Engine compartment mold/mildew?

[Heelz23]

Hello,

First year with the boat and hope to take it out one more time before having it winterized. Its been sitting for a couple of weeks and we've had a lot of rain during that time, I looked under the cover and found it to be damp with a little water standing when I opened up the engine compartment it was damp also with a little mold starting so I propped the cover open about 5-6 inches and left it uncovered the last week and a half with good weather and low humidity. I went out this morning to cover it up and its still damp in the engine compartment, especially on the side of the drive oil container, carpet pretty wet and mold. Dried up up best I could and opened up the engine compartment all the way in hopes of getting a little sun in there and drying it out.

So how do you keep this area dry? During the winter, I plan on putting the snap covers that came with the boat on it then cover with my larger boat cover but worried about mold/mildew.....

 

[alldodge]

under the cover and found it to be damp with a little water standing when I opened up

Need to put a cover over it that doesn't leak. You don't want the cover to fit so tight that air is unable to circulate, air gaps on sides of the cover is good. You do need to get it dried out for sure prior to putting it away. Soak up all the water you can then put a fan in to help move the air

 

[jrttoday]

I have an outboard and a large compartment underneath the rear casting deck; garage kept, but sometimes may not be completely dry beforehand allowing for mold/mildew occasionally. 50/50 bleach solution sprayed letting it stand awhile rinses right out. There might be a better way? but this works for me. Some say hydrogen peroxide will do the same....????? haven't tried it

 

[Heelz23]

Thanks for the advice, also, engine is getting some rust on it in spots, with the Jet Skis I typically hit it with WD40 after riding, do you spray it down with anything after saltwater usage to minimize the rusting?