What's a good dehumidifier for a 30ft sailboat?
 

Hi,

We are looking at bringing a portable/small dehumidifier on board to reduce the dampness and musty smell.

Any suggestions?

We need to source it in the Burlington/Toronto Ontario area.

Thanks in advance!!

You don't say whether you are at a slip with access to elec or not. If you do not have access to elec. There is a product in the state available in hardward store and the like called "Damp-Rid". It comes in a variety of configuations from a hanging bag to refilable canisters. In effect it draws the moisture from the air and drains the resulting water into a bag or other container. I like the bags as they are self contained and can be hung in closets. I don't know that they would be the solution for an ongoing continous problem with dampness. You probably need to figure out the underlying cause.

This interesting as my boat has so much ventilation with the Dorade boxes and solar vents that i dont thing you could do much with a dehumidifier

Hi,

Yes, we have shore power at our slip, so I am looking to an electronic model that I can keep beside the sink for drainage during times when we are tied up, and away from the boat during the (business day/week).
I wouldn't run it off the batteries.

This boat is new to us, and has some history where it was not kept very clean.
We've been turning this around very slowly, with a really thorough cleaning to the saloon and bilge, and are working our way through the boat.

It is getting better, and I'd want to continue that trend as the summer season grinds up here. The boat is kept sealed during the day.
While I'd like some nicro solar vent$, that is another project down the road.
Looking for a small unit that we can keep on the counter next to the sink with a drain tube...

Just go to your local home improvement store and get something like this. It doesn't have to be any particular brand, but these are the type of features you would be looking for.

Dave

I use one of the round dehumidifiers, probably available almost any boat supply place even a fishing boat place. You'll find black mold will want to grow around hatches and hidden spots that might sweat or get some moisture. A scrub down with a strong bleach solution helps get rid of bad spots.
WEST MARINE Air Dryer Dehumidifier at West Marine

I don't think the air dryer mentioned in capttb's post is a true dehumidifier, it's a small heater and warming the air will tend to keep more moisture in suspension.

A true dehumidifier will need to have accumulated water removed periodically or drained somehow.

We've messed around with the small compact 'dehumidifiers' and after frequent failures have moved to a typical room-sized model from Sears or whomever. It's a bit of a pain to carry out to the car for off season trips but it's done a stellar job of keeping the boat dry. We run it at 45-50% setting and books and paper stay crisp, no mold or mildew anymore even in our damp environment here in Vancouver. In shoulder season times there's enough waste heat to keep the edge off below.

As Faster mentioned, the WM Air Dryer simply provides a tiny bit of warmth, and moves the air around slightly. It does help with condensation, but doesn't remove water from the air. I actually have two of the on my boat, one in the forward V-birth and one in the aft cabin or aft shower (shower if we have been using the shower while out on the boat, aft cabin if not). However, in the main salon I have the dehumidifier to actually dry the air. It is a very good combination for those with shore power.

Dave

The OP may want to look at this thread:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/genera...amp-cabin.html

...and this one:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-m...midifiers.html

For the kind of money being bandyhood for a true dehumdifier ($183??) I'd just get a portable A/C unit. You can get those on Amazon for only $100 more. Then you'd have the benefit of dehumdification as well as cooling in the summer.