*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: he ain't afraid of hard work, i seen him sit down right in the middle of it.
I have a 30' Trojan and the cabin is starting to get VERY Musty, damp and smelly. I've seen Dehumidifiers in West Marine & Boat US and was wondering if you guys had any special preference, which one works and which ones are a waste of time.
I am not familiar with dehumidifiers on boats. I do operate one in my damp home basement and boy does it work. It doesn't take too many hours to fill up its 2.5 gallon container.
I was recently talking to a person who watches vacation house during the offseason. He mentioned that there were several fires from dehumidifiers from a clogged screen.
Hitch the water you see being dumped out of the through hull fitting is not actual water or moisture being removed from the boats cabin. This is water being taken in, filtered through a strainer, and pumped through a coil in the A/C unit, where it absorbs the heat from the boat’s cabin and discharges it above the waterline. If I misunderstood what I thought you were thinking then I apologize.
I guess leaving the AC does the same job. When the boat is up for dry storage I put a small house dehumidifier onboard. Works great. You just have to be able to empty the thing out every so often or find a way of draining the tank. Running a hose to the bilge would work. Let the bilge pump take the water out.
iloveboatingny, The very nature of a dehumidifier is to remove moisture from the air. Unless that cabin is sealed air tight the dehumidifier will run forever - the boat's on the water.
Last year my V-Berth w/small galley kitchen was also as you discribed. This spring I cleaned the complete bilge, rod locker (and rod), hoses, everything top to bottom and inside to out - smells gone.
How old is the 30' Trojan? Maybe it is time to have the fabric's professionally cleaned.
I could be wrong on this, but here's my thinking on the smell issue: moisture/dampness in the air should not have an order or unpleasent smell associated with it (evening air). It's the moisture/dampness that activates the mold/fungus or the growth of mold/fungus; it's the mold/fungus that you are smelling. Clean and or remove all the traces of mold/fungus from the cabin, and you should not have a problem with the moisture/dampness.
New boats don't smell as you discribed or I experienced; what's the difference - clean.
Garett,
The boat is a 1977. This sping,the cabin didn't have any dampness or smell. As the summer warmed , It started to get smelly and damp.
The Interior has been replaced about 4 years ago.
I was wondering if all large cabins have some sort of dehimidifiers on board reguardless of age?
iloveboatingny, quote: I was wondering if all large cabins have some sort of dehimidifiers on board Sorry, I can't answer that because I don't know. But I'd be surprise to hear that dehimidifiers are found on your size of boat.
As I mentioned in my first post, you really need to look for the sourse of the smell. The moisture/dampness is only triggering it off. When the admiral and I was done cleaning, you could eat off of anywhere - hospital clean - cleaner then new!
We had a 43' Hatt in the early 80's and I had a problem with mildew, even tho we used the boat at least once a month. Bought a dehumidifier and set it up next to the sink in the galley so the water would go out the drain. Never had a mildew problem after that, but we DID have to remember to put the dehumidifier in a safe place while we were cruising. The newer Cruisair AC units have an automatic dehumidifier cycle that works wonderfully.
Dehumidifers? Do they work? 
