power, or excess engine heat, or energy diverted from wind, solar or other sources. The heat is retained for a long time due to the insulated, 304 stainless steel tank. It’s good to know that we won’t run out of hot water in cold places! Hypervent Marine We recently had Defender Industries in the USA, quite quickly and economically, send us out two rolls of Hypervent Marine material to put under our bunks and cushions to prevent condensation. Using heat in a cooler environment has certainly introduced moisture, and then mildew in to the tighter enclosed spaces due to the temperature differential. The woodstove dries things out, but all other forms of heat on the boat create condensation. Hypervent is a three-quarter-inch spun polymer bonded to a breathable fabric layer, installs very easily, and simply does what it’s supposed to do. It elevates the cushions off the surface, so warm air is able to circulate underneath, minimizing the conditions that create condensation. If condensation does occur, the Hypervent material allows the moisture to evaporate. Coppercoat/Propspeed After nearly one year, our Coppercoat and Propspeed have been cleaned about once every two months with a soft sponge or towel. There is some soft slimy growth, and there was one barnacle early on in a hard to reach Fall 2020
area, but no other growth. It’s so easy to clean that the divers here at RCYC in South Africa don’t even want to charge me the minimum fee. They are rarely down there for more than 15 minutes, where as other boats it seems to be for hours that they scrape away. I am so glad to not have to worry about this now, but will continue to regularly hire a diver every few months to wipe the bottom and prop down until we are in warmer water, and I can do it myself. Avon RIB Dinghy Our RIB continues to deteriorate. It has a slow leak and it needs to be pumped every few days when in use, and it deflates on deck during a passage. I may send it in to some professionals to see if they can find the leak and repair it. Or maybe after 13 years of hard use, it’s time to think about a replacement, or at least new tubes for it. BWS Rebecca Childress has been sailing around the world aboard Brick House for the last 14 years. Now in South Africa, she is recovering from the sad loss of her husband Patrick Childress from the coronavirus. Her plans are to continue cruising and to continue posting new videos on her YouTube channel Sailing Brick House. 45