Engine Compartment Moisture

[Lark40]

My cuddy is kept on a trailer with a fitted canvas cover. There is always some water in the bilge from boating and rain.<br /><br />When the temperature rises, the bilge water condenses and soaks the inside of the plywood/carpeted engine cover. Worse, that moisture forms drops that then drip all over the engine. Some days the top of the engine looks like it was hosed.<br /><br />What can done to reduce this moisture problem? Should I cut one or more 3" holes in the top of the engine cover and install vents?<br /><br />My new engine will be installed soon. I don't want it to suffer this moisture like the present one.

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

You are going to get a whole lot of unwanted noise in your passenger area from the engine compartment if you cut holes in the engine cover.<br /><br />I had a buddy who went to an upholstery shop and had a custom boat cover made with "pop-up" vents sewn in where the support poles go---they let the cover breath and do not take on water.<br /><br />A really good cover will cost you now, but will save you a lot of money in the long run. I got every penny back out of my hurricane-cloth cover when I sold my last boat.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

I have both a canvas cover and a tarp over that (snow slides off then). What I do is I put several of those moisture absorbing buckets in the cockpit, ski locker and engine compartment. I also stuffed some fenders up under edge of the cover so it lets air circulate under the cover. When we get nice days in the winter in the 50s I open up the cover to let it all air out. So far so good, no moisture on the engine, no mildew on the seats either. After I winterize I spray the motor down with Boeshield which is a waxy oil rust perventer. The old OMC engine (88) has hardly any rust on it and the bilge stays totally dry. You might try waterproofing the cover and installing vents in it, unless you get so much snow that the vents might leak water as it melts.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

I pull the plug and jack the front up very high so any water in the bilge just flows out the hole. Maybe you can do the same. I also use the cover vents to help reduce condensation.

 

[andrewgroup]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

My Cover on my 1990 Mariah has simple two simple twistable plastic inserts mounted on each side of the cover, Twist them 90 degrees and have them open then close them with another half twist. Apparently to address the very situation you describe. I can think of no other reason for there existance. Thanks for the tip. Maybe you can do the same thing.<br /><br />Something that I have done for many years, is I have fabricated two metal frames that mount for and aft on my boat. These frames provide large opening at the from and the rear of my boat. I use cheap 25.00 reinforced covers tarps rather than a fitted canvas cover. I replace it annually, the SUN UV tends gets the best of them. I don't have any troubles with animals because only birds could fly in to them, and the sun creates quite a hot place throughout the boat. I've been doing this for 10+ years and the boat always is very dry since I get 100% water repelant using the nylon tarps and the airflow keeps the moisture from building up. I would flirt with propping the engine cover also.<br /><br />Good Luck.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

First off, as mentioned above,do what ever you have to to get the water out of the boat. <br /><br />I took an old, heavy terrycloth bathrobe, draped it over the motor, put a light nylon tarp over the bathrobe and left my engine cover pulled back away from the motor.<br /><br />Voila! no more sweating, wet motor.<br /><br />My boat is stored outside, 24/7 with nothing but a well supported, vented, sunbrella cover.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

Might try a Happy's air drier...

 

[Lark40]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

Thanks for the suggestions.<br /><br />I think that I have two problems that need to be addressed.<br /><br />1) The water that comes in from boating due to rivet leaks. This doesn't all drain out on the ride home due to the aluminum framing that crosses the bilge. Maybe I'll need to fabricate some type of angled wetvac extension to get down there and suck that out. Maybe an angled sponge. Anyway, that has to be dried out upon return.<br /><br />2) Rain coming in through the fitted but unsupported canvas cover. I like the suggestions to use more supports, vents, and maybe a tarp held up from the surface.<br /><br />The suggestion to keep the engine compartment cover somewhat open makes sense, and I will do that right away. The twist-off vents are close what I was thinking of, but I will look for ones that are (or can be made) the most soundproof. <br /><br />There are two Happy's dehumidifiers in my garage to protect an antique car. Maybe I'll try moving one of them out to the boat if these other measures don't work well. Don't know how safe it would be to have a 120 volt appliance in the engine compartment.

 

[daveswaves]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

Hey Lark 40, I have the same problem here in Ontario Canada with humidity/condensation. During the winter storage I spray the engine down with wd 40 and cover with an absorbant cloth. Seems to work. Like Ralph Spencer the front of my boat is jacked up high and any condensation that does form drips out the open drain at the back.<br />ps: I have a Lark 40 in the garage as well.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

I keep my inboard in a slip all year -- use a 100W bulb burning in the engine compartment to keep down condensation, and everything seems to remain dry (not so in the cabin, which is unheated unless I'm in there). I use a clip-on mount for the light.

 

[CCrew]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

"use a 100W bulb burning in the engine compartment to keep down condensation"<br /><br />And if the light bulb breaks with fumes in the bilge? <br /><br />-Roger

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

Then the condensation problem is solved forever

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

If you have gas fumes in the bilge of a stored boat, condensation is the least of your problems -- and probably a temporary one at that, as was indicated in the last post.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

Would never use any kind of light bulb!!<br />So far I have had good luck with the moisture buckets, cover and tarp, and opening it up on warmer dry days when you can helps a lot.<br />Main problem is the lack of air circulation which contributes to rot in wood and rust on metal.<br />Last year I didn't use the moisture buckets at first and I had ice in the inside of the cover!! (frozen condensation!!)

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

It might be worth checking out Ebay for engine compartment heaters (smaller of the two sizes for a single engine -- brand is BoatSafe, I think). It's probably the wrong season to be buying, but you might be able to get one for less than the $400 shelf price -- could be a good purchase to protect a new engine. The heater shouldn't have to work too hard here in Maryland/Virginia. (I pay full retail for my light bulbs, but I'm obviously a big spender....)

 

[jeremyp111]

Re: Engine Compartment Moisture

All good posts here. Obviously circulation is your biggest problem as stated by many already. If you can get some air circulating in there then that'll cure your problem. Add some vents to your cover and some moisture absorbers to the inside of the boat and engine compartment and you'll be fine.