Fixing our Boat's Moisture Problem // Living on a Sailboat in Canada Ep. 11 

I wanted to congratulate you on your channel growth. Gave you guys a solid promotion on my own channel. Tell me your thoughts.

I would recommend the closed-cell foam w/ adhesive back. Much more insulative.

Wow. You guys should really, really grease your door hinges. 😁 2:47 👍👍👍👍👍

Tks Guys from Italy 🙂 Subscribed...😃

......"oh Jonas".....great video guys

I just got a 30 Catalina I’ve had a few boats before but today I woke up. I’m like yea I need to find out how to keep this thing dry lol glad I found this

A dehumidifier/water maker WINNING!!

Hi, nice vlog! One tip about the dehumidifier, maybe it will be more effective if placed more in the middle of the boat? Make sure it is able to easily circulate air through the unit. Mine will produce about 3 liters per 24h.

So glad you have found the sourdough pancakes, I grew up on them in Alaska, and they are wonderful, keep up the good work.

Hey cool!!! I'm famous! Glad you liked them. They are a bit better when dough is warmer. I bet you'll notice more flavour in warmer temps. Also, make sure to leave them long enough for the bubbles to form and begin to pop before you flip. Thanks for featuring them. It was pretty fun to know you were talking directly to me!

Funny, happy guys.

A sailor for 45 years, live aboard for many. For your condensation problem under cushions, if your ridged foam stops working. The reason why you get condensation is because the body creates heat through the foam and reaches the cold underneath. You need air flow/ movement. Remove the foam, get 1/8" to 1/4"plywood, then use 1/2" to 5/8" high by 1' -11/2 wide slates spaced screwed on to the ply. Use as many slates you think is necessary. This raised ply will create a gap. Build it in two or three sections to fit the birth. Keeping the gap between the plywood and the vberth will allow the warm air from the foam to dissipate. This will work for the side walls as well. I've used it and worked well for years. Eat that pizza before it gets cold. , And yes! You can never use to much butter to cook. And brown butter is perfect, it's a culinary delight for all sauces.

Check out what sailing uma used for insulation, they bought thicker interlocking exercise mats and glued they to the hull

I use the pink foam in my boat and it works brilliantly! I don't cover the entire bed in it but have a few pieces that keep the mattresses off the berth, but allows airflow.

Heat is what you need not dehumerfriying plus you have to empty water which you could drink in an pinch get that Dickerson Deisel heater plump to your Desiel fuel!! Capt Wilkus Sorry about my English 3 rd language!

Just discovered your channel today. Love it, can’t wait to follow your adventures!

I just found you all a little over a week ago and have enjoyed your work and this “window” into your lives. I am sure you have been learning a great deal about living small and sustainably. Best wishes to you and Thank you!

I use those 12 x 12 interlocking bar glass mats under my matress. They keep it dry as a bone. I ruined a good matress before I figured that out unfortunatly. They make a similar product for decks and porches which are thicker and more stronger

I leave a fan running in my boat and it seems to help.

The inside of the island has cleaner beaches and better fish life.

Hello happy yachties, just love your channel! May I suggest candles? Stayed on a small fibreglass yacht with the moisture and mold was a common challenge. Tea lights can be cheap ah are safe if in hardened glass enclosures. Also the mood is lovely.... They help dry out the air and warm the place slightly. Good luck guys. Cheers Brian from Oz.

I’m glad you discovered sourdough pancake starter…My Alaskan mother once told me a story about growing up in Alaska in the 1940s/50s and her bff’s family had starter that went back at least 30 years (The Pfeil family). I’m sure it’s still going as keeping the starter fed and happy was/is a family priority. Sourdough starter evokes a certain strange devotion. People put it in their wills. I’m not kidding. Enjoy! NOM NOM… (Best wishes from Friday Harbor)

Hi there sunniest weather here is on the Mount Doug side of the island yrr 9n the cold side

You might want to try a small wood burning boat stove. They have some Canadian models pretty cheap and small for boats or tents which could help humidity as well as a chilly boat.

We’ve carefully drilled a small hole in the bottom of the reservoir on our small dehumidifier and siliconed in a long section of fish tank tubing. You can drain it to the bilge or as we do, the sink. Since the reservoir never fills, it never shuts off and continues working 27/7. I really high humidity areas they seem to fill up fast. My wife’s fix means that even when we’re off the boat, we never stop dehumidifying the boat. Just a thought. Don’t know if it will work for you or not.

I giggle when I watch i spent 5 and 1/2 years on a Tupperware stinkpot loved every second in the Vancouver area best of luck you two wish I'd found a mate to have along go guys

😊try putting a plastic roof vent mesh layer under the mattress to get some air between the hull and the mattress. Sailing Uma used it as well. This mess is found in the roofing section of the lumber store. I hope that helps. Empty the dehumidifier directly into the bilge.

