Wind Horse had been closed up for the better part of eight months when we stepped through her entry door last week. Dorade vents and hatches had been sealed, and no outside air had circulated inside. Yet she smelled fresh, most would say new (and this after five years of cruising). How is this possible?

There are a series of factors which contribute. We’ll go into them briefly:

• There are no bilges within the living area of the boat.The entire are below the sole is made up of fuel and water tanks. No bilges mean there is little chance for moisture to accumulate and grow mold.
• Most of the hull, deck, framing, and tank top surfaces within the interior are insulated with a closed cell material that absorbs almost no moisture over time (most insulations do absorb moisture).
• Ground tackle and other wet (and sometimes odorous) gear is stored forward, isolated by a watertight bulkhead.
• The engine room is aft, again isolated by a watertight bulkhead. It too is insulated with closed cell rather than the more common open.
• There is good access around systems so it is easy to keep the engine room clean.
• There are no leaks with a welded structure so no chance for salt to accumulate (the salt attracts moisture).
• Salt water is flushed from hoses and pumps.
• The majority of head  piping is done with  PVC and w here soft hose is required the highest quality is used.
• Finally, humidity is kept between 45% and 50% with a dehumidifier.

These same characteristics keep Wind Horse smelling sweet when we are aboard too.