Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

[intrepidvoyager]

This year we have to store a 235 Rinker outside ( Vancouver, Canada )

Initially we used a tarp ?tight fit ?. but found this created a lot of condensation and both the interior of the boat and the engine compartment were soaking wet after a week or so .

Then we built a tent structure over the boat to allow a 6 inch vertical airspace on both sides of the boat from the windshield aft to the stern.

A few days later the underside of the tarp was soaking wet and dripping water into the boat. GRRRRRRR !!!

We have a small air dryer humidifier but doubt it will help plus we will have to move the boat near a power source..

Any suggestions on how to overcome this massive condensation problem would be appreciated.

 

[Don S]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

Dark colored tarps or shrink wrap only. Light colors (white or clear plastic) will turn into a green house and water.
I used to leave a large opening on the bow, and one on the rear when the place I worked in Ketchikan, Alaska tried shrink wrap. That allowed plenty of ventilation through the boat. Even if it was wet inside the boat when we covered it, they dried out in a week or so.

 

[4JawChuck]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

Go and buy some swim noodles (the kind kids swim with) and cut them in half, use them stuffed in-between your tarp and boat to allow airflow inside the boat. A bag of dessicant hanging over a 5 gallon pail that drains out the bilge drain is another good method.

 

[intrepidvoyager]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

When the tent structure was built allowing the 6 inch gap along the sides the boat was dried out .... now a few days later its soaking wet on the underside of the tarp and in the boat ...it's a dark blue tarp ..... the tarp cover is like a tent with a ridge pole from the windshield to the stern ....there is no way water is running under the tarp ...its definitely condensation !

I think we can forget about trying to keep the interior of the boat dry ...we have the 2 front seats out and the cuddy cushions...so we'll take the rear bench out and put the air dryer in the engine space along with some dryZ ..

unless ?????

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

or get a breathable fabric cover that doesn't cause condensation.... or peak your cover such that condensation runs all the way to the bottom without dripping in the boat OR buy a portable shelter for a few hundred dollars and park the boat in it

 

[JoLin]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

This year we have to store a 235 Rinker outside ( Vancouver, Canada )

Initially we used a tarp ?tight fit ?. but found this created a lot of condensation and both the interior of the boat and the engine compartment were soaking wet after a week or so .

Then we built a tent structure over the boat to allow a 6 inch vertical airspace on both sides of the boat from the windshield aft to the stern.
.

You're on the right track with the tent structure. Extend the tarps to cover the sides of the boat end to end, and leave openings at bow and stern, like Don S suggested. That's the only configuration that'll keep all water and snow out, but let air in.

 

[intrepidvoyager]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

OK...thanks gang .... we'll give the "tent" a bit more pitch so any condensation will run down the underside of the tarp off either side of the boat ....hey Don ...even better I'll ship the boat to Kauai ( no winter storage necessary ...he he he ).....and go tuna fishing with Dale.

by the way .......here is Ralph and the shark that bit the arm off the surfer girl ...gutsy kid ...she is back surfing again !!!!

<a href="http://s840.photobucket.com/albums/zz328/mobi1/Kauai/?action=view&current=Shark1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz328/mobi1/Kauai/Shark1.jpg" border="0" alt="Ralph's shark"></a>

<a href="http://s840.photobucket.com/albums/zz328/mobi1/Kauai/?action=view&current=Shark2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz328/mobi1/Kauai/Shark2.jpg" border="0" alt="Ralph the shark hunter"></a>

 

[intrepidvoyager]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

OOOOps ...try these links ...



http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz328/mobi1/Kauai/Shark1.jpg

http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz328/mobi1/Kauai/Shark2.jpg

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

You're on the right track with the tent structure. Extend the tarps to cover the sides of the boat end to end, and leave openings at bow and stern, like Don S suggested. That's the only configuration that'll keep all water and snow out, but let air in.

Yep, when I had to store outside the best luck I had was when I strung a rope from tree to tree. Parked the boat under the single rope. The rope was about 8 feet off the boat floor.
The rope was the "ridge pole" over which one tarp was centered over.
The edges were then rope anchored out around the perimeter in a open ended tent fashion.
Actually no part of the tarp touched the boat, it only touched the ridge rope.
It took up a lot of yard space to do it that way but there was a lot of openess to it all.
I could walk under and get in the boat without touching the tarp too.