A well balanced diet is a beer in each hand.

Love the videos! Working on a 1972 Columbia 30' to liveaboard thai summer myself.

I like to peel an apple. Dice it into small pieces and then add it to the pancake mix. Tastes great and is good for you too! Get your vitamins. Found that the small "Empire" apples taste best. But any kind of apple is better than none. Try it next time! This is a culinary secret. Don't tell anyone else!

Hello from Mississippi. Really enjoying your videos

Such a cute couple! I also watch Wildlings Sailing. I am in Port Orchard WA and a new owner of a 27 ft 1976 Catalina. Taking my ASA 101 end of May. Meanwhile, cleaning it , getting to know it and doing whatever I can as a single senior lol. Excited and hope one day to live on it and sail away!

Hey living up North is totally different Then on Equater living You need to you liveaboard hookups with Electric Heating to dry the boat out an Electric heater must be running at all time!! with two mouth breathers it is harder!!! what you really need is an Dickerson Desiel Heater!!! instead of that wood!! Plus it looks like an fireplace with flame on glass, you all ready half way there with what you have!! Remember to use consignment stores and channelrig stores You do not need to buy brand new!!!! Capt Wilkus

Just found your channel and really enjoying it so far. My wife and I are fellow Catalina owners, we have a Catalina 25. It's definitely not big enough for a liveaboard. I noticed on your dehumidifier that it appears the plug is transforming the voltage to DC power. You can look on the plug what voltage the output is and you might be able to run the dehumidifier just off your 12v and wire it direct so you don't need that extension cord. Good luck!

You might want to check out bums on a boat they used speaker felt to line Thier v birth good insulator on hull and easy to fit think she used 3m spray adhesive it did a really good job and looked sharp I tried neo stuff on my deck but would not stay on you could leave neo and just cover with the speaker felt a roll is cheep and easy to cut also you don’t want to pressure wash sunbrella it kills it fast there is a cleaner for it plus a water profer spray expensive but awesome just started watching looks like your having fun will watch for you on water from qualicum beach best wishes , Tunacan

You can also order desiccant packages, that can control the humidity. a couple of packs about 6 inches square can control a couple of hundred feet of space. I have the same size boat and have three packs (just toss them on shelving.). I also have a dehumidifier like yours and between the desiccant and the dehumidifier, I don't have any problems anymore.

Yeah, on shore power a small heater will help as will a dehumidifier. However the best solution by far is good ventilation and that depends on you experimenting. Keep as many hatches open as possible and if it rains cover them with bungee cord affixed plastic sheeting but don't close the hatches. It will work with patience and trial and error. Oh and keep the heating on if it's cold. Never allow the temperature to cool beyond bearable.

Jonas, I don’t think we need the manual, it’s got two buttons.😂😂😂

Gyro park / smugglers cove has great washroom hot and cold running washroom about five miles past arbutus cove .

try Ghee instead of butter, doesn’t have to be refrigerated as long as you don’t contaminate it. is more expensive but doesn’t burn smoke like butter. check it out

Get yourself a dehumidifier that uses a refrigerator compressor. Those small peltier units won't even remove the humidity from one persons breath let alone cooking etc. Plus mine gives off 300 watts of nice warm, dry desert air!

The little oil filler electric heaters that look like a radiator are really good and economical

Reflectix is not actually an insulation product. It was design to "improve" the performance of your insulation by reflecting (get it?) the heat. In the deep south they mount it up under the roof to reflect the heat before it gets in the house. Up here, you wrap your water tank to keep the heat in, and other uses. Keep it but, put some thin (1/2" even) foam behind it. Ideal humidity level for your 'home' in BC is 55% relative humidity at 20C Higher and you will see mould growth. On a boat, I doubt you will see lower 🤔😝 Instead of butter on the pan I use coconut oil. It adds a slight taste which I prefer and is healthier and easier to store- No refrigeration required!

I had a similar dehumidifier. I modified it to drain into the sink. For the v berth you could drain it into the chain locker.

liked and subscribed. nice videos guys!

I know this is an old video and you probably have a vent system worked out. My first thought is that you have those open slats in the companion way. If you could fasten a vent that had metal flex duct over to the stove it might draw. If it didn't draw you can put a fan in the duct that would allow you turn on a switch to draw the smoke out.

See if you can get some insulation up in behind the liner, if I remember correctly there should be a gap between the hull and liner under the v berth you should be able to get multiple layers of that thin reflective insulation in there.

