air circulation

[torcano]

This is my first winter with my boat. The boat is shrink wrapped with vents installed and plenty of dehumidfier sacs on board. Any thoughts on leaving the cabin door open or closed? My thoughts were that leaving it open would permit a greater chance of air circulation from the cockpit area to the cabin space.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: air circulation

Not a bad idea.If its already wrapped can you access the cabin door?
If not it should be fine either way. I use the Damp-Rid buckets and have never had a moisture problem.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: air circulation

I agree with Gary, open the door if you can, if not, the damp rid buckets are fantastic and catch most of the moisture.

I also either remove the pillows and matresses from the boat during winter, or simply stand them upright.

 

[torcano]

Re: air circulation

I had an access door cut into the shrink wrap so I can crawl in and I do mean crawl. You would think they would make these doors a little larger. I have taken all the pillows, and other fabric covered items off of the boat as well as the snap in carpet, above and below deck. I will try to get down to the marina once a week and open the access door to promote additional ventilation. It's probably overkill but I could think of worse things to do then hanging around the marina. I've heard that leaving Bounty fabric softner sheets keep the cabin smelling better.

 

[The Great Escape II]

Re: air circulation

What you will find out it's not as bad as you think. I would not leave my cabin door open. Easier for somebody to open your nice little zippered doorway and make off with what ever you left in the cabin. The lock on your cabin door is not the greatest but it's still a lock.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: air circulation

Our owners manuel suggest the following:

Open the zippers, and pt a styrofoam plate in between the vinyl in any/all cushions (Seats)

Prop open any storage areas/units for ventilation

Remove any snap in carpet, and store elsewhere

Use damp rid (we do) <Wondered abot one of thoe units that circulate air> ??

Raise the front of the trailer to allow any drainage of waterout the transom plug hole

Remove your n board batteries and hook themup to a battery maintainer

LOOSEN ALL STRAPS on the boat/tailer, because the tight straps, on the rear, and the front of the boat cause "sress, to the hull", and can initiate "stress cracks" on he hull.

Our deck boat has 2 cup holders, that are outside of the bow cover. We use a small piece of the plastic protecter that you use on carpet, to "seal them off", as well as the horn cover pate. We also, cover up 7/8's of the 4 vent holes for the ventilation of the engine, from the blower.

Just what our owners manuel suggests.

Hope that it helps.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: air circulation

Forgot about the dryer sheets, that is true. I spread them out plentifully during the winter layover. I also use them in the summer, to stuff in the small openings of the top, overnight. This keeps her smelling fresh, and most importantly, keeps the mosquitoes out. They hate the smell of the dryer sheets!