Boat Insulation and Moisture Ingress in Narrowboat Information, help, tips and advice on cavity walls, ceilings and lofts etc....

[nbUK]

Hi,

I've got a problem with what appears to be moisture coming through the walls on my narrowboat (see attached pics). This issue appears to be happening in all of the major panels around the boat, and all of those walls have spray foam insulation behind them.

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I know that it's normal to get condensation forming on the inner steel of the boat, especially during the winter months - but is it supposed to come through to the interior like this?

Having looked around the internet, I can't seem to find any pictures of any other boat that looks like this. So what I'd really like to know is:

1. How common is this sort of thing?

2. What do you think is the most likely cause?

3. What, if anything, can be done to fix this?


Many thanks,


Nick

[katoosh525]

Ventilation will be the key here. Hopefully you have some space between the hull and the insulation, and you need to get air moving through that. Holes through the insulation into the void at opposite ends of the hull, and a fan or similar to encourage enough airflow. I had somethign very similar happen behind my fitted wardrobe on a solid walled house, and had to put a brass vent at the bottom of the wardrobe and a chimney (4" soil pipe) into the attic. I didn't need to use a fan, but chose the soil pipe so I could add one if needed. Problem sorted in no time. DO NOT IGNORE IT - I had awful asthma attacks from black mould before I sorted mine out.
Hope this helps.

[nbUK]

Hi,

Thanks for your response. What's concerning is that the boat was brand new when I bought it, I've had a huge number of build quality issues from day one, and I know that other owners of the exact same boat have had none of the issues I've had with mine. The manufacturer has always been very reluctant to get involved and accept responsibility for these issues.

I can also see second hand versions of the same boat selling which are older than mine, but the wooden panels are in top condition. This tells me that these issues, like a lot of my other issues, are specific to my boat and should not be happening.

Nick