Advice on preventing mildew

P

Portland

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My boat is on the hard under a tarp this winter. 26 ft. Regal express cruiser. We are in Portland and will get lots of rain, but not much freezing weather. I took most everything off the boat that would absorb moisture (bedding, etc). I left the canvas up, and have the tarp over the entire boat (pretty much). Any advice on how to prevent mildew in the cabin or on the canvas?
 
Here's what we did for many years with our Carver and then with the Silverton. Ours have tried this and found it worked for them as well:

1) Go to the Dollar Store, Wal-Mart, etc and pick-up about a half dozen shoebox sized plastic storage containers.

2) Go to Home Depot, Lowes, etc and pick up 4 or 5 containers of DAMP RID. Get the DAMP RID that's in containers that look like half gallon milk containers.

3) Go to the grocery store and pick-up a 5 lb bag of cheap kitty litter. Scented stuff is better but don't waste money on the expensive stuff.

4) Go to the boat.

5) Remove the lids for the plastic containers and store them somewhere on the boat.

6) Mix the kitty litter and DAMP RID 50/50 in each of the plastic boxes. It is not necessary to fill the boxes; half full of better is OK.

7) Place the boxes around the cabin area and in the bilge.

8) In the spring you will find that the DAMP RID has attracted the moisture and the kitty litter has absorbed it while keeping the boat smelling fresh.

9) Place the lids back on the boxes, secure them so you don't spill anything while you carry them off the boat.

10) Empty the contents of the boxes into the trash. Rinse the boxes out and keep for next year.
 
Mike...............GREAT advise..........( except for the Wal-Mart part )
 
If you have power to the boat, put a golden rod in the head, one in the engine compartment and a Caframo in the cabin on the galley.

http://www.boatfix.com/catalog/747.pdf

Lower right

Place a small oscillating fan in the rear cabin. Hibernate. Wake up in the spring. Kept my boat dry for a couple of seasons doing this.

If you do not have power, do what Mikee said.
 
Don,

Those plastic boxes are coming from China so I figure you just buy 'em wherever you can find 'em.
 
Mike,
Thanks for the advice - Ill try it out. No power will be available.
 
Thanks Mike.
Do you think this would work if the lids were secured and had holes punched through the top?
 
lrt,

It may work with holes in the lids and the lid secured but I've never tried it that way. Why do you need to keep the lids on?
 
Mike,
I was thinking it might be worth keeping something like this in the cabin year round. (ounce of prevention).
 
Actually, I use a variation of Mike's idea. Instead of Damp Rid, I use common rock salt with scented kitty litter. As the salt attracts the moisture, the kitty litter absorbs it and gives off a pleasant odor, even with the boat closed up. I tried using a small plastic tray with some this past summer in the under the sink galley cabinet where condensation used to build up along the hull because of the colder sea water on the exterior. Worked great. No condensation and a pleasant odor.

Gene
 
I used Mikee's idea last winter and it worked perfectly. We have a 26-footer and two shoe boxes worked for our cabin. We had a pretty dry winter though so more might be better in Portland.
 
But those boxes from China contain lead right? Thanks for the annual reminder Mikee.
 
I followed Mikeeeh advise since he first posted his method.It works perfectly and it's cheap and easy to do.Like he said, Pop the lids back on in the spring,(eliminates the possibilty of spillage)take them off the boat and dump the contents in the trash. Save for next year. Piece of cake!!!
 
I've followed MikeeH's advice the last two winters. I put 3 boxes in a 30' express cruiser - one up forward near the chain locker, one on the deck mid-cabin and one in the aft cabin (cave). About mid-January they have 1/2" or so of water over the entire mixxture so I dump and refill with fresh mix. I also leave one in during the season, and it usually only gets slightly damp. And yes, it does smell good in the spring. Just one more thing I have this forum to thank for (for which to thank this forum??)...
Charlie
 
I also am trying Mike's method this winter. I placed 5 containers around my boat. Can't wait to see how well they work.
 
Since I continue to go to my boat during the winter, I find that on nice days opening up the hatches and some of the canvas allows the boat to air out nicely. Since I'm in a covered slip, I don't have to worry about rain entering.

It is also recommended to leave cabin storage hatches open a bit to encourage air flow in those areas.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Portland

Click to expand...


I'm from the Portland area. One year, I stored my ski boat in the manner you described, without measures. What a mildow mess that May.

She's in a barn now each winter. My only concerns now are mice.

-Greg
 
We'll be using MikeeH's method this year. I was also thinking of floating the mattress on milk crates to let air flow around it. Wondering if anyone else ever did that or something similar and what their results may have been.
 
quote:
Originally posted by lil red truck

I was also thinking of floating the mattress on milk crates to let air flow around it. Wondering if anyone else ever did that or something similar and what their results may have been.

Click to expand...


Lower back injury and a run of expletives when I forgot that I did it.
 
I vacuum out all water from the bilge before winter sets in. I open the cabinets, head, windows, and stick an old life vest to prop open the engine compartment a few inches. I also have extra vents put in on the shrink wrap. This works well for me.
 
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