Hi guys & greetings from Sidney. For your moisture problem check out the "Sailing Uma" channel. They renovated their old boat and came up with some very creative solutions. Sailing Uma is at the moment in Norway and originated in Nanaimo. Also, consider a Patreon page, keeps you financially more independent. Keep up the great quality of your videos. Stay healthy and be safe!

2 people breathing in a boat make for a lot of condensation. You look like the answer is the heater and the dehumidifier since you’re on shore power. Maybe make a reflectix jacket for the dehumidifier to protect it down to freezing? With the little heater, also try hanging a sheet between the V berth and the Galley. It’ll make a smaller area to heat and draw moisture from. Cooking in CAST IRON absolutely ROCKS (just season it after cleaning). Look into a Pressure cooker (RU-vidr ‘Sailing Anne’ has some cool content). It’s pretty key in a tiny boat galley. The pressure cooker will also decrease your cooking time/ less fuel costs.

Yeah until some tugboat tears up the AC electricity from the dock. Glad i built this for off grid. Its off grid test time in febuary and propane adds tons more mostiure. Love from seattle

If the dehumidifier can cover the entire boat you could drill a hole in the drip pan side/bottom and put it in the sink. Though yeah if it doesn't get warm enough then that could be a problem. Though closing off the vents could allow the space heaters to burn off a bit more of the humidity. You'd have to have a way to measure the humidity and experiment on that one.

Check out closed cell foam.I buy peel and stick,and cut it with scissors.fits curved surfaces. I’m on the boat,Friday night and they are calling for snow.its taken three winters,but I’m comfortable know.good luck what ever you do

The guy from the Chanel SV basic use's indoor outdoor carpet glued to the walls and under the mattress. not sure how that works but figure I will try it when I move aboard my boat

Nice job guys keep it up

The Reflectix product has an insulation factor of 2 while the pink insulation has a factor of 5. If you were to add one or two more layers, you would achieve the same insulation in total and being flexible, the Reflectix material adheres better to the curved surface of the V-berth. Cheers

When making pancakes, melt the butter at low heat, mix it in the batch. Then the first pancake won't be swimming in butter and the rest won't stick to the pan either.

After binge watching I'm up to date Here's a few suggestions.they.have wood pellets for your heater that work really well.as long as you are doing shore power I would think about electric food chest Dometic is what a lot of Sailors use your editing is very good What are your plans for the future on Sailing ? Denny

I regular spoon is a tablespoon to help with measurements

Love the pancaces. Vill try it here to

for sure eh! anytime is pancake time!!! Proper maple syrup always the best....

got this figured out...you need to sail that boat to a southern warmer climate...the maritimes is nice to visit but either BC or Caribbean for me. lol

Maybe if you hung a curtain across the v berth it would concentrate in that area, the problem is as animals we exhale a lot of moisture, the windows in my house get wet if I don't have the heater on so the curtain should super concentrate warming and drying of that area when you are not in it. My C30 has a sliding door that goes across just in front of the head.

The inside of the island is warmer

Watched this right after the insulation under the mattress vid ! Ok quick tips! Reduce all sources of water vapour boiling water, cooking liquids etc Humans breath over a litre of water vapour each over a day. If possible microwave food and make drinks by heating a cup in the mw. Condensation is a result of air ladened with water hitting a cold surface which cools the air to it dew point. This dew point is not the same temp all the time it depends on air temp and it's humidity. Any surface below the waterline will never warm up above the outside water temp. The above waterline can be warmed up by the sun for example to a level that dew will not form. There is really no point insulating below the water line only above. The roof of the cabin can and will cause condensation if not insulated. Ok I know this is long winded but bear with me! The dehumidifier that you bought works by sucking in humid air the cooling it with a cold plate so the water condenses and drips in your tray. Now your boat is a giant dehumidifier already! if you leave the below waterline uninsulated and make sure condensation can drain into the bilge. For this to work air must be allowed to touch the cold surface below the waterline and the insulation must be fitted to all the above waterline including the cabin roof. Remember windows and hatches can cause condensation so make up little pads that you can insert into the spaces that are easy to remove, curtains don't really work for this in winter. Important !!!!!!!!! All drains to the bilge must be clear and fit a good pump that works automatically. You will be amazed just how much water can be stored in the bilge if your pump does not work. Mattress should have air flow under it and turn it at least once a week. Another tip ... If you boil a kettle place the kettle in the hatchway so the steam does not get into the boat remembering even after you boiled it steam is still escaping for up to 30 mins. Always put a lid on cooking pots to reduce water vapour. Of course in the warmer weather none of this matters.

