Operation moisture control

   Winter is here and we're nice and toasty aboard Kingsley with the indoor oil (plug-in) heater running, the indoor propane stove helping us cook tasty dinners, and the water heater/pressure kicking up the occasional warm shower...meanwhile, condensation is occurring.
   From doing our regular blog and magazine reading, even before buying a boat, we knew the threat is always there. Warm without too much airflow inside and cold outside is the perfect recipe for a rising humidity level. That combined with Kingsley's (we still love ya girl!) lack of insulation and two humans breathing all the time (and who knows what kind of moisture Kali gives off) and well, you get the picture - drops of water show up in a few spots.
   So, new additions this week: a few moisture trapping contraptions (top pic) for the aft lazarettes, a fan for the V-berth up front, and a cool little battery operated indoor/outdoor thermostat with a indoor humidity level reading. We had already added some wood slats for under our mattresses so the bed is dry. All of the above help, but as you can see in the thermostat photo, the stated outdoor temperature isn't that reliable - it pretty much just heats up into the 70s when the sun shines on it. Still, nothing helps more than opening a forward and aft hatch and letting some air flow. Word on the blog-street is that if we keep the humidity below 50 degrees we're OK and won't have to fight off any...gulp...mold.

   ~Paul, Amber, Kali   

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