condensation under mattresses

[onionbargee]

Has anyone got a solution for foam mattress'es that lay straight onto a wooden bed base with no ventilation, as you know the condensation underneath is awfull, and i have to turn the cushions over every day in the winter to air them.

 

There was a kind of mat advertised that was supposed to deal with this, does it work ? or am i going to have to do some wood butchering ?

[Starcoaster]

Do you mean this drymesh stuff?

http://www.marinebedding.com/dryMesh.php

Can't comment as to it's effectiveness, just remember reading about it.

 

I was going to make a similar post to this, actually.

My bench seats are not vented and have covered foam cushions on them that come down to make the bed.

They do not feel or smell at all damp, and are clearly not new, so should I be worried about condensation and them turning manky, and do something (what?) about it? Will this drymesh stuff work? Or should I just leave it as they seem to be ok?!

Edited November 11, 2011 by Starcoaster

[Taslim]

Has anyone got a solution for foam mattress'es that lay straight onto a wooden bed base with no ventilation, as you know the condensation underneath is awfull, and i have to turn the cushions over every day in the winter to air them.

 

There was a kind of mat advertised that was supposed to deal with this, does it work ? or am i going to have to do some wood butchering ?

 

I had a similar problem in the truck. I don't know about the mats you mention but as a quick fix, until weather & time allowed "wood butchery", I put open slat light pallets on the bed base & shoved the (semi sprung) mattress on that.

 

It worked, cheap to, but it reduced headroom some so I did head but the roof for first couple of nights.

 

taslim.

[ditchcrawler]

Do you mean this drymesh stuff?

http://www.marinebedding.com/dryMesh.php

Can't comment as to it's effectiveness, just remember reading about it.

 

I was going to make a similar post to this, actually.

My bench seats are not vented and have covered foam cushions on them that come down to make the bed.

They do not feel or smell at all damp, and are clearly not new, so should I be worried about condensation and them turning manky, and do something (what?) about it? Will this drymesh stuff work? Or should I just leave it as they seem to be ok?!

 

If you have to have a solid base its the best thing I have found, but its not cheap.

[PhilR]

Has anyone got a solution for foam mattress'es that lay straight onto a wooden bed base with no ventilation, as you know the condensation underneath is awfull, and i have to turn the cushions over every day in the winter to air them.

 

There was a kind of mat advertised that was supposed to deal with this, does it work ? or am i going to have to do some wood butchering ?

 

Maybe you should increase the boat ventilation generally? I have never had the problem you describe with foam mattresses. A few sizeable holes drilled in the woodwork underneath the bed would probably make a big difference.

[Biggles]

Buy your selves a hole saw kit and drill lots of holes to vent it.

 

A hole saw kit is essential kit on a boat. Also you will need a drill motor of some sort to spin them up.

 

I have one of theseand it has seen me through 2 years of building cutting holes in everything from plastic to 6mm steel.

[Roger Gunkel]

Moisture under mattresses and damp bedding has long been a problem for boaters and caravanners. The trouble starts because your body constantly loses moisture throughout the night through your pores and slowly permeates down through the mattress. It stops on the cold bedboard underneath and is joined by moisture from your breath and generally saturated air.

 

You can help to reduce it by drilling a lot of holes over the entire bedbase and also allowing air to circulate under the bed to remove damp air. Slats or a webbing is best for the bed base, but you must also have underbed circulation to make a real difference. Also have a look at the pinned and other threads on overall condensation reduction.

 

Roger

[The Pipe]

Dry Mesh works drilling holes helps but not a cure putting slats and drilling holes is best the rule of thumb for slats is a mimimium of 40% open area, if your just drilling holes that is fair number of holes!

Dry Mesh and holes will also work.

You can overnight loose a pint or two and it has to go someplace the idea is not to have it stuck in the bottom of the mattress.

[Guest]

Onionbarge,

 

I think any sort of mat or pad is only going to absorb any condensation so it's still there in reality.

 

Our bed base is a solid piece of pretty thick ply but it has neat rows of holes cut into it, I would say approx 3-4 inch in diameter. Seems to work very well, you need the hole cutter referred to above I think.

[Chertsey]

Drilling holes is not an option for me.

I have a big crocheted patchwork blanket, all artificial fibre I'm pretty sure, folded double, which makes a surprisingly big difference. Folded back over the sidebed cushion during the day it even looks traditional.

Get down to your local charity shop/jumble sale/old lady!

 

Onionbarge,

 

I think any sort of mat or pad is only going to absorb any condensation so it's still there in reality.

 

Our bed base is a solid piece of pretty thick ply but it has neat rows of holes cut into it, I would say approx 3-4 inch in diameter. Seems to work very well, you need the hole cutter referred to above I think.

No, it's not absorbing it (very non absorbant acrylic). My guess is that with its thickness and big holes it's providing a bit of an air gap.

The proper mats perhaps wick moisture away?

