How bad is rain water in boat?

[ebsworj]

Hi, I just got a 94' bayliner capri (first boat) that came with a trailerable hurricane cover. I live in Seattle so since its raining so much now the water pools on the cover and soaks the inside of the boat. I don't store it at my house so when I've checked on it recently I've notice that the ski locker was completly full of water. I pulled the plug and left it off now (duh!).<br /><br />So my question is: How bad is it if the carpet is still soaked from the rain water driping through? How long does it take to rot the floor or how much water can it take?<br /><br />We hopefully have solved the water pooling problem with supports under the cover.

 

[roscoe]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

Also keep the bow up as high as possible to facilitate draining.<br /><br />Water is not good for floors, stringers, or transoms.<br /><br />Get her dried out, work to keep it dry.<br /><br />Amount of damage depends on condition of the wood, quaility of materials, and whether there is any previous damage.

 

[sgthane]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

A good way to keep the water from getting in is to drape a tarp across the boat, then put the cover over that. I live in Wenatchee, and found that it works quite well.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

Get that cover off and get the boat in the sun.Water proof the cover thoroughly,pitch the boat properly,ALWAYS leave the plug out,And put a fan under the cover for a few days after you get it covered again to dry completely and prevent mold and mildew.You will also need to get a prop-up pole to the area under the cover that pools.Charlie

 

[lakelivin]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

I've found that 2" pvc with an end cap works well for a prop up pole. I just "balanced" mine, but I've got a boathouse now so don't have a need for it. If I needed one long term, I'd make a base for it that such that I cound break it down for easy storage. For example, do they have flanges for pvc that you could screw into a plywood base?

 

[jtexas]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

Hopefully you got rubber-backed marine carpet that is thoroughly glued to the deck, so maybe you won't have any wood exposed to sitting water. my 1980 model boat, the carpet glue all disintegrated, but the deck underneath is still solid. But a section of floor that was exposed to rising water from an area with poor drainage was total mush. You're probably okay after only 11 years. You've resolved the problem now, so don't lose any sleep over it.<br /><br />p.s. lakelivin, I used that very method, but I just got the galvanized flanges, couldn't find pvc, but the pvc screws in just fine. Might not hold water, but it holds boat cover.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

dang jt, that was the quickest reply I've ever seen, lol. obviously within 60 seconds as our posted times are identical....

 

[Realgun]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

Ok look the Best thing to do is to get two ropes. Ty 1 rope to front cleat and run over closed windshield to oposite cleat in rear. Do the same to the other 1. Pull fairly tight but don't break the boat. Then cover the boat. This will shed the water off the cover and not sink into the boat!

 

[Realgun]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

Ok look the Best thing to do is to get two ropes. Ty 1 rope to front cleat and run over closed windshield to oposite cleat in rear. Do the same to the other 1. Pull fairly tight but don't break the boat. Then cover the boat. This will shed the water off the cover and not sink into the boat!

 

[salty87]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

any clean-up you can do in the boat wiping down seats and getting it as dry as you possible can will pay off compared to cleaning it later when mildew has set in and it's sat for awhile. dry up water in any lockers or compartments, cup holders, all of it.<br /><br />if you haven't tilted your seats up for better ventilation, it would be a good idea. first sign of sun, pull the cover and put a fan in it.<br /><br />if it stops raining for awhile, those buckets of damp-rid under the cover (or whatever those water absorbing crystals are called) wouldn't be a waste.<br /><br />How bad is it if the carpet is still soaked from the rain water driping through?...it's not great if it's letting the water saturate the flooring. by saturate, i mean soak it good to the core. once wood rot gets a chance to start, it won't dry out and be fine. but it doesn't start overnight. rot is more likely when wood gets saturated and dries out repeatedly rather than just getting soaked once and drying out. however, with used boats, unless you know how the owner cared for it before...it's best to do what you can.<br /><br />must stop typing

 

[lakelivin]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

Originally posted by Realgun:<br /> Ok look the Best thing to do is to get two ropes. Ty 1 rope to front cleat and run over closed windshield to oposite cleat in rear. Do the same to the other 1. Pull fairly tight but don't break the boat. Then cover the boat. This will shed the water off the cover and not sink into the boat!

That sounds like one of the best (easiest) solutions I've heard. <br /><br />Wonder if there might be a chance that water could pool in the triangle at the back of where the two ropes cross on some boat/cover combinations. If so, what about a long bungee from where the ropes cross to a ski tow attachment (or whatever) at the center of the stern?

 

[Mr.Ladyfish]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

Any water INSIDE A boat ain't good. My old Bayliner never had standing water in it. It was always able to drain. The floor rotted like it had been submerged.

 

[louc]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

Water in a wood floor boat, over time is going to cause big problems. I'd get a wet vac and see how much of it you can vac up, then leave it out in the sun with the cover off as long as you can. The moisture absorber things work well, I put 4 big ones in my 20' and a smaller one in the engine compartment for over the winter storage. They remove a lot of moisture from the air and the inside of my boat stayed dry all winter, and winters here are wet and damp (freezing and wet too!) I would not use a tarp as a cover if you can since it will not let the moisture evaporate, unless you can tent it so it is open on the sides somewhat. I used to put a tarp over my winter storage cover, but I found it was better to waterproof the canvas cover and leave the tarp off, it lets it breath better.

 

[moderator1]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

Tarp needs to breath to keep mold and mildew down, which is about as bad as floor rot.<br />Keep the nose up as much as you can and it will help.

 

[Realgun]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

Wonder if there might be a chance that water could pool in the triangle at the back of where the two ropes cross on some boat/cover combinations. If so, what about a long bungee from where the ropes cross to a ski tow attachment (or whatever) at the center of the stern?

It can but on my boat the cleats in the rear are really at the rear it does get some water standing but not much. Any pole support will help and is a good idea!

 

[jlinder]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

My car came with a netting for the cargo area that stretched to hold down cargo.<br /><br />You could probably get something like that, or any netting to bridge across the 2 ropes to prevent pooling.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

Originally posted by Jack L:<br /> My car came with a netting for the cargo area that stretched to hold down cargo.<br /><br />You could probably get something like that, or any netting to bridge across the 2 ropes to prevent pooling.

The dollar stores near me have an elastic cargo net that cost, if I remember correctly, $1. If one didn't quite do, it I'm sure two would. The ropes/ netting sound like a great solution to me if they work; minimal storage space when not in use.

 

[ebsworj]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

Thanks for the ideas, I allready have a rope from bow to stern that helps but still pools, i have a pole also but need to buy a real one not a 2x4. I took puddles off the cover today and the carpet is wet again. I'll soak up as much as i can tomorrow. its hard since the boat is stored where i don't have any power source so i can't vacume.

 

[Baldguy]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

I recently bought a trailerable custom cover for my Baja. I have white interior and was worried about mildew. Spent the extra bucks to buy the pole vents with covers...I think that's what you call them.<br /><br />You do have to carefully cut a hole in your brand new cover, but done well it's no problem. The vents allow the air to circulate and I've had no water intrusion problems and no mildew. Worked for me...just a thought.

 

[Jermyn]

Re: How bad is rain water in boat?

I had some old tents I used the fiberglass, folding poles from them(required some drilling) (read old boat) and threw a tarp over top. Bungee corded the tarp to the trailer and called it a day. <br /><br />Looks like a big tent now. But the poles store up nicely and I get good cross ventilation.