Covering boat after rain

[ray estep]

I bought a water proof canvas boat cover for my boat. However it has rained every time the boat gets just about dry. How dry does a boat need to be before you can put a suposedly breathable cover on it without molding. The canvas is treated with a water repelant. At the rate this is going I'll never get to cover the boat and there's algee starting to grow, and I have alot of trees and leaves are getting in the boat. I've vacumed it out every time its rained, but it rains again before the boat gets totally dry. I'm hoping somenone can tell me if its okay to cover it while its still a little wet. I.E. like after you vacume it out good with a shopvac or rug shampooer.
Thanks for any help you can give.

Ozarks R&R

 

[ziggy]

Re: Covering boat after rain

man, sounds like yer up agaist it to me. but misery loves company. i use only a cover too. no garage. trees and leaves. bummer. my cover is breathable too. so it said when i got it. so i opt for covering when slightly wet. even as wet as

I.E. like after you vacume it out good with a shopvac or rug shampooer.

man, the rain and leaves are gonna cause us both a lot of greif. i'd rather take my chance on the breathable cover i guess is my point, over the leaves and rain. like ya say, it ain't never gonna dry w/o the cover. it rains everytime. i would guess ya got more moister in the air down there in ak. compared to my ne. if i had mildew and alge problems. i'd be lookin for some kinda dehumidifier. even might consider a portable house one. if ya think ya aint got bilge fumes cause there'd be an open spark on the elec. motor on a house dehumidifer. so that might not be a good idea, ya don't want it to go boom. but something along themz lines... seems like i've seen ones made for marine application somewhere. maybe iboats mega mall has em.....
i'd rather cover it dry, but even for me, in ne. sometimes that isn't an option.
so i cover it slightly wet, and it does over time dry out. so the cover must be breathable i guess.......

 

[alden135]

Re: Covering boat after rain

Why not rig up a tarp in a dining fly set up to keep the rain out til it's dry?

 

[ray estep]

Re: Covering boat after rain

Thanks for the input Ziggy! I guess your method didn't mold you out or you would have said so. We're not always this blessed with rain in Arkansas. Just when I didn't want it. I will try to will rig a little extra ventilation with this fitted cover for now. Only thing is its covered with frost at the moment. I've had this boat since july and only been on water 3 times and had to come in due to problems (major problems). I'm not the least bit discouraed though. Can't wait to get out there again. Thanks again. You too Alden135!

Ozarks R&R

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Covering boat after rain

cover the boat, leave each end open so it can breath until dry. the cover will help the heat form the sun dry it out. you can also put a fan in it,

 

[ziggy]

Re: Covering boat after rain

do search marine dehumidifiers. google or whatever. there's options out there. this is what iboats has got.......
http://www.iboats.com/mall/index.cg...=391432695&list_time=1163342767&view_id=39989

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Covering boat after rain

If the boat is outside, a dehumidifier will do you little good since you will be attempting to dehumidify the state of Arkansas. If the boat is tightly covered, you would at least stand a chance. "Tenting" the boat so air can flow is the best suggestion. When its dry, then cover it. If you have a lot of trees, on a sunny day, move the boat into the sun to dry. It doesn't take long with a hot noon time sun.

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Covering boat after rain

I have a similar situation. I use a canvas cover all year long. Mine does not fit tightly over the rear end of the boat. Especially if I leave the seats in with their pedestals. This allows for good airflow under the cover. If yours fits tightly all around, you could insert some lengths of PVC pipe at points along the edge to create some breathing tubes for air circulation. This will keep the rain/leaves out while allowing some air exchange until it dries completely.

 

[QC]

Re: Covering boat after rain

Put a blow drier in her under the cover. If it is really wet leave it on high for a while. Will cost you on the power bill, but you will be amazed how well it works. I'd leave it switched to low after that and hang the power cord out of the boat so you can simply plug it in every once in a while without having to pull the cover. Careful that you don't melt the blow drier, you want free air access to the intake and free blow out so that there is some decent flow. Don't leave it on a seat!!! Hanging somehow may be best. It will get very nice and toasty . . .

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Covering boat after rain

Go to Home Depot, get a 12 foot length of cheap 4 inch drainage tubing, cut up a few pieces, stick them under the canvas into the cabin so they face up so rain won't run in, and cover it up. It will dry out eventually