Condensation in boat

[metriccrescentwrench]

I'm going to have to kick one of my boats out of the garage as soon as I finish my current rebuild project (I HATE scraping windows in the morning). We're looking at installing a carport to keep the boat out of the sun/weather, and of course the boat will have a cover in addition to being under the carport.

I had another boat which was recently sold that stayed covered outdoors, it had condensation on/in it very often and I was therefore constantly fighting mildew. This might be a stupid question, but will a covered boat under a carport get condensation in it and if so is there any way to prevent it?

 

[cpubud]

Re: Condensation in boat

as long as it is vented it should be ok. just let it breath

 

[Grandad]

Re: Condensation in boat

If it's already protected from the elements, your boat cover is really only a dust cover, so I'd leave it very loosely suspended over the boat so it can breathe. If you do this, you won't get any trapped air or mildew. - Grandad

 

[Watermann]

Re: Condensation in boat

What happens to me in early and late winter is that the cold nights frost the cover up. Then when it warms during the day condensation occurs inside the cover, just like what happens to a metal roof without insulation inside it. I think a double cover set up with air between the 2 covers is the only way to avoid that condensation problem inside with the boat. I don't know if a carport would do the same but it should keep that thick layer of frost from forming on the cover. I've also considered putting a fan inside under the cover and running it on low.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Condensation in boat

consider leaving it uncovered--the carport takes care of rain, snow, most leaves and sun--the real enemies. Dust washes off, no big deal for a boat made for outdoor use.

of course every situation is different so only your neighbor could say for sure. But overall, I believe that open air is better than closed air; each has its problems and benefits, but closed air and its trapped moisture is harder to avoid and get rid of. Think of it the same way as raising the bow and taking the plug out so that whatever rain water gets in, gets out directly; condensation just sticks and doesn't leave.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Condensation in boat

I would cover the boat and use the carport, I don't see mildew being an issue unless it's stretch wrapped and sealed so well that it traps moisture. If your cover is that air tight, consider adding vents. Make sure it's nice and dry before you cover it up for the season too.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Condensation in boat

Vent, no vent. Air tight, not air tight.... All I know is that I had my old boat covered (and it was NOT airtight, there was a big gaping opening at the rear around the outboard) and it would often have condensation on every interior surface. Whether or not adding a carport to the equation will change anything, that's the million dollar question.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your input.

 

[sktn77a]

Re: Condensation in boat

A lot will depend on your location. The fact that you had condensation in a previous situation suggests you will have it again. I don't think the carport will make any difference

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Condensation in boat

Vent, no vent. Air tight, not air tight.... All I know is that I had my old boat covered (and it was NOT airtight, there was a big gaping opening at the rear around the outboard) and it would often have condensation on every interior surface. Whether or not adding a carport to the equation will change anything, that's the million dollar question.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your input.

so let the carport be the cover and leave it uncovered---why not?

 

[cwarends]

Re: Condensation in boat

so let the carport be the cover and leave it uncovered---why not?

My boat sits on a lift on the lake all year. My cover is vented and I use a Davis Instruments Air Dryr 1000 heater which uses only 1 amp and circulates the air enough to eliminate moisture/ condensation and I get no mold/mildew. Unit is about $60 on Amazon. Will work if you can run electricity to where your boat is stored.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Condensation in boat

I have kept my boats outside over the years as they are too big to fit in a garage, etc. you will definitely get condensation and mold growth. Hard to avoid .

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Condensation in boat

Every boat I stored outside covered no matter how well vented or if kept air tight had condensation. Those stored inside uncovered~~~ no problem.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Condensation in boat

how about outside uncovered?

 

[izoomie]

Re: Condensation in boat

My older boat has a custom cover made of very heavy canvas like material, it never leaks and is vented well. I never have any condensation in there. I just bought a 2007 boat with a custom fitted cover but the material is very light and seams to let water in. It too is vented well, but I have a lot of condensation in some of the lockers and around the batteries. I'm in southern Ontario so were below freezing at night now and 5 - 10 deg above freezing in the day time.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Condensation in boat

how about outside uncovered?

I think you are just inviting dust/ dirt and critters to destroy your inside. You wouldn't park a car in a carport with the windows down expecting the inside to stay clean.

Theory:
1. Cover is old/ pores,
2. Inside has moisture in it.

Leave it open on a dry sunny day, cover it with a tarp that breaths and you should be good till spring.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Condensation in boat

You guys with these "dry boats" must live in a desert.

My boat is keep in a pole barn with an open front w/o a cover. It's not uncommon, especially in the Spring and Fall to have condensation dripping off the inside/outside surfaces in the morning / evening. Putting any sort of cover over the boat only exasperates the problem.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Condensation in boat

You guys with these "dry boats" must live in a desert.

My boat is keep in a pole barn with an open front w/o a cover. It's not uncommon, especially in the Spring and Fall to have condensation dripping off the inside/outside surfaces in the morning / evening. Putting any sort of cover over the boat only exasperates the problem.

Agreed. But in reference to the analogy of a car with the windows down, which is a good point, boats like mine and Dingbats don't have interiors like cars. And that's why we have boats that are not like cars--because boats are not like cars--and we can treat them differently. We avoid maintenance issues by avoiding features that require maintenance. or to extend the analogy further, if you parked a pick-up truck under a carport, you wouldn't also cover the bed.

 

[dlngr]

Re: Condensation in boat

We've had frost about ten times already this year-I haven't scraped my windows yet. My pickup is under the car port at night.
[one of the benefits of having the carport which i really didn't expect] Of course if we get wind and snow,the truck will have some snow on it,but usually less than it would have out in the open.
My antique car and my motorcycles will be in the garage all winter,so my 'driver' will be outside.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Condensation in boat

... I use a Davis Instruments Air Dryr 1000 heater which uses only 1 amp and circulates the air enough to eliminate moisture/ condensation and I get no mold/mildew. Unit is about $60 on Amazon. Will work if you can run electricity to where your boat is stored.

Hmmm.... that looks like a pretty good idea. Only problem is that if it runs continuously it's going to use over $150 worth of electricity per year. I'd add a thermostat so that if the temperature inside is warm enough (above the dew point) it's not needlessly running. You could just change the thermostat setting a few times a year and be good to go.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Condensation in boat

Frost? Even under a car port or pole barn your boat would be full of snow by now if you guys lived here.
But its so cold here there really isn't any condensation.
When I picked my boat up down east they were using buckets of desicant in the boats they were wrapping. Some of these custom wraps had powered vents which I thought was interesting.