How to Solve Condensation Under the Mattress?

[sail2bluesue]

Thanks one and all for the great ideas. We love the Froli idea - looks like a great product, but a little spendy. We just purchased a roll of the Hypervent from their store in Marysville, WA for less than half the cost of the Froli. It's now cut (very easy to cuy and fit) and ready to go; just have to wait for the mattress and pads to dry a bit more before we make the beds again. We'll report back on how well it does the trick!
Thanks again,

[Graceunderway]

We used bubble wrap...big bubbles. Temp outside 30s and inside 60s. Condensation is just unavoidable. During the day propped the mattress and opened the hatch. In summer temps reverse...outside almost 90s and inside 70s. Still felt little moist.

[SecondBase]

Easy & Cheap: Walmart - buy 2-3 1/3" camping pads. Cut into random set of triangles, average size of a regular folded business letter envelope.
Place under mattress. You now have complete ventilation for a few dollars. I've used this in subtropical as well as liveaboard New England winter.

ZERO CONDENSATION !!!!

Also, keep all fans on 24x7. Your fans should NEVER be off as long as you own your boat. You need about 1 fan per 10 feet of hull. West marine hella turbos are superb. I didn't see a drop of condensation, or smell any smell, all winter long.

Finally add a solar powered vent in a head. You want one with NO battery - only vents when sun is out (when air is dry). Rainy days, night air = no fan. That's what you want.

Acknowledgement: Posting in honor of, and solution, from Captain Jim, NASA, RIP.

[bobconnie]

All we have ever used was 1/4 in x2 in lathe under our bunks, lay first layer lenght wise and the next layer across that ! lets the air flow around under the matress enough to keep the condensation down to nothing ! we almost never have to run fan's unless it's hot ! We have a great memory foam mattress, and never have had a problem on our boats so far ! just an old way, but a cheap and good way! works for us !!

[Jack Tar]

Looking at all the replies it all about (AIR) . Moisture laden air in or under the mattress. There are two good solutions. A vinyl side to our mattress preventing air in the area from comming through the fabric OR putting a air circulating devise under the mattress. It's an expense to purchase Froli or camping pads. Hypervent on the other hand is a good solution. However the same material can be bought for dimes on the dollar from a local harware store. It's a coarsely woven mat of fiber like horse hair. Look in the furnace or heating department and find the material used in ducting filtration for furnaces. It comes in a roll about 2' wide and can be cut to shape. Oh and try a dehumidifier they work wonders. Other products exist for closets like heat bars, recirculating heaters or bee hive's. A good desicant like marine stores sell works but gets in the way. Oh and instead of purchasing refills at the marine store just go to the hardware store and purchase a de ice product called Driveway heat. Same chemical compound at 1/4 the price. Grocery and hardware stores also cary Damp Rid closet hang ups that work. Air Circulation is also a good thing. Six years aboard and lots of practice. Ventilate when cooking and shower on shore when you can.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

Wallmart, amazon, west marine sells the dri deck tiles. You clip them together and trim to fit. Works beautifully to help in air circulation and keep the condensation down.
Cheers,
Erika

Yep, you need circulation of air, not just insulation. The Dri Deck works great.

[Tropic Cat]

Originally Posted by Jack Tar

Looking at all the replies it all about (AIR) . Moisture laden air in or under the mattress. There are two good solutions. A vinyl side to our mattress preventing air in the area from comming through the fabric OR ....

I just replaced my full size berth mattress with one of the 6" memory foam mattresses sold at Walmart online. I had a mattress cover made for it that has material matching my new salon cushions on the top of it and marine vinyl on the bottom and sides. Bought the marine vinyl at JoAnn's Fabrics at $8.00 a yard. Permanent fix to condensation.

[Eric50]

Hi everybody,

Here is another example that works fine for us :

Protège matelas | commander en ligne chez compass24

[SecondBase]

FWIW the Walmart option is $24 for two of their cheapest camping pads. Slice into triangles and you achieve airflow.

[SoUnconventiona]

Gerri's Dry Bunk is recommended by Lin & Larry Pardy in the Cost Conscious Cruiser. 3264 Mission Creek, Cashmeer, WA 98815 509-782-2653, also available from West Marine. They claim it cost $13.00.

Good luck!

[Caracal]

Originally Posted by SoUnconventiona

Gerri's Dry Bunk is recommended by Lin & Larry Pardy in the Cost Conscious Cruiser. 3264 Mission Creek, Cashmeer, WA 98815 509-782-2653, also available from West Marine. They claim it cost $13.00.

Good luck!

In 1995?

[hanami2]

Hi too all,
Condensation is a good question.
For months in the Carribeans on an Aluminium OVNI we used coco fibers 'under matress". You find them in big rolls in gardening shops and they are pretty cheap. You just need to cut them to the size needed. The advice "keep the fans ON" is very valid too.
For condensation around the hatches frame during winter in Europe the only solution we found was to keep the panel ajar.

[Azul]

I read this thread previously and placed two rectangular long card tables and two folding chairs under there. More storage, circulates air, can't tell they are there through the mattress and great for picnics.

[capngeo]

Solid mats, foam, blankets, and the like only transfer the condensation from the mattress to the "pad" below. The answer to eliminate the condensation is ventilation; be it wood strips, Dri-Deck, or the like!

[tamicatana]

this has been discussed before, and I suggested then and am happy with these: