer to leave the wooden covers off the seats, the quarter berth and the V-berth, and open the front hatch about an inch or two. When I tarp the boat over, I leave a small opening by the bow section and by the stern pulpit.

The only section that remains unventilated is the dumpster (fender locker). This is quite problematic, since there is only the top hatch, and no other opening to allow air to circulate through it to air it out. [/Edit]

Edited by - Voyager on 10/18/2009 15:37:28
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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2009 :  17:01:21  Show Profile
I have run a tarp over "Brandy" the last several years here in upstate N.Y. I do run 1/4 inch rope between the lifelines and over the mast. Still able to gain access to the cabin, have not had a mildew or mold issue. I also run a 1/2 inch rope over the tarp and down to the trailer from stem to stern to keep the tarp tight in the wind. I have a snow rake dedicated to remove heavy snow and ice if needed. It actually is comfortable in the cabin if the sun is out regardless of temperature outside.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2009 :  18:13:32  Show Profile
I empty the "dumpster" during the winter and bring tarps, sails, etc into the V-berth. Likewise, I open the storage areas under the settee seats so air can circulate. The admiral gave us one of the West Marine heaters last Christmas so we'll be using it again this year.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2009 :  03:13:01  Show Profile  Visit OLarryR's Homepage
I have one of those moisture removal dessicant dehumidifiers that you just hang in the cabin. Unlike the ones West Marine sells that are throw-away cardboard holders of dessicant, this one was sold by Boater's World (not sure of the name of the product - I would have to check) and what you do is hang it up and when it changes color thru the transparent window where you can see the dessicant, you then take it home and plug it into the AC outlet. The unit then heats up and dries out the dessicant. Takes overnight in the ac outlet and then you bring it back and hang it up in the cabin again. I hang it up on the clothes rack dowel that is above the porta-potti and generally leave it up for a couple of weeks or more and then dry it out at home again.

My solar nicro-vent, I remove the battery during the times in the winter when I have my cover on the boat but since I sail year-round, my cover often-times is only on if signficiant snow is predicted. then I do not recall ever leaving the cover on for more than a month. I oftentimes will put the cover on for only a week or so and then take it back off and go sailing. If weather is okay, then I leave the cover off. Perhaps, one year, I got by without taking the battery out of my nicro-vent. Actually, just being down and working on the boat or sailing during the winter months with the nicro-vent working, there is significant air changes going on. That and checking on the dehumidifier every 2-3 weeks all year is basically what keeps the insides mildew free. I oftentimes leave the cushions onboard year-round as well but they seem fine, so the above methods seem to work.

Edited by - OLarryR on 10/19/2009 03:17:48
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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2009 :  03:45:05  Show Profile
My boat is well covered, and two opening ports are left open, to provide circulation. I used to leave pie tins with charcoal briquettes around the interior of my C25. They seemed to help. I think they absorbed moisture from the air in wet weather, and then it evaporated on warm winter days, when excess moisture was not a problem. At least that was my unscientific theory.

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frankr
Captain

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256 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2009 :  03:55:01  Show Profile
I take all the cushions out of the boat and store them at home for the winter. Open all storage areas, empty the porta-poti/head and the bilge area and prop open. I put two large containers of Starbrite NoDamp in the cabin area and proped the head door open. I tarp the entire deck/cockpit areas - make some kind of frame to keep snow rain off the cockpit area (2x4's, PVC). Remember to run antifreeze solution thru the bilge pump line(s), water system, head/ porta-poti and drain lines. I also take my outboard home and store it in a warm garage.

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2009 :  10:47:47  Show Profile
Take it South to the Islands.

sten

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2009 :  12:44:15  Show Profile
Like others we completely empty out the boat. I turn off the Nicro solar vent but leave it in the open position. I fully open the head opening port and leave the head door open. Our boat points into the wind over the winter so a breezes does go through the small openings in the front of the tarping. The aft end is quite open. We leave the outboard on the boat. Too heavy for me! Our winters are wet but not really cold. We've never had mold or mildew buildup.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2009 :  12:45:23  Show Profile
Take the rudder home and store it where it won't freeze. When it's out of the water, both freezing and sun on the bottom paint can cause excessive expansion.

