Keeping a Boat Dry in Winter

I just love the movie Captain Ron. If you love boats and haven't seen it, you're missing a classic. There's a line from the shower scene that reminds me how wet a boat can get. Captain Ron: "It's a lot of water... Well, it's a boat."

Winter up the lake can be moist.  Our Bayliner 2350 with an enclosed cabin needs help to stay dry inside.  We use a variety of strategies to keep it dry and reduce the proliferation of mildew.  Before heavy rains begin, we remove the cushions from the V-berth.

We install Dri-Z-Air dehumidifiers in the empty berth to help absorb moisture. We also place others in other strategic locations. After the pellets dissolve, the liquid is emptied and the units refreshed to continue drawing moisture out of the air.

We also use our solar power to run a Davis Instruments Air-Dryr 500 on a timer. When in operation, it sits safely in the middle of the boat's floor.  This dehumidifier is good for off-the-grid since it only draws 0.6 amps while handling 500 square feet.

And when we're using the boat, or running the engine at the dock, we use the built-in diesel heater to warm the cabin. To help distribute the warmth throughout the boat's cabin, we have attached a flexible duct hose. As we cruise on the lake, we move the warm air around the boat.

With just a little bit of effort, we keep our boat dry and relatively mildew free.  What are some of the solutions you use? -- Margy