Help! boat wet under cover

[tobyhaven7]

Our '04 20i had been sitting outside at dealer's lot for 3 months and today when I got it home, discovered that it's wet inside...water squished up when you stepped on carpet (we mopped up with towels) and mold starting to grow on vinyl (wiped most off). Dealer said it happens all the time (?!)and they usually just clean up boats with Fantastic before owners see them again in spring!
The cover doesn't seem to be beading off water; it's so saturated that it's stretched out as far as I've ever seen it despite the velcro-covered side hooks adjusted as tight as they'll go. Didn't have this problem last winter or during rainstorms this summer, but it has been extraordinarily rainy this winter.
Any suggestions re cover? Does it need to be re-'water proofed' (with NikWax??)? Do I need to spend too much $$$ for a 2nd cover to put on top? or one of those tent-like garage awnings (not that I know how that'd fit over the tower). Our own garage is way too short/narrow/low to fit boat inside even without tower; way too late to find covered storage; can't put fan/heater, etc inside to help dry out cause still raining daily. Sure don't want to have to replace carpet or vinyl this spring. Any suggestions?

[raythompson]

Cover and Moisture Problems

While my cover is new and is not leaking and the water does appear to bead and run off, I have installed a modification that provides ventilation under the cover.

I scavenged a squirrel cage blower and motor from an old computer (big iron days.) I then built a support for the assembly that also provides a power connection for 110V. I then purchased some 3 inch bilge vent hose and attached that to the output of the blower. The other end of the hose is placed under the cover. The blower sits on the ground under the swim platform. It supplies a constant source of fresh air under the cover.

This help keep the boat dry and avoids the accumulation of mold and mildew under the cover in the winter. It also helps keep the heat down under the cover in the summer.

I would think that some manufacturer would devise a custom cover that would contain an opening for a blower tube and provide the blower as an extra cost option. The cost to operate is pennies a month.

If you are interested I can provide pictures of my self-made, not so pretty, solution to the problem.

[tobyhaven7]

Very ingenious! Yes, am interested in seeing pix of your solution. (If some marine store has a prettier number like it, they undoubtedly charge too much for it, and who cares about how pretty ventilation looks if your boat stays dry and mildew-free when parked.)
BTW, to cover hose going into boat, without looking at all tacky, you could modify the cover with a velcro closure flap out of same material as your cover -- like the ones over pop-up cleats, except "tented" instead of flat flap + velcro strap to hold this "tent" flat when trailering. If you put the hose (therefore flap) at the stern, windage wouldn't be a big problem. If the flap extends a few inches down the length of the hose, when velcro'd the rain wouldn't get inside when hose is being used.

[gman]

How about a small drain in the boat so that when it rains and water gets in or when you want to wash the boat the water could go down into the bildge and out the back end. Master Craft has one for this exact reason.

[bfrank]

I had the same problem, what I did in the interm was go and buy a cheap large tarp and bungy it over your existing cover, this works good if you cant get it inside.

I was able to get into the garage after convincing the wife the boat was more important than the mini van and was able to really dry it out.

Mold sucks, seems like once it starts its a pian to stop, only thing I found to stop it was bleach, which can be tricky with colored carpet and vinyl. Plus you boat stinks.

After that I bought a New shark skin cover that hasnt leaked once.

[ghollow]

I bought four boat cover vents and installed them on my cover. They have eliminated the dampness/mold problem. The bhoat does seem to get dustier though. I also put a tarp over my cover during winter storage.

Here is a link to Overtons for the vents:

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/over...um=26861&fcat=

[mjirving]

I use Dri Z Air crystals that basically dehumidify the air. It's cheap, simple and doesn't require any power. I get 'em at Home Depot.

