Hold Storage, Without Getting Things Wet

[omgitsgela]

So I have this Catalina 25 with quite a bit of storage along the hull in various locations. I'd love to use some of it, but I'm a little afraid of the occasional bilge water rushing up and soaking all of my clean laundry.

How do you keep things like laundry, blankets, towels, etc. clean in the various holds while still providing some room for bilge water to splash about?

(Some of my holds don't drain very well to the keel, and do collect standing water in certain corners)

[SVNeko]

sealable plastic bags and dry decks.

[Pyrate]

Originally Posted by SVNeko

sealable plastic bags and dry decks.

Yep, and even that only works up to a point. If it's something like a rarely used spare part, I'd consider a vacuum sealing bag over zip-lock style. The zip-lock bags eventually seem to allow water to seep in to them. Of course, for laundry and the like, stick with the zip-locks for ease of use and re-use.

[haiqu]

How about some of those big plastic bins from the supermarket? I bring all my stuff aboard in them anyway, and they have clip-on lids.

[Hudson Force]

Let's consider the control at the source. Are you receiving this water in your bildge from condensation; stuffing box drip; through-hull leaks; rain leaks; AC condensation or unknown? The source of the water shuould be controlled to a point where the water volume should not be a problem! I'm all for vacuum bags; damp-rid bags; sealed storage, etc., but the source should be under control!

[daddle]

I would not attempt to store bedding or clothing anywhere that has communication with the bilge. Our clothing is out in the open. The hanging closet is heated by the refrigerator and has a cloth screen "door". 400 pesos gets everything washed regularly. Anything else would be a smelly disaster.

In a plastic bin, or plastic bags, can work. But it can also fail spectacularly.

My experience is both here in the steaming tropics and foggy damp California. The best place for pretty much everything is the Sea of Cortez and Mexican Riveria in the dry season. No dampness is possible. Wonderful.

[bobconnie]

Netting in the overhead in the berthing areas will add a bunch of room for clothing. keeps it as dry as you can expect at sea ! Just start looking up and think netting!! It has worked for us for years.

[charliehows]

i think of the bilges as essentially wet areas - even though most of mine are bone dry. Heavy stuff like tinned food, bottles of wine, oil, spare water go downstairs, clothes, bedding need to be up and dry - the overhead netting thing is excellent advice...