Fog on inside of windows.

[seabeagle]

Are there any good products for fogging on inside of windows? Yesterday it was 42 degrees outside in the morning so I was using my propane Mr. Heater to warm the inside. I had a bear of a time with the fog. There wasn't any wet items in the boat, just simply hot and cold action. I saw a product at the auto store called Glass Science Fog Clear Gel. Anyone use it? How long should any anti fog product last?

[MyCattMaxx]

RainX makes a product just for fogging on the inside of your glass.
You will find it at WallyWorld and other fine (cheap) stores.
It is not the RainX for the outside.

I have used it on car glass and it worked good for me. I don't see why a boat would be different.

[breausaw]

Most likely it was your propane Mr. Heater that was fogging up the window, any open flame propane heat unless it vents totally outside..will create a lot of moisture. I wouldn’t think there is a lot you can do other than open up some windows and use fans. I have two adjustable fans facing forward that do a good job on foggy window, but I also have a Wallis diesel stove that pulls moisture out of the cabin.

If you installed a diesel stove or furnace it would help immensely.

[oldgrowth]

seabeagle – what works good for me is a couple of small 4” computer fans. They run on 12 volts and have an extremely small current draw. One six inch or two four inch fans will keep my windshield fog free in the worse of conditions. I like the fours because I can aim one up and one down slightly and they use less viewable window space.



http://www.c-brats.com/albums/album460/defrost_computer_fans.jpg
_______
Dave

[hardee]

The rain-X product is called Fog-X and it does work pretty well.

breausaw is probably right, the propane heater is a huge factor in your experience. They produce water by the buckets.

Fans and increased ventilation will certainly help.

Holding your breath or not breathing at all will put less fog on the windows too

Harvey
SleepyC

[smittypaddler]

This comes up often. The solution I found here on C-Brats, so simple, is a little dish detergent on a damp rag to wipe down the inside of the windows. It really works!

[seabeagle]

I like the detergent idea, however, would heavy fogging make bubbles?

I had a thought about tapping into the exiting water from the motor and routing it through an automotive heater core with a small fan. Free heat when the motor runs?

[hardee]

It was 38 in the cabin last night when we went to bed. We had been on another boat with friends, Mr heater Buddy running and everything was fogged up. This morning, our windows were clear, no moisture on them or in the V-birth. We left the forward hatch open about an inch, the center window about the same and the non dockside sliding window open about 2 inches, everything is dry, every night.

Oh, BTW, we slept nice and warm, with out the Wallas but I turned it on when I got up, and it only takes minutes to get it comfortable in the cabin.

A by-product of propane combustion is water.

Harvey
SleepyC

[seabeagle]

I heard that shaving cream also works. I think this weekend I might make it back out on the boat and try a couple of things.

[teflonmom]

The propane heater is the source of the fogging. In our early days we traveled in a dodge van and we used a propane heater to get it warm in the morning. We always had a lot of moisture. We used the same heater in our boats with the same results. Open a hatch and a window and it will help. Note: We never used the heater during the night while sleeping. A big NO NO!

Fred, Pat and Mr. Grey(the cat)

PS In our large trawler cooking with the propane stove also produced a lot of moisture in the cabin. Fans and ventilation helped.

[seabeagle]

We don't use the heat for sleeping, only in the morning when we wake and occasionally while under way. Plus we have a smoke/CO2 alarm on board. I did try the shaving cream on the bathroom mirror yesterday and it did stop the fogging there. Also, it was easy to apply with no streaks. The propane is the most convenient way to heat our 16 until I figure out a way to tap into the hot water output from the motor.

[Jeff Brigner]

I found a small ceramic 12 V heater and fan with mounting hardware at a truck stop for only $26. It looks like the size of an old radar detector. I'm anxious to see how it works! On the 25 there is a 12 V plug on the breaker panel. We're doing the fall Cumberland leaf tour this weekend with some rain and 40* temps in the evenings. I'll report back. Now off to do some Wallace surgery. I was very impressed with Mike at Scan when he advised me what to do yesterday. Hope he was right. It's too cool for the bride at nights without some heat.

[Matt Gurnsey]

If I rememebr from my RV days-

For every 5 gallons of propane burned with an open flame you create 1 gallon of water vapor.

[Sea Wolf]

Just a note to add to the discussion:

Propane, diesel, kerosene, alcohol, ...... any chemical fuel that is a hydrocarbon (based on petroleum or otherwise containing hydrogen and oxygen in it's chemical make up), will produce water as well as carbon dioxide in it's exhaust fumes, as well as some carbon monoxide, which is even more dangerous and undesirable.

The solution is an external exhaust vent to take these out of the cabin, and to add a carbon monoxide alarm to insure no leaks are occurring. Propane users will also want to include a propane detector/alarm.

Heaters like the Mr. Heater and Mr. Buddy can be used in cabins with windows open a bit so that fresh air is always available and combustion products don't accumulate. Using one in a boat without a real closed in cabin (no rear bulkhead) is not a problem, though the heating efficiency in such a situation is much less than with a somewhat closed in area.

These catalytic type of heaters send out a lot of their heat in the form of infrared (heat) radiation, and, therefore, are well suited to heating in somewhat or even more fully open boats.

Such a heater is about the only way to stay warm when you have to stay out in the cockpit in cold weather when fishing for sturgeon where the rod must be directly attended because of the light bite and the necessity to set the hook without delay. (My friends theory, anyway, YMMV.)

Just some thoughts to add to your discussion. The Mr. Heater and Mr. Buddy type heaters are a great solution to the heating problems encountered on the CD-16, when properly used, IMHO.

Joe.

[GOYO]

We were plagued by fogging windows on our 25 while underway. We have an oscillating fan mounted on the overhead shelf, but depending on the temperature it may or may not keep up. I now keep a small (6" 1.29 @ Wal-Mart) squeegee with in reach. Very handy for clearing windows immediately without the smear of wiping with cloth. Just another inexpensive option.