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Old 23-09-2018, 11:03   #1
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Condensation on the windows

Went out to Desolation Sound with two Chicago College apartment mates from the 60/70's. I looked forward to showing one Desolation Sound as he had never seen it. Instead we ran into rain, on going rain such as coastal Washington state and BC often receive - often...lol.

On our first day of crossing from Comox to Lund BC, we were warm and dry in the cabin, able to use the instrument console in a protected environment. I mention this as up to this point, all three of us had been sail boaters discovering the joy of power boating without sitting in the cockpit of a sailboat, encased in water proof gear, pretending the experience was fun.

But condensation on the forward windows with a bow and beyound view was affecting visibility. The windshield wipers worked well but inside was another matter, having to be cleaned every ten minutes or so.

Solutions. PS: I like to go out on the boat off season, translation - boating in the rain.
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Old 23-09-2018, 13:20   #2
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Re: Condensation on the windows

Same as an auto, heated windows, probably easiest is to use heated air.
You can buy 12V window defoggers for not much money.
Of course this assumes you have healthy alternators.
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Old 23-09-2018, 17:35   #3
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Re: Condensation on the windows

I goggled after reading your post and came up with the spinning window design. What surprised me was this technology was on our Canadian Destroyers in 1974 so I'm wondering how this is a new technology. Youtube below:

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Old 23-09-2018, 18:06   #4
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Re: Condensation on the windows

You need to dehumidify the cabin air.
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Old 24-09-2018, 02:50   #5
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Re: Condensation on the windows

double glaze the windows
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Old 24-09-2018, 03:49   #6
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Re: Condensation on the windows

A diesel or wood stove/heater will keep the inside dry. Moisture is your breathing, cooking, showers.
Sometimes a fan blowing on the window is enough and sometimes the moisture is too much for a defroster.
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Old 24-09-2018, 04:29   #7
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Re: Condensation on the windows

This
Quote:
Originally Posted by atoll View Post
double glaze the windows
And This
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lepke View Post
A diesel or wood stove/heater will keep the inside dry. Moisture is your breathing, cooking, showers.
Sometimes a fan blowing on the window is enough and sometimes the moisture is too much for a defroster.
Also be careful of the moisture that gets below, both from wet gear, and cooking. Open the boat out and ventilate it in good weather. Even in bad weather ventilation is your friend. Prehaps a squeegie might work and some dishwashing solution, or rainex stuff.

Adding drip catchers is another option, you will still get condensation but it doesnt collect and run everwhere.
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Old 24-09-2018, 10:04   #8
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Re: Condensation on the windows

We sometimes have this problem in our pilothouse boat in late autumn when the weather is cold. So far the best working option for us has been our 12V fan that blows towards the window in front of the inside steering station.
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Old 24-09-2018, 10:20   #9
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Re: Condensation on the windows

Many have a fan to blow on the windshield.... just like truckers do. But you need to keep water out of the cabin and keep some heat gong will help too. Dont trudge in and out of the cabin when it's raining getting water all over the floor etc.
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Old 24-09-2018, 10:25   #10
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Re: Condensation on the windows

We are in Vancouver and know the problem well we use a 120 volt dehumidifier and a fan system on the bridge .
It helps even if you dry the boat out before you leave dock
Rainex or shower cleaner coating will also work on the inside but you will have a lot of water running off that can possibly cause a lot of damage.
make sure you minimise the water in the air no hot coffee or cooking
Also what type of stove do you have if alcohol stop using it they pump water out big time
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Old 24-09-2018, 11:36   #11
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Re: Condensation on the windows

Propane stove, I have I do. I also have a Dickinson Newport (1200 or 9000?) propane heater that I attempted to get running, I could get the flame on but even after holding the knob down for a minute or more, the flame would go out. I'm assuming it needs a new thermocoupler.

I recently purchased this older Grenfell boat and my short 4 day cruise was really a shake down to find problems, the boat goes on the hard for re-fit, repairs and whatever.

The cabin is incredibly roomy (sailboater remember) and I'm thinking of a small wood fireplace in the main cabin, behind the instrument console area. Debating between the Cubic Mini Wood stove and the other model available - the Grizzly. I'm worried the Grizzly will be over kill in this 28 footer cabin. I would like heat in this area as I could open the double doors to the aft deck which can be totally enclosed with canvas (or whatever it is) and keep the outside area somewhat warm.

I have researched smaller fans and think I will install one or two, covering both forward facing windows.

And then to add to my joy, the entire propane system shut down. I'm hoping a regulator reset will work, but if not, then probably a new regulator or solenoid or both, to resurrect the propane.

And I'm about to purchase a dehumidifier that I'm planing on running for short burst while running after I install an Efoy system, and stronger 3000 watt inverter. The one I'm currently look at only uses 345 watts so I can use it while under way.
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Old 24-09-2018, 12:01   #12
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Re: Condensation on the windows

Propane creates moisture when burned. That could be your issue. Get that diesel heater fixed because it creates a dry heat.
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Old 24-09-2018, 18:41   #13
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Re: Condensation on the windows

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Originally Posted by GaryBode View Post
Propane creates moisture when burned. That could be your issue. Get that diesel heater fixed because it creates a dry heat.
Exactly, the propane cooking stove exhausts openly into the cabin air, and can increase the humidity substantially which humidity will condense onto an surface that is cooler than the dew point.

C3H8 +5O2 --> 3CO2 + 4H2O

Keep open stove cooking to a minimum.

As to the propane heater obviously make sure it is of the type that allows for its exhaust to be ported directly outside [i.e., connected to a chimney vent] and allows just the forced or convective air to flows across the heat exchanger and thereby is warmed and allowed to circulate in the cabin. If you use the inexpensive portable propane heaters that exhausts into the cabin it will pump a lot of water into the ambient environment as they typically burn much more propane then a cooking stove burner and of course generally run for extended time periods, not just the time required to heat food or warm water for drinks.
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Old 24-09-2018, 18:58   #14
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Re: Condensation on the windows

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Originally Posted by rsn48 View Post
I could get the flame on but even after holding the knob down for a minute or more, the flame would go out. I'm assuming it needs a new thermocoupler.
.
Clean the thermocouple with very fine sand paper .... works 9X out of 10.
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Old 24-09-2018, 19:01   #15
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Re: Condensation on the windows

Clearview windscreen.... heated ..... Awesome !

This shot shows a tornado just about to hit our boat on Pungo Creek some years ago
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