Active Hull Drying?

[bvetter]

Well, it seems to me that if you can keep the inside of your hull and underlying structure dry, it could really help prevent rot from starting. Sounds pretty obvious, so why isn't there a system for circulating air through the hull chambers to help evaporate standing water under the ski locker and fuel tank? There may actually be systems out there, but I have not come across them yet. I have seen desiccant pouches that can be placed in the ski locker, but that's about it.

I am in the midst of a restoring my fiberglass boat (link in signature) and at the point where I'm glassing in stringers and bulkheads, so it seems like the ideal time to install something.

What I had in mind originally, was to run some PVC or ABS pipe from the bilge area, running forward through the bulkheads, then ending at the bow in the front of the ski locker. Use a blower similar to a bilge blower to force air from the bilge (or even from outside the boat if connected to a vent), through the pipework into the ski locker. The positive pressure in the ski locker would push air under the ski locker along the keel, and through the network of water passage ways beneath the bulkheads and fuel tank back to the bilge. This could run anytime the engine is running, or maybe even have an electrical connector so that a solar panel mounted on the trailer could be connected and would continuously run the fan every day during the daytime while not in the water.

Anyways, this may prove completely ineffective, but maybe not. Just throwing it out there to see if anyone has done something similar in the past.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Active Hull Drying?

How do you plan to store your boat when it's not in use?

Wet slip?

Trailer?

Covered?

Garaged?

 

[bvetter]

Re: Active Hull Drying?

How do you plan to store your boat when it's not in use?

Wet slip?

Trailer?

Covered?

Garaged?

Covered, on a trailer.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Active Hull Drying?

That's all you really need to do, just make sure the bilge plug is pulled every time the boat goes on the trailer and keep her covered and protected from the elements and she'll last for generations.

A water shedding deck finish instead of carpet will help too, but if you choose carpet you can put a portable window fan in the boat under the cover to help dry it out if it gets wet and open up the ski locker.

 

[redneck joe]

Re: Active Hull Drying?

and one of these

 

[Bondo]

Re: Active Hull Drying?

Covered, on a trailer.

Ayuh,.... When yer puttin' yer stringers, 'n bulkheads in,...

May Sure ya put Limber Holes at the lowest point of each piece,...

Limber holes are the drainage channels needed to keep yer hull Dry, as they allow water to Drain to the pumpable bilge(in the water), or out the garboard plug(on the trailer),.....

So, don't allow yer Foam, to block the drainage,...

The hull should also have clamshell scoops, the forward set pointin' forward, 'n the aft set pointin' aft, for bilge Ventilation,...

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: Active Hull Drying?

May Sure ya put Limber Holes at the lowest point of each piece,...

Limber holes are the drainage channels needed to keep yer hull Dry, as they allow water to Drain to the pumpable bilge(in the water), or out the garboard plug(on the trailer),.....

So, don't allow yer Foam, to block the drainage,...

The hull should also have clamshell scoops, the forward set pointin' forward, 'n the aft set pointin' aft, for bilge Ventilation,...

EXCELLENT ADVICE !!

Boat covers are not perfect and some rain water/snow melt will get in. It is very easy for the bilge drain hole to get clogged. Shrink wrap, tent or indoor (garage) are the best preventive measures.

Some older aluminum boats mounted a forward facing clam shell near the bow with a large diameter hose to under the deck. A rear facing clamshell near the aft with the hose from the bilge will help.

 

[wildcatfan1491]

Re: Active Hull Drying?

Bvetter, it looks like you had a small fan at the back of your ski locker. Is that what that is or it just a vent for air to move through?

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Active Hull Drying?

They do sell devices for auto's in one of my dream catalogs from Groit's auto care to remove moisture. but this is for the very last bit of moisture, almost humidity level stuff. It is not what will keep cups or gallons out. Designed for storage situations.
www.griotsgarage.com
Search it out!

 

[bvetter]

Re: Active Hull Drying?

Bvetter, it looks like you had a small fan at the back of your ski locker. Is that what that is or it just a vent for air to move through?

It was just a vent. But like every single opening under the deck, the ply wasn't sealed where the cutout was made so it was completely rotten. I am eliminating that vent in the new bulkhead, it serves zero purpose.

 

[wildcatfan1491]

Re: Active Hull Drying?

Ahh okay. It looked like a little fan.

I very interested in this too. I like bvetter's idea of making something like a positive pressure system to force air movement out.