[C320-list] Moisture in aft cabin

[Scott Westwood]

FWIW.  If you are at a dock with AC power I would get a small de-humidifier for the aft cabin and run the line to the bilge.   Also fwiw we keep a large de-humidifier sitting on the dry stores lock next to the sink and run the line to the sink drain.  Keeping an eye on the quality of the tubing on that thru hull.
If no AC power and issue is when sailing and running Fridge then others may have additional solutions.
We sleep in forward berth so we don't have aft cushions in place.  I will be looking for condensation there now....  Our aft cabin is our garage.  
Thanks,
Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net H (919)-362-8538    C (919)-618-7185

      From: Rick Sulewski <rsulewski at bex.net>
 To: C320-List at Catalina320.com 
 Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2018 6:51 AM
 Subject: Re: [C320-list] Moisture in aft cabin
   
Hello Mike,
Yes, what you are experiencing is condensation from the fridge. 

Going back to my first summer when our 320 was new I discovered this issue and the solution was to place a very large sheet of plastic under the aft cabin mattress/bedding sufficient to have about a 20 inches or more extra around the top perimeter of the entire mattress/bedding platform. That way not only did I have extra length  to pull up the plastic sheet around the mattress edge around the fridge area, but I could also have enough extra length to  direct  any moisture that may come from other sources like a miss-latched aft corner starboard port light or a leak that occurs from under the pedestal bump in the ceiling.

 I installed an AC unit in the port locker and occasionally the condensation pan may leak/spill  some water while at dockside during some wave action and that plastic sheet barrier kept the moisture from getting to the bedding as well. A thick plastic barrier can be purchased where paint supplies are sold or in my area, Lowes Home Improvement stores have a large roll of plastic sheeting available for customers to use to wrap supplies or lay down in their vans/autos before placing the supplies in their vehicles.  I got a large enough sheet for free. 

The thicker the  plastic the better. As far as appearance goes, we always pulled the edge of the plastic sheet up around the edges and left it  folded over the top edge of the bedding when we left the boat and simple pushed  it down slightly while using the aft cabin so the moisture could find its way under the plastic.  

Where does the moisture go? About every month or more, I would pull up the portside forward corner of the mattress and slide off the wooden mattress floor piece to check  and remove any small puddle that may be trapped in the lower corner region using a sponge or a couple of pieces of paper towels. 

Rick Sulewski
My-Ria
95'320 #277

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Michael Kowitt
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2018 5:41 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Moisture in aft cabin

I have an accumulation of moisture along the bottom forward portside corner
of the aft cabin (behind the wall of the fridge).  It seems to collect
under the corner of the mattress and is now starting to mildew.  I've
looked everywhere for the source.  I checked the small port above that area
and see no evidence of a leak.  I'm now wondering if the problem is
actually condensation from the back of the wall of the fridge.  It is a bit
colder than other fiberglass walls, so maybe......  Has anyone else
observed this problem and are there any ideas for how to resolve (e.g., a
condensation barrier on the wall, and if so, what?)
Many thanks.

Mike Kowitt
Elusive #903
Rock Hall