Full boat covers & combating mildew....Help!

[Casey]

Greetings Brats,

Looks like I'm back in the boating community. I will be seatrialing a 2006 Cape Cruiser Venture 23 on Thursday to finalize the buying process.

My question to the Brat Community has to do with how to combat mildew on a boat stored in the Southeast. My last C-Dory was stored in Arizona, so mildew wasn't even a consideration. This boat will be stored on a trailer in northcentral Florida, and during the brutal summers humidity is a serious concern. I expect to use a full cover, but I'm looking for any other nifty ideas on how to best combat mildew and similar issues.

Ventilation will be important - but I suspect there may be other things to do as well (there will be no electricity at the storage site).

Ideas??

Thanks,
Casey
2006 Cape Cruiser 23 (yet unnamed)
2003 C-Dory Naknek (sold May 2008)

[Byrdman]

Hey Casey!!!

Great to see you getting back on the waters!!

A big question is will your storage area have AC power? If so, many very economical ways with some moister removing devices...and a small fan to just keep the air moving in the "cabin/V-berth" area of the boat. Much can be done with just fan blowing all the time.

Byrdman

[Captains Cat]

Pat, he says not...

"(there will be no electricity at the storage site).


Maybe one or more of those solar powered vents?


Charlie

[BrentB]

Have you considered adding a small solar panel?

[Swee Pea]

Although I use an small electric dehumidifyer, which has worked both on my boat and camper, I know there are "passive" chemical dehumidifying agents. A quick google search and you will find some. Try this for starters:
http://www.nationalmarineproducts.com/Dri_Z_Air_Dehumidifier_s/1.htm

Let us know what you find out.

John
Swee Pea

[Casey]

I've been doing a little "research."

I always thought you wanted to enhance ventilation. Hmmm, maybe, maybe not.

I read "Why didn't I Think of That" (ISBN: 0-07-053221-4) which has a number of interesting boating related ideas. They suggest using a mild mixture of clorox/water to wash down and thus reduce mildew. Another idea was to make a homemade fumigant of 2 cups vinegar + 2 cups clorox in a plastic dish. Next step is to put the dish/mixture in the sink and CLOSE the boat (after opening all cabinets and storge areas). Evidently, as the mixture evaporates it creates a mildew resistant habitat inside the boat.

Of course you'll want to air-out the boat well before using! If nothing else, I thought it was an interesting idea.

Looking for any more ideas folks may have.

...yep, looking forward to a sea trial tomorrow, then I'm Back in the boating 'community.

Feels Good!

Best,
Casey
2006 Cape Cruiser
Possible names: 'Whatever....
StepChild......*
Bastard...........*
Illigitimati .........*
* In deference to the "CC23's" lineage..........(no intent to offend here).

[BrentB]

I know a little about molds and mildew. As long as the humidity is high you cant easily prevent nor control it

[bshillam]

If you don't have electricity I'd use a passive chemical dehumidifier. The one I am thinking of hangs from a rod which there are several in the C-dory. A friend stores his up in the Northwest and doesn't have power. He swears by them. In fact I saw him take one out of the boat and the bag that stores the water was full. This was water that would have been on the walls, in the cabinets etc had he not put the dehumidifier in. He also uses a full cover on his boat while in storage. I might suggest this inexpensive way to help combat the humidity.

[Sarge]

I use a desiccant de-humidifier, much like this one:

http://www.discountmarinesupplies.com/WINTERIZING-STARBRITE_NO_DAMP_DEHUMIDIFIER_MILDEW_CONTROL.html

The only issue is that you can't leave it and forget it, you need to access it, drain the water and add more of the desiccant on a regular basis.

I don't have access to electricity where my boat is kept, so on my boat I have 3 small containers of the size shown in the link, and one mongo sized container. My boat is in the Pacific Northwest and I mostly use these during the winter but I've found them to be very effective in controlling humidity.

[thataway]

We have been gone 2 months--and during this time, some mildew has developed in the Tom Cat (happened last year also). The boat is closed up, but there is a compressor powered (Mighty dry) dehumidifier running 24/7. I didn't leave the Air conditioner running, because last year a lightning strike took out the starting capaciter.

What I note, is that we don't have any mold on the smooth gel coated surfaces. We did have mildew on rougher surfaces, especially where we touched areas--such as fishing rods, our heads might touch when in the bunk etc.

Chlorox cleans this up, takes it off easily and leaves a residual hypochlorite on the surface.

[Azul]

My part of the world doesn't get hot, but we have lots of humidity. The only times I have had mildew or condensation issues has been when I've shut the boat up.

Inadequate ventilation contributes to more than mildew. It can lead to rot and corrosion in components prone to such. I would give serious consideration to use of one or two solar powered ventilators, perhaps sewn into the cover.

[Byrdman]

Casey.... I guess I was so excited to see you back ...or getting back on a boat I just read right past the no electricity part. My bad.

Thanks Charlie... Man, you shoulda drove boats for the Navy or something catching details like that!

Keep us posted... Great to have you back!!

Byrdman