Keeping boat dry

[G]

Just wondering what you guys do to keep your boat dry. I have always keep my boat in the garage. My first two garages were not insulated or sheetrocked, my new garage is but it is not heated. I got in the boat today and noticed alittle mold in one of the corners, it was a small spot and I cleaned it up with a rag and cleaner. I just don't want this to become a issue. I did put the boat up semi-wet last time out about 3 weeks ago, but nothing different than I have done with the other garages, and I never had any mold in there. Since there is no air flow in there am I going to have to put a fan over the boat, or is there any other solutions. There was no mold anywhere else in the garage just the boat carpet, so I don't think I would have a mold issue with the garage..... What do you guys think or suggest. Sorry to be so long winded.....

[wildsv211]

RE: Keeping boat dry

I use a dehumidifier in my boat. We have a lot of damp air were i store my boat. I use a 5 gallon paint bucket and strech a mesh paint strainer over the bucket. Throw in a double pack of dehumidifier pellets from the hardware store.. It is amazing how much moisture is in the bucket with in just a few days.

http://www.drizair.com/products.html

[SNobsessed]

RE: Keeping boat dry

G - You can also spray some beach/water solution on your carpet if you have to put it away damp. Kills the smell too.

[Nautiquehunter]

RE: Keeping boat dry

Doesn't the bleach stain the carpet?

[DanielC]

RE: Keeping boat dry

Once mold starts growing, it creates spores that make more mold grow. Any food crumbs you bring into the boat give the mold a food source. Dead skin cells than fall off you, and your passengers also give the mold a food source. Mold likes dark, damp places, and grows in them. Mildew likes the dark damp places also.
I have to pressure wash my carpet two or three times a year, and I have used a mild, way diluted bleach solution to try to inhibit mold.
Take everything you can out of the boat, and pressure wash it. To dry the carpet in the boat, lay towels down on the carpet. If you do not use fabric softener, the towels will soak up water better. When the towels are saturated, throw then in the dryer, and after they are dry, put them back in the boat to soak up more water. After that, I put a box fan in the back of the boat, blowing forward, and up into the bow area, with the seat propped open. I also lay my cover on the boat, and roll it back to where the fan is, and this kind of forces the air to go around the boat, and exit on the other side of the motor box.
If you can keep the interior of the boat dry enough, mold and mildew will not be able to grow.

Now, for the part about keeping the boat dry. I keep my boat outside, in a carport, front and back open, and there are even a few leaks in the roof. I have a canvas cover, and I used some 3 or 4 inch PVC pipe to form a peak in the cover in the center of the boat, so water will run off. I have sprayed some waterproofing on the cover, but not that much. If you do not let the water pool on the cover, it will not leak much, and when it does, it allows the boat to breathe enough to keep dry under the cover.

[AirTool]

RE: Keeping boat dry

I've had a similar problem with mold growing on accumulated dust. This year I'm going to either dust it once a month or pull it out and rinse it off on a sunny day. Dusting might be with a shop vac and a soft brush attachment....don't know yet.

[G]

RE: Keeping boat dry

Thanks guys... Thats a few good Idea's. I think I may have found part of the problem, and the contractor is coming by today to look into it, the house is only a month old. We usually don't have mold issues with boats stored inside here in NC if you take care of them, atleast that I have noticed, thats why it caught me off guard. In the summer I do take everything out of it about once or twice a month and let it dry , and never had a problem. Thanks again.

[2gofaster]

RE: Keeping boat dry

Actually, mold doesn't sporulate until it dries out. It typically feeds on organic matter. It loves paper products. After removing the food source, air exchange is the very best way to prevent mold germination and then sporulation. Keep the interior clean and keep fans running over it and you will almost never have mold growth.

[Robbinbanx]

Mold

Arm & Hammer Baking soda works great! Just get 4 or 5 boxes and open them and set them in the interior of the boat and NO MOLD !!!

[harddock]

RE: Mold

You may want to run a fan on low speed somewhere in the garage. Moving air around works wonders.