Is your boat covered?

[coby-5]

Re: Is your boat covered?

i even have wall to wall carpet in my boathouse...but the wife still wants to call it a garage ( go figure )

 

[jlinder]

Re: Is your boat covered?

Lou C,<br /><br />What are the moisture buckets you are talking about?<br /><br />I am in the process of redoing my seats and it is amazing how much water these things soak up. Had it uncovered for a little while, got some rain, and then had it covered for a couple of months.<br /><br />Took the seats apart and it took weeks for them to drain. Tons of water in the foam and wood.<br /><br />I will have it covered all the time from now on, believe me.

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Is your boat covered?

There are several brands of the dehumidifier tubs out there. A couple of the homecenters carry them around here. I've found them to be the cheapest here.<br /><br /> No Damp here at iboats

 

[jlinder]

Re: Is your boat covered?

Interesting. How much will they absorb? I have a 19' Chapparal and wonder how many to put under the covers.

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Is your boat covered?

No idea Jack. I've never used them myself, but I may start this year when I have to cover my boat with a damp interior.

 

[MrBill]

Re: Is your boat covered?

Wow...some people leave their boats uncovered through the winter? so that mice and squirrels can chew on the seats and the upholstery gets an extra dose of UV rays, water and wind blown tree limb damage????.<br /><br />In summer I use a full canvas mooring cover, custom made of heavy duty canvas, it's also trailerable, and the cover stays on whenever the boat's on it's mooring. In winter, I put up a re-useable tenting structure made to fit under the mooring cover, then I tarp the boat and mooring cover to waterproof it all and prolong the life of the mooring cover. I then stretch wrap (using pallet wrap) the entire perimeter 4 or 5 times to seal the edge and prevent the wind from blowing the tarp and cover off. The snow slide off the tarp pretty well. 7 years with great success, but I make sure the winterizing is done with the boat fully dried out. Putting in a garage for 2-3 weeks helps this process.

 

[hise]

Re: Is your boat covered?

built a frame out of pvc that fits in the boat to help tent the tarp. The frame over hangs the sides of the boat so the tarp covers the entire boat yet is vented.<br /><br />cheap, easy, quick... it's a no-brainer keep it covered.

 

[spiderman1800]

Re: Is your boat covered?

I just bought my first boat, but the first thing I did was but it into my Mother-In-Laws garage until I can get a cover!!

 

[Lou C]

Re: Is your boat covered?

I live in a damp seaside area, so I use 4 of the large no damp buckets in the cockpit and one smaller one in the engine compartment. When the white grains get used up, you can dump the water out of them and refill with fresh water absorber.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Is your boat covered?

Lou C - <br />Thanks. About how much life do you get out of one bucket?

 

[Lou C]

Re: Is your boat covered?

They usually last close to the whole winter, sometimes if the temp changes a lot I may need to refill it, and I use them even when not using the boat in the spring/fall as well.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Is your boat covered?

I will try it. My biggest problem is with the engine compartment. I will open up the boat and I will find water pooled on the engine, alternator, etc.<br />It's not leaks from the cover, but water condensing on the metal. It has been driving me crazy on how to eliminate this.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Is your boat covered?

I keep mine under a temporary carport. Mainly to keep the UVs out of her!

 

[carrotsnapper]

Re: Is your boat covered?

I left mine uncovered while I ran to the store. When I got home, the neighbors cat was in it. I dang near killed it. I don't want their stinkin p*ss in my boat. Needless to say, It is always covered when not in use.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Is your boat covered?

looks like the general consensis is, covered. got my watercraft in a small garage (shed), & coverd, the boat in the backyard with a new overtons boat cover and poll in center to keep the water runnin off. looks like it works ok, but reserve judgement till spring when i have a look to see how it fared over the winter. would have the boat in a garage if i had one. i am new to boat owning, not new to boating. new to learning all about boats though.(takeing powersquadron piloting exam next week). it amazes me when i drive around my city to see how many boats don't have covers at all, or covers that are only mostly covering the boat. or how many people park their boats with the drive up. i reckon these people don't read iboats forums to much. these folks must have a lot of money to fix their boats, i don't. the marine mechs must love it.

 

[garycinn]

Re: Is your boat covered?

Originally posted by Jack L:<br /> I will try it. My biggest problem is with the engine compartment. I will open up the boat and I will find water pooled on the engine, alternator, etc.<br />It's not leaks from the cover, but water condensing on the metal. It has been driving me crazy on how to eliminate this.

I used to get this after a day of water sports. You basically have a terrarium -- closed space water in the bilge and a heat source. Before I cover it up I throw an old beach towel down in the bilge to soak up the couple of cups of water. Since I have been doing that -- no more science projects .<br /><br />I also spray the engine down with Merc Corrosion Guard a couple of times a season -- man, that is nasty stuff.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Is your boat covered?

garycinn<br /><br />It is not after use, but a condensation problem. Yesterday I looked and it was dry. Humidity is so high we have bad fog.<br /><br />But get a cold snap and the metal will get cold and water will condense in buckets.<br /><br />I might try the corrsion guard. When you say it is nasty, exactly how - does it get all over, does it make the engine messy to work on, etc?

 

[jonmurr]

Re: Is your boat covered?

I'm pretty darn lucky. My boat doens't fit in a normal garage. But the local fairgrounds has lots of unused building space they use during the winter to store boats. Five dollars a foot for the whole winter. Best money I spend all year. There is also a caretaker there to let me in to futz around as necessary. The only precautions I take are pulling my VHF and Sonar, but as I said the place is watched 24/7.<br />Jon

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Is your boat covered?

JM you gotta be kidding me you lucky dog.$5 a foot for indoor storage ??????Thats 1/2 the price of getting it shrinkwrapped.Man some people have all the luck.Good for you!!!! Charlie

 

[BillP]

Re: Is your boat covered?

Pontoon boat sits under a roof on a boat lift. OB skiff sits on a trailer with canvas cover. Kayaks, dink and 13' sailboat sit outside under a tree.