[Cane]

The cheapest way to use calcium chloride in the offseason is to purchase it in bulk as a sidewalk ice-melting product. When purchasing, be sure to read the label to ensure it is calcium chloride and not a different melt product. Pour several pounds into a large container, like a drywall compound bucket — or better yet, two or more — and leave the buckets out in different parts of the boat before covering for the winter. In the spring, you'll find the dry crystals fused into a mass of puffed-up little white balls, possibly with liquid at the bottom.

[kenny1029]

Mechanical ventilation helps provide some relief. Dorade boxes allow wind-driven air to enter the cabin. For a boat sitting unattended, dorade boxes do not result in enough air exchange by themselves to prevent moisture buildup. Another option is to install passive (nonelectric) vents on hatches or on the hull. As the wind blows over the vent outside the boat, interior air is exhausted. Like dorade boxes, such vents can help but alone are seldom an ideal solution for a boat not used often. Also, they don't work on a covered boat in the offseason. more

[Peterv]

Calcium chloride is a chemical salt that attracts water vapor from the air. It won't drop the humidity to zero, but it does help lower humidity considerably in the absence of continuous ventilation. It significantly prevents the growth of mold and mildew for a covered boat. No matter how tightly covered, moist air still finds its way inside boats.

[6174Kauri]

Boats live in a damp environment, and moisture inside the boat causes trouble when there is inadequate ventilation. Fiberglass boats are particularly a problem, as moisture in the warm daytime air may condense on the cooler hull inside at night. The problem is generally worse when boats are covered during the offseason, or not used on the water for long a time. Moisture allows mold and mildew to grow, producing unpleasant odors and black mildew spots, and ultimately causing fabrics and other interior boat materials to disintegrate.

[jiffy]

Solar-powered vents are increasingly popular and a better solution, although it is not cheap to install several to maintain a good air exchange. Solar vents have solar cells on the outer surface, which charge a small battery that powers an exhaust fan. Manufacturers claim an exhaust capacity up to 25 cubic meters per hour in full sunlight. Successful ventilation depends, in part, on the positioning of such vents so that the interior as a whole is ventilated, rather than air pulled in at one location being immediately evacuated at a point a short distance away. This leaves the rest of the cabin air to stagnate. here

[cyxob]

Adequate ventilation through the boat's interior spaces is the ideal solution to prevent moisture buildup, thus preventing the growth of mold and mildew and the associated problems. A boat that is opened up and used frequently seldom has a problem, except in very humid environments or when leaks allow rainwater and spray to enter the cabin.

[aceat64]

Re: Leaving boat in water - What do I need to know? [links]

[BostX]

I have my boat docked 20 minutes from my house. I check on it at least once a week whether I have used it or not. I have the bilge pump wired direct to the battery so I turn the switch off. I was worried this summer because this is an old boat, but its still floating fine. I get some water in it when it rains, but the bilge pump keeps up with that fine. I charge the battery every 3 weeks or so. I have the bottom painted with antifouling because its staying in all summer. I can only suggest that you try it for the weekend at first, and then just bite the bullet and paint the bottom and keep it there all summer. Trust me its nice to get off work, decide you want to go out on the boat and not have to worry about hitching, trailering, launching etc. Just drive there and go. [links]

[bitplane]

Re: Leaving boat in water - What do I need to know? more

[tyler123]

get mooring covers made for it if you do not have them. they keep 99% of rain out, keeps the boat clean, deters theft. with out knowing the dock situation, how it is set up, hard to give good advice. more

[hippich]

we dock our boat in August at a rental house in the Keys, we have taylor made mooring whips, the boat never touches the dock, even in rough weather. we wash down the boat every night and install the covers,(5 minutes) this way we have a nice clean fresh boat for the morning. more

[fleming.fletcheer]

Boats live in a damp environment, and moisture inside the boat causes trouble when there is inadequate ventilation. Fiberglass boats are particularly a problem, as moisture in the warm daytime air may condense on the cooler hull inside at night. The problem is generally worse when boats are covered during the offseason, or not used on the water for long a time. Moisture allows mold and mildew to grow, producing unpleasant odors and black mildew spots, and ultimately causing fabrics and other interior boat materials to disintegrate.

[friendsofkim]

Solar-powered vents are increasingly popular and a better solution, although it is not cheap to install several to maintain a good air exchange. Solar vents have solar cells on the outer surface, which charge a small battery that powers an exhaust fan. Manufacturers claim an exhaust capacity up to 25 cubic meters per hour in full sunlight. Successful ventilation depends, in part, on the positioning of such vents so that the interior as a whole is ventilated, rather than air pulled in at one location being immediately evacuated at a point a short distance away. This leaves the rest of the cabin air to stagnate. more

[parallel]

More powerful electric vents are also available, using either the boat's battery or external power at the dock or during the winter when covered. This can be a great solution when available but is simply not practical for many boaters. here

[cyrano]

Sitting here at the campground and just about everyone else's boat is uncovered but mine. It's been raining since I arrived last night off and on. On my way here yesterday, every boat that I passed was uncovered and it was raining pretty hard.

[nazgul]

I always try to prevent water from soaking the interior but as was said I would definitely cover the helm every time I leave the boat if there's ANY chance of rain. we have a really nice camper canvas and a 3' bimini extension over the helm to avoid most light rain days or we simply zip in the windsheild to protect the dash.

[rad]

There's a difference between a travel cover and a mooring cover. I own a mooring cover (like many of us) to keep rain and grime off the cockpit and it's on the boat whenever it's sitting still on the trailer. A travel cover is far tougher and laced with reinforced straps and hardy snaps for highway speeds. Don't confuse the two or you may end up with an expensive shredded surprise at 60mph. I kind of wish I had a tougher travel cover to keep out rainy day road grime but I just choose my road days carefully and have missed most rainy road trips.