I need tips to deal with constant moisture

[guy48065]

Coming from an old pontoon with no furniture and no cover like was simple. Now I have a newer pontoon with a full set of furniture on plywood bases and it never dries out inside. I'm sure the cover breathes since it's a baggy loose fitting "universal" cover. I thinkn when the boat was re-carpeted they left out most of the vent ports. Inside the compartments I see holes now covered with carpet. There is a vent here & there but no compartment has more then one vent. Don't I need at least 2 to get air movement?
The arm rest couch ends are plastic underneath and have zero vents...and they have water standing in the bottoms due to rain getting in the cup holders.

How do I deal with all this water? This is at a summer cottage where the boat is rarely uncovered long enough to dry out before I have to wrap it again & go home.

 

[oldjeep]

If you can't allow the boat to dry before covering then maybe some sort of fans under the cover. No matter how well vented a cover it isn't going to do anything but leave your boat covered with mildew if you are putting it away wet with the cover on it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

^ +1.... needs to be dry before you cover it.

 

[guy48065]

I'm starting to regret upgrading to a nicer boat that needs care.

 

[bruceb58]

Wonder how well these work

http://www.gandermountain.com/modpe...id=adwords__&gclid=CNfBo9fyjc8CFQEcaQodVFANuw

 

[thumpar]

You may want to leave enough time before you leave to let it dry. Fans help. I put a box fan in front with the cover open enough to get air in and then an opening at the back to vent. It works well,

 

[Pusher]

If you can see the water can you tilt your trailer and suck it out with a wet-vac?

 

[guy48065]

I don't think ventilation is my biggest concern. The boat is on the lake and it's always pretty windy there. The crappy cover has a big flap in the rear, facing the wind, that lets plenty of air underneath.
But no air can get inside the arm rests which have no openings other than the one cup holder (each) that's letting the water in. Do you guys remove the cup holders when covering the boat?
The compartments dry slowly. Not sure if 2 vent grills would be much help. I currently have zero or 1 in each.
I've been wondering the purpose of a small bag containing a few pieces of foam "noodle", each about 4" long. Now I think these were used to prop the seat cushions open to let air in the compartments.
My playpen is sitting on the carpet. I know many advise raising it on plastic spacers to let water flow out. Maybe it's also good for airflow? If I had a properly-fitting playpen cover I don't know how else I'd get enough convection to carry moisture away.

 

[MH Hawker]

sounds like you need to start with a cover that fits

 

[wrvond]

Is it possible your cover is letting rain in?
All the cup holders should have an opening of some sort in the bottom. Of course, where this hole drains to could be an issue as well.
Holes covered by carpet should be opened up. They may be ventilation holes or they may be drainage holes. Either way, blockage is going to reduce how well your boat dries out.
You might consider storing removable items inside the cottage between visits.

 

[thumpar]

Where is all the water coming from? It sounds like more than just a little moisture.

 

[oldjeep]

Why is rain getting into the cupholders in the first place? Sounds like you leave the boat uncovered all weekend even if it rains and then seem surprised when the boat is full of water.

 

[BRICH1260]

Sounds like you may need a new cover. But in addition to that you need to vent the areas under your seats somehow. Perhaps by cutting out new holes and adding grilled vent covers. Some cup holders also have a drain tube that can be added to re-direct the water overboard or through the floor. Bottom line you need to keep all areas of the boat dry or you will have rot and mold.

 

[shrew]

Standing water in cup holders and lockers does not sound like condensation. That sounds more like Permeation. Are you sure your cover is watertight? Put a few empty buckets around the deck. After a rain is there standing water in the buckets??

 

[MH Hawker]

its been a learning experience, i changed slips to make it easier for a friend to go fishing with me, but its a lot harder to put my cover on so i am leaving mine on the slip with out a dock cover this year and its not been all that bad, i did have to make a few changes for water drainage but it wasn't all that much

 

[guy48065]

Re-reading my first post I see I didn't mention that a storm blew in Saturday morning while I was working on the boat. Cover off.

Cover doesn't leak. Rest of the weekend was sunny & breezy (too windy to boat) so the cover stayed off. When time to get ready to leave late Sunday I checked in the compartments and armrests. Plenty wet still. Most of the floor was still wet, too.

I DO need a better cover (for looks and convenience) but the one it came with sheds water and probably breathes better than a tight-fitting cover.

Leaving it uncovered to dry out while the cottage is unoccupied for a few weeks isn't an option. I've seen what sun does to vinyl and it's far worse and unfixable than what mildew does.

 

[garbageguy]

Sounds like you need to stay at your cottage longer (bummer) to let it dry out. Once it's dry, you may get a better idea of where the water (moisture) is coming from

 

[crazy charlie]

Best to get that puppy out in the sun for a full day or 2 .That is where you will get maximum drying.The cover,,,You 1st need to get the vents where you have air/wind coming in and it needs an exit point which would typically be opposite side of the entry vent.Lift out cupholders and any cushion should be lifted as to keep the underneath open.Fan/fans are going to be necessary.i would recommend before leaving the boat,get a towel and blot up any obvious water or moisture.Charlie

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Moisture than can accumulate inside a boat is amazing to me. If that boat is not completely dry it will just recycle the moisture within the cover from gas to liquid and back again. Venting will help. Don't forget how much water it is sitting on 24/7. Moisture is an issue with all boats sitting in water some more than others. I wouldn't be surprised that much moisture can find it's way into cup holders. I would leave them, it's catching moisture. Look how much water can accumulate inside plastic over night when you see those survival shows on TV. The only thing I can suggest is have the boat and cover dry before tarping. Easily said eh? Cut into the cover and install those small vents that they do on properly shrunk wrapped boats. If you have shore power good sized fans are a no brainer. Something else to store before hitting the water.

The first season I shrunk wrapped my boat I left the plug in over the dry winter. In the spring I pulled the plug and got a gallon of water out. It drove me nuts trying to figure where this water came from. It was the latent moisture in the bilge that just found its way to the bottom of the boat when it thawed. I tape a piece of screening over the plug opening to keep critters out and water is able to drain when it warms.