preventing mold over the winter

[fishingdan]

Each spring, I uncover the boat and find surface mold one the various surfaces of the boat interior. I want to try to prevent that this time around.

Last year, I thought I had the problem licked when I covered the boat an opening on the transom end. I was thinking that this would allow air movement and prevent the growth of mold.

My home is on a very wooded lot and sunlight is at a premium.

I have a few questions:

- Is there a vinyl treatment that I can apply that will better seal the vinyl surface and prevent mold from being able to attach to it? I thinking of maybe trying a heavy coat of Armor All or similar product.

- This year, I was thinking of shrink wrapping the boat and putting a couple of buckets of those dehumidifying products that are used in campers.

Thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[mthieme]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

I have seat covers from Overtons...no mold...yet. Interior was replaced two years ago.
I've also got a lot of trees and no sun.

 

[Five O'Clock]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

i have my marina winterize my boat. they put about 6 buckets of those dehumidifier products all around the boat.... both in the cabin as well as on the deck, and its shrink wrapped... i showed no signs of mold/mildew this past spring

 

[QC]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

I've used a blow dryer under the cover set on low, but that gets pretty expensive in power . . .

 

[240sx4u]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

Not sure if this helps/works but there is stuff at home depot designed for construction called moldblock that inhibits growth. They have a fogger like product too.

Evan

 

[Irv964]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

I've used a blow dryer under the cover set on low, but that gets pretty expensive in power . . .

Please tell me your not serious

 

[JoeCrow]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

I wipe everything down with 50-50% water and bleach solution at the end of the season and never had a mold problem

 

[lkbum]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

When I install the cover, I put a section of 4" corrugated drain pipe at the bow and at the stern. This is the plastic black pipe used for gutter drainage and the like, you can get it at home depot or lowes. Its very light wieght and flexible. I place it so that its under the cover and extends a fair amount out from under the cover. It's flexible so I point it down at it's exit point and strap it to the trailer so it won't come out. There are some antifungal products used in the hospitals and the like which will prevent mildew from growing, but they are not cheap. The real key is either ventialtion or something to absorb moisture. I don't think a diluted bleach wipe down is very good for the vinyl.

 

[QC]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

Please tell me your not serious

What are you worried about, global warming? I am dead serious although I have only used it for short spurts after a particularly damp period etc. I am sure being in southern california makes a difference, but I have used this a number of times and it works great. Would probably be even better on a timer . . .

 

[Zero Balance]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

I wipe everything down with 50-50% water and bleach solution at the end of the season and never had a mold problem

Bingo! Mold cant grow where theres no bacteria.

 

[lkbum]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

Bingo! Mold cant grow where theres no bacteria.

Yes but the key is to eliminate the bacteria without killing the vinyl. Why risk damage when there are alternative products that do the same thing with no risk of degenerating the plastic.....And if you have mold already, Bleach can actually enhance it's growth....From the link below...."Do NOT use Chlorine bleach to kill mold or disinfect moldy areas. It is not an effective or long lasting killer of mold and mold spores. Bleach is good only for changing the color of the mold and watering the roots of the mold." Although a little off base in application, see the link .....
http://www.moldacrossamerica.org/notobleach.htm

 

[nlain]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

I installed 2 vents from Overtons in my blue canvas, no mold. I have 1 vent at the windshield and 1 at the stand I made to hold the tarp up, the high points of the tarp so the hot steamy air can escape out the vents. Even in your cold climate I feel sure the air warms and cools under the cover, moisture rises and then settles back with whatever is in the air and mold starts.

 

[mvn]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

The only time I had an issue with mold was when someone spewed Coke all over the back of a seat during the last trip of the year and I missed it during the winterization process. Talk about a mess in the spring! Thank goodness it didn't stain the vinyl. Now I take extra care in making sure all of the surfaces are cleaned and conditioned before storage and ensure that there is good ventilation over the winter months.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

Thanks for the comments and suggestions folks. I think I like the vent idea best. I'll be boating through mid Oct.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[nlain]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

Here is a link to the vents I use. I did not see them on Iboats.

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/pro...except_w/screen&str=vents&merchID=1008&r=view

 

[woosterken]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

Fish,
try this, http://www.bilgewizard.com/
I have one and my boat stays fresh and dry all winter.

woosterken

 

[fishingdan]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

I have never seen that. That is a great product. Thanks for posting that.

 

[BillP]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

Even with vents there are dead air pockets that let moisture collect on the surface and breed mold. 3M makes a mold prevention spray that will keep mold off even in a sealed tight boat in the tropics. It's people friendly and can be sprayed on everything, bunks, fiberglass, pillows, books, etc. It leaves an odor for the first week or so but that goes away. I've been using it for several yrs here in Florida and basically forgotten what mold is. All you have to do is clean the surface, let it dry and spray liberally on anything you don't want mold to grow on. Cover the boat up and forget about it.

bp

 

[Irv964]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

I like that Bildge wizard, never heard of it before but now that the young lad and wife are into skiing and such I may just purchase one for the times we are not at the trailer?
I also like the sounds of that 3M product, it sounds like a great product to use over the winter storage months. Hopefully neither one is too hard to get up here in Canada? Thanks for posting both of those!...........Irv964

 

[BillP]

Re: preventing mold over the winter

That Bilge Wizzard looks interesting but I'm skeptical how effective venting the entire boat through a 3/4" transom drain hole(?) is...at least here in Florida's climate. If starting from scratch I would do solar vents instead (but are a lot more $$$ than the Bilge Wizzard). One blowing in and one exhausting. Or do a $20 110V window fan set inside where it can't get wet. Run it on low 24x7 and leave it running. I did that nearly 10 yrs on various boats with good results. Just make sure the power source has ground fault or breaker.

Another "mildew preventer" I used was a 60 watt lightbulb placed on the cabin floor and kept on 24x7. It made enough heat to keep mildew away but the boat also had several passive vents to let the air circulate. I made the device by cutting the ends out of a coffee can. Then put alum legs on the can so it would have a gap at the bottom for air to circulate from bottom to top. The bulb socket was mounted on a square piece of wood and the can mounted over it to protect the bulb. It worked great for several yrs but I got tired of playing with electrical cords. This was back in the late 1960s when solar vents and 3M type sprays weren't even a glimmer in the eye.

If you don't want to do electric stuff the solar vent types come in passive versions that exhaust with wind blowing over them. Combined with the 3M spray and you will have fresh air turnover and zero mildew...that's what I've been doing on a 20' trailer sailer for the last 2 yrs. I'm totally sold on the 3M product. It's very hard to vent everywhere enough to keep 100% of the mildew away...here in Florida we even get mildew on open boats.

bp