10:23 ha! I don't think we need a manual. It's got two buttons! :)

Check out "Sail Life" on RU-vid. He does a lot of research and has some recommendations on what he uses for insulation. It is closed cell with a sticky back but I can't remember the name of it. Ah, I just remembered, its Armaflex and it apparently doesn't get moldy. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-galq4VNHvLE.html

Hi! Enjoying your youtube channel. Nice to see more people from Victoria who like ourselves live aboard a sailboat. We are across the harbour in West Bay. Will add you on FB. See ya around!

WD40 on those Chevy door hinges. :)

Your videos are great! Can you share the pancake recipe? I hope to get a sailboat one day! We just bought a power boat recently. Keep up the great videos!

I love the saying "dog pancake"

I love pancakes! Please share the recipe. We've just got our starter going!

next episode Wd-40 for your creeky truck door problem lol

Hey, great video. So, how well has that dehumidifier held out over time?

An rv vent works wrecking yards allover electric frying pan too

Our boat came covered in that pink insulation but it didn't work. We're gonna try gym mats glued to the wall.

💫😇 SB Moisture: Eye Wood Try Heat Lamps 😇💫 Providing Instant Heat, super effective at removing moisture from air, surfaces, and even penetrating the fiberglass membranes withe infrared spectrum. Personally I'd Always Have A Big Crock Pot Cook/hEating, Roasts, Chillie, Stews Ect. Also on a northern note, I'd get a bag of briquettes the larger ones, generic easy light, if kept in a moisture proof container they should be excellent for the little stove getting things started or just incremental heat.

Humid air weight more then less humid air. "Humidity" stays in the lower part of the cabin. You should put it on the floor not near the ceiling. In this way you will improve the amount of humidity taken out.

when you returned the foam, maybe some wd-40 for the doors should have been purchased, would be good, anyway good video, stay safe

What output voltage is on the power brick? Can you get an adapter to run it off the 12v power without an inverter? Thanks

I use a small baseboard heater in my boat and since I have been using it there has not been any mold or dampness.

Are you not allowed to use the wood stove in the marina? What about electric heaters?

are you happy with the efficiency of the dehumidifier? How much water produced in a day?

|> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> That dehumifier have a 120/240 volt addapter ... I guess it runs on 12 volt native ... which is a excelet choise by the way ... what idea you get by that hopefully? and right ... when the amount of water it takes out is effcent enough its a bit a watermaker too |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |>

Pancakes look awesome but you're missing the real Canadian Syrup. QQ Any chance in sharing that recipe?

Just read all the comment's and didn't find an answer for what "the white bit" is called lol....as far as I know in c30s its the superstructure as they molded the whole floor/cabin sole and the white bit lol in one piece and it gives the hull its structural integrity (we have a c30 1989 TR on the Sunshine Coast in Australia)

Drizair makes a passive dehumidifier plastic with pellets inside mgforster@YAHOO.CA IF YOU LIKE STAY grooving lol

God put some KY on those hinges

Can you share the pancake recipe thanks

You will find a better solution. I know because I peeked. ;-)

How about sharing the recipe? Please?

please help thank you. if i have one of those dehumidifiers, or possibly 2 of them, do i need to run a heater as well when im not gonna be in my boat for 12 hours. its for my brother and he has 2 heaters running constantly which costed him $120 last electric bill, one of the heaters is an oil heater. which from my experience dont heat up the space much. sp im gonna see if he can try without it. he lives in a boat in Vancouver island. im gonna see if i can get him a 750 watt ptc fan space heater, and 1 or 2 of those dehumidifiers you got. im not sure if foam board will fit on the walls as im not sure the walls are straight. but maybe he can cut them into strips and tape them together. your thoughts on this matter would be much appreciated.

Oil the hinges on your truck

Add a egg to batter

no more moisture. Hip hip hooray!!!

Pancake recipe?

Feel like sharing that pancake recipe?

Hey! What's the first song in the vid called; like 35 seconds in. It's been driving me crazy for months haha!

Oil the passenger door hinge on you truck

Had a inch of ice on top of my oday 28 last night in Maryland lil cold and I looking into same thing rn everything i lay on gets wet

New to your channel and really enjoying watching your adventures. Honestly I wish I had done this at your age, but then again I was in the Navy, so... anyway. Gillian - you are a very impressive young lady. I hope my daughter is as clever, resourceful and adventurous when she's your age. As for your V-berth insulation the best tip I can offer is go check out Sailing Uma here on RU-vid. They are a young couple, he is from BC and she is from Haiti. I think you'd like their channel, but more to the point they insulated the inside surfaces of their hull with foam. They brilliantly used those foam tiles that fit together like puzzle pieces, if you know what I mean. They're about 2 foot square and come in packages of I think four tiles. Likely more expensive than what you used, but I think the results are worth it. Here is the episode: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ClFGcjr8djI.html Enjoy!