Re: "sweating compartments" in Flats n Bay
Weather changes cause air movement, even in so called sealed chambers. I don't remember the term, but closed compartments suck in air when cold and the interior is headed in a vacuum direction, but as soon as the weather/they warm up they build up pressure from the heated air and it is expelled. Problem is, the surfaces of the chamber don't change temperature at the same rate as the atmosphere so they sweat; i.e. the moisture that came in with the air is now on the interior of your chamber and drier air is expelled.
What needs to happen is to open the hatches when you get home which will help. However, cold surfaces will collect moisture (condensation) as the temp rises and the water vapor that the fabrics absorb is partially retained. If it is not open to the atmosphere to allow this moisture to evaporate, you will get mildew.
Case in point, we just went from balmy days to a cold front for a couple of days and back to balmy. Everything in my shop had a coat of water film on it (anything that had any mass/weight to it forcing it to remain cooler than the environmental air), and my shop...although not sealed to the atmosphere, is a protected environment with concrete floor with vapor barrier and all and I live in an inland area. As soon as the surfaces warmed adequately, the water evaporated.
I know it's a pain, I had the same problem years ago, but your other option is to keep your boat in a humidity and temperature controlled environment and we both know that sucks!
Mark
