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DEHUMIDIFIERS

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La Dolce Vita
1st Mate

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USA
86 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/30/2003 : 10:04:51

West Marine sells a 110v/90w dehumidifier called the Turbo Air Dryer. Theory is that it sucks in cool moist air and blows out warm dry air. I was thinking of picking one up and using it in place of buckets of DampRid. Has anyone tried this type of unit or the Goldenrod?

Thank You!
La Dolce Vita - Ed

Edited by - on

RoofRoof
Navigator

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USA
186 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 10:30:38

I have one on my C25. I'm not sure it helps much. Maybe. It is difficult to do a side-by-side comparison with or without.

Also, I believe that the square feet one is supposed to handle is less than our boats have in square feet. So, I've considered buying a second one.

Who knows.

Edited by - on

weluvlife
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 12:27:58

I'm interested in picking up one of these as well. I'm thinking they may work better than using a small heater. Any more ideas on these units would be very helpful.

Mark Eichman
Lake Don Pedro,CA
'86 c25 TR, SK

Edited by - on

cch
Navigator

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202 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 20:48:01

I have been using one of these dehumidifiers for six years. We place the dehumidifier on the dinette table, an oscilating fan back in the quarter berth and one blowing into the v-berth. We keep these running 24 hrs a day 7 days a week. I feel they work very well and couldn't imagine what our boat would be like with out the dehumidifier or the fans. We are in north Florida and the heat and humidity are very high.

The dehumidifiers you mentioned last us about 2 years running constantly.

I have devised a plan to install a regular room air conditioner in our boat for when it sits at the dock. So next summer we will see how well it works.

Chris Hunsicker
Panama City FL
Moonglade
80 C25 #2126 sr/sk
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d636b3127cce8c9d4c83e7890000002010" border=0>

Edited by - on

weluvlife
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 23:35:06

Chris, what brand dehumidifier do you use?

Mark Eichman
Lake Don Pedro,CA
'86 c25 TR, SK

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 23:39:08

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

I have devised a plan to install a regular room air conditioner in our boat for when it sits at the dock. So next summer we will see how well it works.

Chris Hunsicker
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Are you going to put it in the quarter berth? That wooden section into the sail locker is begging to hold a 5k unit and exhaust into the sail locker. Do you think engine vents will be enough or will you install an access port in the lazerette wall?
<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/AC%20vent.jpg" border=0>
Just add a little screen.

<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/sigbow.jpg" border=0>Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney

Edited by - on

cch
Navigator

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202 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2003 : 21:22:16

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Chris, what brand dehumidifier do you use?

Mark Eichman
Lake Don Pedro,CA
'86 c25 TR, SK
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Hi Mark,

The latest one is West Marine brand $49.99 in catalog or store. It has been running nearly non stop for about 4 years. I highly recommend these.

Chris Hunsicker
Panama City FL
Moonglade
80 C25 #2126 sr/sk
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d636b3127cce8c9d4c83e7890000002010" border=0>

Edited by - on

cch
Navigator

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202 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2003 : 21:26:58

[/quote]

Are you going to put it in the quarter berth? That wooden section into the sail locker is begging to hold a 5k unit and exhaust into the sail locker.
Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney
[/quote]

Frank,

I was planning to build a covered shelf to fit in place of the drop boards in the companionway. The picture you posted was a very clean installation and probably wouldn't require removal on sailing day? Really worth a close look. Whose boat is that unit installed in?

Chris Hunsicker
Panama City FL
Moonglade
80 C25 #2126 sr/sk
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d636b3127cce8c9d4c83e7890000002010" border=0>

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2003 : 22:48:07

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Frank,

I was planning to build a covered shelf to fit in place of the drop boards in the companionway. The picture you posted was a very clean installation and probably wouldn't require removal on sailing day? Really worth a close look. Whose boat is that unit installed in?

Chris Hunsicker
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

The idea of putting it in the quarter berth is not unique to me. The access panel was installed by someone who wanted to reach into the sail locker more easily, It might be on North Star. When I saw it it made me think of using it for an AC vent. I was thinking about mounting it turned 180 degrees from the one it the picture so it could be propped open during rain and the like. I do think it needs a screen. The ac mounted in that plywood section would be on the centerline and reasonably close to the keel. Everytime you were pluged into shore power it would be a switch away! I have noticed a lot of carry-on AC for sale, I think they must be like so many things... more trouble than they are worth so they don't get used.

<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/sigbow.jpg" border=0>Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney

Edited by - on

ddlyle
Captain

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302 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 14:23:53

I have a solar powered vent fan located in my head (boat's head, not MY head).
That works fine for allowing air to exit.
The prior owner just kept a small (ceramic disk type) heater with fan onboard so when plugged into AC the heater could be kept on low and blowing warm air. That's okay to heat the cabin and the warm humid air then is exhausted thru the solar powered vent in the head. However, when it gets really warm in the boat the heater just turns off because of the thermostat.
My pretty and intelligent mate picked up a neat little dehumidifier at a yard sale for $1. 
It's made for boats and RV's where one doesn't want to worry about sparks.
It is essentially a metal box (AC powered) that has a small heat element inside but no moving parts. Convection moves the heat. It doesn't have a thermostat, so it stays very warm to the touch but never turns off (whereas little heaters turn off).
Since I'm not concerned about sparks, I supplement the airflow with a small fan (walmart $8) sometimes blowing into the quarterberth, and sometimes I aim it forward.
The yard sale dehumidifier sits on the cabin floor so it won't fall off anything and so that it won't be near any fabric.
If I cared enough I would look at the unit and tell you if it had a name, but frankly I usually forget details like that when I leave my boat.

Cap'n Dave
Sailing The Blues
1986 C25 sr/sk #5413

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 16:33:01

Chris, the photo of the lazarett hatch is from my boat. I picked up the unit at West Marine for about $70. Very simple to install.

Ed Montague on 'Yahoo'
1978 #765 SK, Stnd, Dinette ~_/)~

Edited by - on

La Dolce Vita
1st Mate

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USA
86 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 18:19:15

Thanks for all the responses! I went and picked up the dehumidifier they sell at West Marine but I also want to compare it with the brand Boat Us sells. Same price but a little different wattage. I think both are good for 1000 sq ft so I hope it does the job.

La Dolce Vita - ED

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 20:25:33

How do these dehumidifiers dispose of the water? If it doesn't have a drain mechanism, it is just a heater.

The relationship of temp. and humidity is the science of psychrometrics. (I think I spelled that right) For a given volume of air, with a given amount of moisture in it, if you heat the air the relative humidity will go down, if you cool the air, the relative humidity will go up, and condensation will formon the surface cooling the air. That's why your cold beer can sweats, and an air conditioner drips water. That's also why when you heat your house in the winter the air gets really dry and cracks your nasal passages

So I guesse what I'm saying is that I wonder how these "dehumidifiers" really work

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 20:47:32

I think Gloss is on the right track. Most of these puppies are just low-output heaters.

"sucks in cool moist air and blows out warm dry air." = Heater.

By warming the air, they lower the RELATIVE humidity of the air.
That in turn, reduces the amount of condensation on the interior because the warmer air can 'hold onto' more moisture.

Actually remove moisture? No. That is commonly done by CHILLING the air and capturing/draining off the condensed water. The other common method for dehumidifing is using a water-loving chemical to "capture" moisture from the air.

Those sort of units typically work in limited-volume enclosed spaces.

At any rate, I guess a little warmth in the cabin won't hurt a thing anyway. Lots of the commercial boats in our marina simply hang a heat lamp from the cabin ceiling for that purpose.

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2003 : 08:27:50

Here in the south a cabin heater is the last thing I need.
To keep my humidity down I use a Marinco vent, the powered kind. It runs off my battery, power replenished by my solar system (no power at my dock)

In some of the operating rooms at the hospital I work at there are humidifiers. You have to empty a water tray out of it. The nurses just love doing that. At least this is a real dehumidifier, not just a heater. Operating room temps are kept in the low 60's.

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

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