[freddy]

hi,the dry mesh works very well,we had it for years in our motorhome,now on the boat,it works even better with slats instead of solid boards.john

[koukouvagia]

We use the rubberized coir matting. Cheap and very effective.

[john6767]

 

No, it's not absorbing it (very non absorbant acrylic). My guess is that with its thickness and big holes it's providing a bit of an air gap.

The proper mats perhaps wick moisture away?

 

Got the dry mesh stuff under the mattress, as you say it is not absorbent at all, it is an open mesh that provides an air gap between the bed base and the mattress.

 

 

 

[onionbargee]

i should have said this is in a historic boat so major alterations are out, though i could pin some slats on the boards.

[Chertsey]

i should have said this is in a historic boat so major alterations are out, though i could pin some slats on the boards.

Historic crocheted blanket is the answer then!

(piccy, not showing blanket...)

Edited November 12, 2011 by Chertsey

[frangar]

We have used this for a number of years in our boatmans cabin which is our main bed (liveaboard)

 

http://www.naturalmatmarine.co.uk/anti-condensation-underlays/

 

Works really well....the bedding is foam which used to get really damp...this stops that and seems to stop the side bed locker getting so damp too.....highly recommended!!

 

Worked even in last few really cold winters.

 

HTH

 

Gareth

[ditchcrawler]

We use the rubberized coir matting. Cheap and very effective.

I had that before I had the matting. Prefer the matting

[Guest]

i should have said this is in a historic boat so major alterations are out, though i could pin some slats on the boards.

 

Fairy nuff - not sure though why you said this in your OP.

 

Has anyone got a solution for foam mattress'es that lay straight onto a wooden bed base with no ventilation, as you know the condensation underneath is awfull, and i have to turn the cushions over every day in the winter to air them.

 

There was a kind of mat advertised that was supposed to deal with this, does it work ? or am i going to have to do some wood butchering ?

[smileypete]

Has anyone got a solution for foam mattress'es that lay straight onto a wooden bed base with no ventilation, as you know the condensation underneath is awfull, and i have to turn the cushions over every day in the winter to air them.

 

There was a kind of mat advertised that was supposed to deal with this, does it work ? or am i going to have to do some wood butchering ?

A 1" thick sheet of polystyrene from Wickes or similar, put between mattress and base.

 

Might even work putting the poly sheet up against the bottom surface of the bed base.

 

cheers,

Pete.

Edited November 12, 2011 by smileypete

[gillian]

VENTILATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

WHY WOULDN'T YOU VENTILATE YOU SLEEPING AREA............. COME ON GUYS... GET REAL... THERE IS NO PRODUCT THAT CAN OVERCOME MOISTURE SO VENTILATE... THAT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS TO ALL YOU EXPERIENCED BAOTERS............ BLIMEY.

[Chertsey]

VENTILATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

WHY WOULDN'T YOU VENTILATE YOU SLEEPING AREA............. COME ON GUYS... GET REAL... THERE IS NO PRODUCT THAT CAN OVERCOME MOISTURE SO VENTILATE... THAT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS TO ALL YOU EXPERIENCED BAOTERS............ BLIMEY.

Do you have any ides what we are actually talking about?

[madcat]

the crochet blanket is a good method for a backcabin bed because it collects the moisture and is easy to dry.I have a hairy manmade fibre hearth rug and a Lidl pet rug doing the same job.Rug goes on the side bed and the pet blanket,a fleecy thing,dries quickly while the matress airs a bit and gets stashed in the bed hole.

Quite often I hang things on the gear control rod to dry if I'm in a hurry to get going,leaving the bed down with the matresses propped up to air.That works a treat if what you are doing means you are not in the cabin.I leave it like this to air quite often when I leave the boat to come back to the house.Most boating problems are fixed by a bit of creative thinking and organisation.Living in small spaces works best if you are tidy and organised.I confess that sometimes Iam not.

[Bimbly1]

Has anyone got a solution for foam mattress'es that lay straight onto a wooden bed base with no ventilation, as you know the condensation underneath is awfull, and i have to turn the cushions over every day in the winter to air them.

 

There was a kind of mat advertised that was supposed to deal with this, does it work ? or am i going to have to do some wood butchering ?

I have used Akwamat from the Edwardian Bedding Co for several years. It works well on the convertible dinette/double bed, where the table forms part of the base. You wouldn't want to drill ventilation holes through your table would you? It is a coarse fibrous material which tends to shed a few bits but does what it says it would.

HTH

Bob

[Doodlebug]

I went to ikea. In the bargain corner (the bit at the very end where all the broken/ex display stock is, they often have slats from a bed.

 

I bought a roll of these slats for 5 pounds.

 

They are all curved, and are against the flat bottom of the bed. When your sleeping they sort of flattern, but during the day time they are up allowing for air ventilation. Our bed almost went mouldy when I hadn't realised how much condensation there would be.

 

Hope that helps

[Matthew Dowson]

My bed base is made up of broad slats with plenty of space between, and thats always ensured no problems at all in this area. Maybe replace your base if you can.