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Captain Bill
Navigator

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USA
148 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2009 :  17:57:26  Show Profile
We use a 40 watt heavy duty bulb with extra long life hung from the top of the cabin. The bulb stays on 24/7. Also the Nicro 24/7 vent. No mildew or odor. Works great if you're located around Lat. 35°49.04' N, Long. 76°95.31' W

Bill

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2009 :  18:31:27  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Captain Bill</i>
<br />...Works great if you're located around Lat. 35°49.04' N, Long. 76°95.31' W...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Too bad--I'm several degrees away on both axes.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2009 :  18:47:21  Show Profile
Sometimes we wish for some more humidity up here in the winter. Does get pretty dry at times during real cold weather.

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2009 :  18:51:53  Show Profile
I found one of these onboard the O'day I bought. Plugged it in a couple weeks ago and was very suprized how well it works.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2009 :  19:03:23  Show Profile  Visit delliottg's Homepage
That's the same one we have on SL, as well as another in Rita's 33 year old Mercedes with leaky-ish seals on the windshield & rear window. We had the glass replaced in both a couple of years ago and the seals redone, so it's much better than before, but we still get some leaks in a heavy rain.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2009 :  20:23:42  Show Profile
I take Pearl to Florida and open the hatch.

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NomadicMom
Deckhand

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1 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2009 :  05:35:11  Show Profile
We use Absorbent Industries' Dry-Packs in our cabin. They make several different sizes which are great for stashing about. They do a great job of removing moisture from the air, preventing mold, and keeping the cabin as fresh as possible. I got mine at www.silicagelpackets.com. Hope this helps!

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2009 :  14:20:17  Show Profile  Visit piseas's Homepage
WM has that [url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/10001/245832/377%20710/?icid=RR_7867518"]dehumidifier[/url] on sale for $55.
Steve A

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2009 :  14:37:30  Show Profile  Visit delliottg's Homepage
Ouch, I paid $20 less than that retail a couple of years ago, glad I bought two of them (one for the boat, one for the old Mercedes).

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2009 :  15:07:31  Show Profile  Visit piseas's Homepage
David, my thoughts as well. They have tripled in price. Must be using gold as absorbent material inside the thing.
Steve A

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2009 :  17:02:32  Show Profile
After reading the posts on this topic, I wondered whether I could take my 12V "H2O cool" cabin fan and run it directly from one of my 15W solar panels.

I can get about 800 mA from the panel in full sun, and that's around what amperage the fan takes at low speed. I mounted the fan vertically just behind the crib boards in the companionway and opened the bow hatch just a crack to provide an air inlet.

I did it at the end of the day yesterday, so I could not tell whether it was working, but I plan to stop by there this Thursday to see how it works.

I did notice that several ounces of fresh rain water has collected in the keel bilge area over the past few weeks. Between that and the dampness in the dumpster, I get a moldy odor in <i>Passage</i>.

I have a barometer, thermometer and hygrometer mounted inside the cabin. The hygrometer measures pretty high (80-85%) most of the time over the winter, so I am hoping the fan will rid the humidity from the boat.

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Deric
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2009 :  18:57:09  Show Profile
I live in Central New York. I store the boat outside, with a tarp over a beam. I use 1/2 rope and weave it from the lifelines to the beam and back.

I have the front of the tarp open as well as the back (bow) the air helps a little to vent. When it snows, I can tap on the tarp with a broom and the snow slides off.

As Spring returns I find that the tarp warms the boat too much. Sigh.. I would love a pole barn with electric for a storage place.

Although taking the boat to Florida and leaving the hatch open is a good idea.

Best,
Deric

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2009 :  05:44:15  Show Profile
When we had our C25 in New England I would weave half inch Home Depot line over the boom to create a tent like support structure and then attach a tarp and then lash the whole shooting match with zip ties. However, if the boat wasn't level, some water would make it into the bilge and it would freeze solid. My anxiety levels were out there, so we started buying cheap vodka and filling the bilge with a gallon or so every winter. Nonetheless, water still made it in - never found out exactly why - she was dry on her mooring ball! That's why we stripped the boat of everything. Filled a van or a pickup truck every time with cushions et al... Oiled the teak to prevent mold and checked on her after every major storm.... Never had any issues.

sten

Edited by - redviking on 11/04/2009 05:46:17
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