[tobyhaven7]

Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences and suggestions. Good thing we like skiing/riding behind this boat so much...
During lull in rain today, we took cover off and finished getting rid of standing water on carpet in bow. (Trailer's parked slightly bow downhill; no choice there.) Bailed out boat + used many towels to get carpet pretty dry. If at any time in near future we get a sunny (or at least non-rainy day), we'll open up and let it dry out better.
Today also followed suggestion in a Tige newsletter to wipe mildew off vinyl with 1 tablespoon ammonia + 1/3 cup hydrogen peroxide mixed in 3/4 cup water. When drier days show up in a few months, will follow up with Tige recommendation of Fantastik (which worked well on our old SeaRay's vinyl and plastic surfaces) and then 303 Aerospace Protectant.
Til then, next weekend if boat still seems damp... and it doesn't cost a fortune...may have local marina put boat inside shop under lights to completely dry out carpet & cover.
A friend with commercial heavy weight sewing machine is going to move velcro adjustment straps for velcro-covered hooks on sides of cover so I can get cover tighter side to side so water won't pool even when wet cover's stretched out. (We can already get it plenty tight lengthwise with the 4 stern straps.) Will look into putting in cover vents (maybe also mechanical ventilation, and will drape large tarp over whole boat, too, guess using tower as support and bungees to hold tarp on place. This get-up will be really attractive given that boat has to be parked right beside gate to front yard, but no other parking options.
Thanks again for all your input.

[steves1967]

When it gets real cold out- and the morning dew starts making a mess, I put a small table lamp on the floor of the boat, hook it up to a timer, it comes on at dusk and turns off at dawn- keeps the boat nice and dry, same with the engine compartment if and when it freezes out here

[Zacky]

Look for a fully enclosed canopy at Cost Co. It measured 9' wide x 10' tall x 20' deep. You can find it for around $180. All aluminum framing and very thick plastic (tarp like) covering. I cut about 20" off the length of the verticle posts and did not put the side walls up. This dropped the top portion of the cover down to around the rub rail on the boat. I anchored eack post to a 40lb concrete pier. 8 posts held by 40lbs of concrete each... at 320lbs 60mph gusts didn't even phase it. Best past about it, I got into the boat last weekend to start it and it was completely bone dry inside. Total project cost me about $200. Best money I spent for worry-free winters...

If you want, I will see if I can dig up the manufacturer info...

[steves1967]

I did the same thing- except I got some aluminum tubing and added 30" to it some I wouldnt have to fold the tower every time I put the boat away- and I left the front "door" on so rain doesnt get it....

[Zacky]

Ya, that is a bummer that I have to take the tower down. I was thinking of ordering some replacement poles and just swap them out between winter and summer...

[Boarder_X]

This will work for the direct drive folks.

A friend of mine did it first, so I'll give him the credit. Before the winter started here, I went to Lowe's, and bought:
an 8 foot section of 3" PVC pipe
90 degree elbow (2)
"T" connector

Put one elbow on the end of the pipe. Then put it over the tow bar. Then measure it back to the sun deck. You will put the other elbow there, going down. Decide how high you want the cross member to be. Then cut a short piece from the extra pipe. Then make two legs. Put the down piece into the "T" connector, and the legs in to the other holes. The legs should go accross the sundeck, to hold this up. PUT DOWN A FEW LAYERS OF TOWELS, to protect the upholstery.
_______________________
| __|__ (I have tried, but the "T" part is supposed to be at the end, not next to the other part. Don't know how to reformat this thing.)

I used this this winter, and we have had record rain fall. I went under the cover the other day, expecting dampness. Nope. This holds the cover up, so the water does not pool. It ALL runs off.

I can take a pic, if someone wants.

Robb

[tobyhaven7]

Zacky & Steves - one of the guys at our local marina would sell me his used Costco canopy or whatever you call it, but since my boat sits right beside the front gate the thing would completely block our line of sight out the front door and living room....Besides we have that tower problem, too. Looks like it folds (Samson tower), but have never done it.

So Boarder_X, I'd like to "see" your solution. Couldn't quite figure it out from your posting. It sounds reasonably easy, not expensive and if it's effective, boy do we need it. We've got water pooling on top of the cover now it's been raining so hard for so long, and that's not good for the cover or the boat. The cover's adjusted as far as it'll go and I go out in the rain and brush off the water several times a day. Not fun.

Got to figure out something cause since we have to pay for our moorage spot year round (to hold it), it'd be hard to also have to pay for indoor winter storage. Thought about it but shrink wrapping is expensive and has its own problems. Don't really want to go there.

Thanks again everyone for your input.

[Zacky]

Shrink wrapping really isn't that bad of an idea. The problem is once it's wrapped, it's wrapped for the entire winter. No taking that stuff off then putting it right back on again. The other problem is if you wrap the boat when the interior is wet it will be nasty mold city when you open it up in the spring. If you know when your season ends and when it begins, it might be the best, worry free way to go...