On the water, full of organic materials and expensive pieces of equipment, a boat is a valuable possession vulnerable to the effects of high humidity. So it’s no surprise that many boat lovers like to use a dehumidifier to protect their pride and joy.
It can be quite a momentous day when we head down to the harbour to swing open our boat doors for the first time this year. However, we may be met with that musty, stale smell that reminds us of just how important it is to manage humidity levels over winter.
In this blog, we’ll explore the sources of moisture on boats, the importance of managing humidity, and how both the Meaco DD8L range (our recommended desiccant models) and our MeacoDry Arete® One dehumidifiers (compressor models) can be your allies in maintaining an optimal onboard humidity.
Sources Of Moisture On Boats:
Life and holidays on the water brings unique challenges, with days of splashing, fishing or simply cruising on the water. When you’re busy having fun, things like humidity management are often overlooked.
Water Sports and Activities:
- Engaging in water-based activities like swimming, fishing, or water sports inevitably brings water onto the boat. Wet clothes, towels, and water equipment contribute to elevated humidity levels, creating an environment conducive to damp and mould growth. Even if materials and equipment were packed away for storage on board over winter, we may notice a musty smell on things like towels specifically or condensation on our devices.
Top Tip: Before packing items like wetsuits or towels away, ensure they are fully dried to avoid adding moisture to cupboards and storage areas. You can even use your dehumidifier to dry your washing too!
Locking it Up Over Autumn/Winter:
- As the seasons change, many boat owners will have locked up their vessels during the colder months. Unfortunately, this sealed and potentially already damp and cold environment can be the perfect breeding ground for trapped moisture – especially if there are any leaks or if the boat is not adequately ventilated. This situation and the connected problems can affect not only your comfort but also the integrity of the boat’s interior and the expensive equipment.
Top Tip: Make sure your boat has good ventilation, even in the off seasons. Consider the moisture and bear in mind that if it doesn’t have an opportunity to escape, it will cling to upholstery and condensate on dials which can cause problems in the long term.
Impact Of High Humidity On Soft Furnishings And Equipment:
Organic material, in particular, is prone to damage from excess moisture which explains why it’s often the cushions and bedding that smell damp and musty. Anything paper based like books, pictures or for the old school – maps – can absorb moisture and curl up. Wood and veneer can also be at risk of damp.
Warranty Considerations:
- Most electronic boating equipment comes with a warranty which specifies it needs to be kept at lower than 80% relative humidity, non-condensing. Failing to maintain these conditions can void warranties and lead to premature degradation of materials, affecting the overall lifespan and performance of your belongings.
Top Tip: A dehumidifier is a great way of maintaining humidity levels on board, protecting your equipment and warranties – especially when you consider expensive equipment like high tech electronics: radars and sonars, batteries, remote controls, monitors and sometimes even the warranty on the boat, itself…
Damp and mould formation:
- Not only can poor conditions in a sealed, wet environment compromise the boat’s structural integrity, high humidity levels provide the ideal environment for mould growth on organic materials too. Mould can grow across your upholstery, mattresses or storage. Sometimes, there can be invisible threats such as high levels of mould spores which can spread easily and be bad for your health as well.
Top tip: when returning to your boat after winter, why not use one of our medical grade H13 HEPA filters in your dehumidifier? This can help to filter out some of the airbourne nasties. And, did you know, our DD8L is fitted with an anti-bacterial filter as well as an ioniser which helps keep the air even cleaner?
Is a dehumidifier good for a boat in order to manage humidity?
Yes, if humidity is left unmanaged, you can damage health, belongings and equipment. And when you consider how much you invested on the technical electronic equipment, you may also be violating your warranty and neglecting your assets.
By addressing the sources of moisture, preventing damp, mould and condensation forming, and preserving soft furnishings and equipment, a dehumidifier ensures that your time on the water remains enjoyable and worry-free. Investing in a high-quality dehumidifier like the MeacoDry Arete® One 25L or Meaco DD8L with continuous drainage is a wise decision for boat owners, year-round.
Which dehumidifiers to look at when managing your boat’s humidity?
All dehumidifiers act as a guardian against damp, mould and condensation by extracting excess moisture from the air. When choosing which appliance will best help you manage all of this on a boat, the most important factor to think about is storage.
As most boats are stored over winter, rising humidity can become a problem because as temperature decreases, relative humidity increases and can become a problem. The best solution to maintaining boats in storage is to run a dehumidifier with continuous drainage (a hose and port which will continually drain the water outside and removes the need to repeatedly empty the water tank). Most dehumidifiers will have a continuous drainage option but it’s always worth checking. Drainage is the most important thing to look for if you’re leaving your boat unattended over winter.
However, there are three further things to think about when choosing a dehumidifier:
- Consider the environment on the boat itself:
What is the average temperature on your boat? What are the lowest temperatures your boat will endure? Where it’s stored: dry docked or is it on the water year-round? - Work out what’s important to you:
Is protecting your electronic devices onboard the top priority? Are you prioritising energy efficiency? - Think about your use of the boat:
Are you bringing in a lot of moisture with outdoor activities in the summer? Are you able to introduce a dehumidifier running 24/7 to help reduce the relative humidity? Or, are you able to make sure wet laundry like towels and wetsuits are fully dried before you pack them away to avoid adding moisture to storage areas?
When choosing the right product, the desiccant DD8L Junior would do the job just fine. It is a winner of the PBO & Sailing Today tests, performs very well (even below 10°C) and includes two key things. A continuous drainage option so you can set it up and leave it running, worry-free. And Meaco Control Logic which prevents the dehumidifier running if it’s already reached the target relative humidity. This can save leaving the device unattended and on continuous mode, and spending money to run it throughout winter, when it might not be needed 24/7.
If you want to restrict the hours of operation and make use of the cleaning capabilities then take a look at the DD8L Zambezi with its Daily Run Timer and Ioniser. Small and lightweight, it also includes Meaco Control Logic and ioniser which sterlises the air in a 10m radius to provide cleaner air to your boat in storage.
Top tip: leverage the Meaco Control Logic and continuous drainage on our DD8L range for the most energy efficient use. It’ll take samples of the air in order to start and stop as needed.
All 3 dehumidifiers in our DD8L range are desiccants which mean they can operate very well, even at cooler temperatures; for instance, a cold harbour or dock throughout the winter.
Our recommended compressor model for boats is the Which? Best Buy: the MeacoDry Arete® One 25L Dehumidifier. It’s a great choice for defending your boat against damp and related issues.
Arete® One has been designed around your life and the British weather. Like the DD8L models, the Meaco Control Logic means it’s optimised to run as efficiently as possible. It also fits a continuous drainage hose so you don’t have to worry about emptying the water tank regularly. Plus, we have engineered the Arete® drainage port to be a standard garden hose size, making it easier than ever to purchase, set up and leave running while you’re not around.
Top tip: you can also purchase an Arete® One drainage pump to support the water flow. This is necessary if the hose has to be directed upwards to be emptied, such as out of a window. Remember that water flow can’t defy gravity! Handy, when dehumidifying a boat with smaller, less accessible windows.
Sail into every adventure with confidence, knowing that your boat’s interior is protected against the detrimental effects of high humidity.
