winter storage ..tips??

[Admiral P. Brain]

To keep the moisture out of the boat thru dec/jan/feb and the engine temp above freezing, does any one have any ideas/experiences??

heard some people put
special paper in the engine bay
blankets over the engine
heaters, small oil filled, or these greenhouse tubular low watt heaters in the engine bay/cockpit

[Admiral P. Brain]

TD recommened Argos for small oil filled heaters with a thermostat...
the tubular low watt heaters i found on.... www.kelkoo.co.uk or www.vent-axia.com or www.tlc-direct.co.uk
but dont think these have thermostats and unsure about leaving any of these heaters on without daily supervision!!
what happens if they fall over??

[Jon Fuller]

I would just say DO NOT click the kelkoo link, you'll get fkkn pop ups n shite jumpin up on ya screen for ever after!

Oil filled heaters are the safest in my opinion, I have two 600 watt Honeywell jobs in mine, all winter, one in the engine compartment, one in the cockpiy/cabin.
warm as toast and perfectly dry all winter.

[Admiral P. Brain]

Jon
so they on a thermostat? or do you just turn them on when it gets cold?
Problem is we dont go near our boat all week... can they fall over or burn/melt anything??

where did you get your from??

[Jon Fuller]

Mine have stats, I leave em on all winter! they decide when they're needed

[Admiral P. Brain]

what temp u set them to Jon?
so how often do you think there coming on??

[Jon]

Interesting topic,

Cant say ive thought about it until now.

Sexy Beast is still on her mooring until i pick up her new trailer next week. Ill probably pull her out at the end of the month and then lay her up at home under a tarp. I normally use the moisture traps with granules to keep the damp at bay. Handy if you dont have access to electricity. I do, but dont like the thought of leaving electrical appliances unattended for long periods of time. Especially as i am away quite a lot.

[Carl]

what are the moisture traps like and where do you get them from,they sound like a good idea for me,because of the lack of electrickery

[dbe1]

Originally posted by carly baby
what are the moisture traps like and where do you get them from,they sound like a good idea for me,because of the lack of electrickery


I have used them for years, B&Q and Homebase sell them, they also sell the re fill kits.

[Carl]

excellent,thanks

[Jon]

yep,

DIY Stores or Camping shops sell them.

You will be amazed at the amount of water they collect. Only draw back is that they need emptying and replenishing regularly.

How regularly depends on how damp the atmosphere is where the boat is stored, and of course if the bilge is swimming when you lay up.

[Carl]

i have just been told that cat litter does the same job,never tried it so dont blame me if you get loads of pussies on your boats over the winter...................................waiting for replies now

[dbe1]

Originally posted by carly baby
i have just been told that cat litter does the same job,never tried it so dont blame me if you get loads of pussies on your boats over the winter...................................waiting for replies now

A friend tried cat litter, said it smelled a bit for a while afterwards.

[Carl]

did it work though

[glen76]

i dont have electric on my boat and i did it wrong the first year and ended up with a fury carpet as those crystals alone couldnt keep up..

last year i brought her home for a week and put a mains dehumidifier in to make sure she was dry. then when she went back down calshot i put three pots of those crystals in the boat and put her big coat on.. dry as a bone and no damp at all. the crystals only half expanded in two and a half months.. worth remebering that they can stain and will f**k up yer carpet and anything they touch if they spill.... i put mine in self draining areas only...

i am very cautious about having anything too sparky in a boat, you smelly diesels would surely be fine but i think a petrol boat would be a ticking time bomb, my g friends electric rad does spark on thermostat on and off and on main switch(i had to clean arking off when it stopped workin).

but it would keep ur boat dry if it caught fire i suppose... tick tick boom:jaw:

[glen76]

Originally posted by Matt
Clumping or non-clumping?

is that a cat thing term?? never heard it in boat world!!


how about a 12v dhumidifier and a solar panel :hugegrin:

[dbe1]

Originally posted by carly baby
did it work though

Apparently not as well as the proper stuff. I used 3 containers 1 in the engine bay and 2 in the main cabin, no damp at all.

[Rogue Wave]

I saw something quite interesting re moisture absorbing products whilst in ( now don't take the piss!) Towsure the other day. they had various sizes of absorbing pillows wot you let soak it up for a while and the shove em in the microwave to dry em/

Might be a good interim solution for those that visit their botes every fortnight or so and who don't have electricity

[Tony Davis]

Originally posted by Matt
Apparently charcoal works too

I dont think leaving a barbeque on your boat unattended is a very good idea!:D

[The gArfish]

Originally posted by Matt
Apparently charcoal works too

i didd wont too av a likkul argewmunt wiv dat mat abowt dis staytmint butt lukin att iz fkin tagg lyne, i downt fink i wil.

gArf