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Jim,

wrote:
Just make sure you either vent or dehumidify, but not both.

Btw, I don't really understand the concept of shrink wrapping:

The outside of the boat has been sal****erproof and rainproof
all summer long, but when it is out of the water, it needs to be
protected from rain and snow by plastic wrap?
If the concern is an extra half year of UV degradation of everything
on deck, wouldn't a fabric cover work better and cheaper over the
years, and not have all the condensation problems?

What am I missing here?

One guy at my dock who rarely uses his boat has a full fabric
cover over a 30+ ft sailboat when docked. All you see is the
mast and two feet of hull between the waterline and the cover.

(Just curious, I am not considering either.)

Jim, wrote:

Roger Long wrote:

Being short of time this year with two boat projects under way, I
elected to have the yard shrink wrap "Strider". I just went up to
pull the hatches (see other post) and it was like a shower inside. My
back quickly became soaked bumping into the plastic. Maybe it was
later in the season but there never seemed to be a hint of moisture
under the tarps. The wrap has three of the little triangular vents on
each side.

I had earlier opened up the portlights to let the gaskets spring back
and vent the inside of the boat. I wonder now if I'm letting more
moisture in than out.

I'm thinking of adding vents, perhaps one of those galvanized wind
turbine vents in a length of stove pipe taped into the double wrapping
at the end.

Anyone else found a good way to get air flowing through a shrink
wrapped boat? Can I count on this moisture production slowing when
the weather gets colder and the boat has dried out?

I can now understand the warning never to shrink wrap a wooden boat.

This will sound strange, but you can chemically dehumidify the inside

Total cost -- maybe $10

Get a pair of pantyhose (How is your own business)

Go to Home Despot, and buy 2 cartons of Ice Melter (I think it's calcium
chloride) DO NOT buy Sodium Chloride!

Dump 1 carton into each leg of the pantyhose, and suspend the hose over
a 5 gallon old driveway sealer bucket (or buy one one you have to)

The calcium Chloride will absorber moisture, and when saturated, drip
into the bucket. Should be good for a couple of months. Check it then
and dump the bucket and replace the CC if necessary

I can't speak for all, but in the northern climates, some sort of
covering helps to shed snow. The weight of snow added to the weight of
a boat can collapse a cradle, or clog the drains.

I have seen one boat where the drains clogged, and when the snow melted
it overflowed into the cabin. Another freeze came along and the water
inside froze and split the hull
(Catalina 22 with a rounded bilge)

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