Belowdecks & Amenities
Once boats are buttoned up in humid climates, the battle against mildew begins. Keeping humidity below 65 percent is adequate. (Photo courtesy of Mahina Expeditions, www.mahina.com)
Dehumidifier Field Tests
Dehumidifers, desiccants, heaters: What’s best on a boat?
When boats are buttoned up in humid climates, the battle against mildew begins. With the goal of keeping onboard humidity below 65 percent, we compared compressor dehumidifiers and thermo-electric dehumidifiers, two “active” systems for removing moisture, with passive-drying desiccants to determine which is best for keeping mildew at bay. The test products included the Eva-Dry 2000, a small, quiet thermo-electric dehumidifier; two compressor dehumidifiers, the Mermaid Dry-Pal and a Sears 30-pint; and two desiccants we’ve tested before, Damp Rid and Absorbag. The test platforms were an outside garden shed and a 32-foot catamaran moored on the Chesapeake.
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