The Dry Season.

Henry, originally uploaded by Bay Photographic.

Last year, at around this time, I decided to buy a dehumidifier for Henry. I have husbanded enough boats through previous winters to know that damp air will do more harm than cold air and that heating a winterized boat without dehumidifiying it promotes mould and condensation. So off to my local Ebay, to buy a small electric dehumidifier. Two types are on sale. Ridiculously expensive ones that claim to accomodate low temperatures by recycling the heat from the exchanger, and ordinary domestic ones that do the same job down to 15 degrees celcius, but which have limited effect in colder air. £20 later I was the owner of a small domestic dehumidifier, and a modest further sum bought me a low wattage greenhouse heater to stir the air up and raise the temperature so that the moisture can be extracted more efficiently. A pair of plug in timers and a couple of electricity cards, and Henry was a dry as a bone all last winter. In fact, you could feel the dryness of the air in the cabin as you opened the doors.
Same again this year I expect. A bit of a faff about, but well worth it, as I will be able to leave the seat cushions in place, and the whole boat fully in commission, ready to go at any time. Just in case the sun comes out.