Visit your local billboard company for a no longer current vinyl billboard. They are huge, tough as heck and made to last five years or so in the sun. And they are not woven like the common blue tarp.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

Aside from indoor air conditioned space there's nothing I can think of.
Where I live live there are certain times of the year when everything just drips with condensation, even tools in my toolbox in the garage get it.

 

[intrepidvoyager]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

OK ....good stuff ..... we now have a tent one foot over the boat sides .......with a 1 in 4 pitch going up to the center line .....from stem to stern and 4 pots with dryZ in filter baskets ..... now the condensation runs off the bottom of the tarp .... its an industrial tarp ......

Lots of air circulation now ..... looks like its going to work fine ..

thanks to all !!!

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

Aside from indoor air conditioned space there's nothing I can think of.
Where I live live there are certain times of the year when everything just drips with condensation, even tools in my toolbox in the garage get it.

That's the way it is where I live, too...My boat sits on a carport, has a cover on it that is propped up, and has vents. The boat never gets rained it, so it is bone dry when the cover goes on the final time in the winter. Every spring, I have to clean mold and mildew off the seats.

 

[intrepidvoyager]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

speaking of mildew ...... found out about a product recently that gets rid of mildew ...called X14 ......THIS PRODUCT IS FABULOUS !!!!!! ........ just spray it on mildew stains .....NO RUBBING OR BRUSHING ....... come back in half an hour and the stains are gone !!!!!!

if I had not tried it myself i would not believe it.!!!!!!

lets file this under mildew remover that actually WORKS !!!!

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

Instead of trying to remove mold and mildew I decided to prevent it in the first place..........

For several years now I have had very good luck preventing mildew via liquid copper fungicide spray. It is from Southern AG and comes in a little 1 pint bottle in concentrated form.
It is a garden spray for vegetables to prevent all varieties of fungus.
I used one of those siphon type yard sprayers. I hosed down everything inside and out. No mildew anywhere since.
I try to do it three times per year after a washdown while the garden hose is out. And once when putting the boat away for the winter.

Follow directions and do not double the dose, etc. as too much of it in the water will tint everything a light blue.

I figure if it is okay for use on veggies we eat, it can't hurt the boat.

 

[Philster]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

speaking of mildew ...... found out about a product recently that gets rid of mildew ...called X14 ......THIS PRODUCT IS FABULOUS !!!!!! ........ just spray it on mildew stains .....NO RUBBING OR BRUSHING ....... come back in half an hour and the stains are gone !!!!!!

if I had not tried it myself i would not believe it.!!!!!!

lets file this under mildew remover that actually WORKS !!!!

This stuff is basic sodium hypochlorite (bleach, strong pool chlorine, etc), at 60% concentration. Bleach is caustic, and can cause damage to your skin and to many materials. I would think this stuff is better suited to hardened materials, such as tile, stone, misc countertops and tub materials, and maybe grout.

Someone goes spraying this and they are gonna find bleached holes in some places, and any stitching is going to be beat to death, severely weakened or have a severely shortened life.

 

[intrepidvoyager]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

X14 is only 6% sodium hypochlorite so i think hardly a big concern.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

Nearly every product for killing mildew is mainly water with a bit of bleach in it. Sure, it works great killing mildew, but I'm not gonna spray my upholstery with it. Heck, I'm not gonna buy it in the first place. I've been fighting mildew on my glass shower doors for decades with regular bleach and water. A buck will mix up several years worth.

As far as my boat's upholstery goes, I just clean the mildew off with Simple Green in the spring. A few hot days out in the sun on the lake take care of killing it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

A couple of thoughts--be sure your boat is dry before covering it--especially the bilge. All that water will want to go up.

Someone suggested opening a bag of charcoal and leaving it in the boat to absorb moisture.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

If your cover provides lots of air circulation from the surrounding area like a cover would if it had open ends or was not touching the boat at all, the placement of moisture absorbers, desiccants, charcoal, dehumidifiers, etc. is a waste of time and money.
You will have so much air flow they will be all maxed out very shortly and a dehumidifier would be running all the time until the weather changed and was dry.
Might be better off installing a box fan under the cover in the boat to blow air around and out to evaporate any moisture/condensation.

 

[intrepidvoyager]

Re: Storage condensation problem. GRRRRRRR

hey jeeperman ......makes sense to me ......anyway we'll see how it goes with the new tent set up ....the dryZ bins are all in the engine compartment ..just loaded ..so we'll check in a week and see how they are doing ... then we'll put a fan in and see if that cuts down on the amount of water they pull out of the air in the following week.

I agree ...max ventilation should work best.