putting her to bed

[redneck joe]

with a canvas cover. a bit early but it needs a shaft seal and i've got enough things to do until next spring. Had one good day and one ok day on the water this year so calling it good. Winter will be building a deck down at the river ....


Never not had a covered place to put the boat. Thankfully this one came with the cover just never had a need to use.

Plan is to put two small fans underneath - one on each side of the center console with one facing forward and one to the rear. 12v, will hook to battery and have a small solar panel coming (with a BMS) hopefully to keep topped off and not have to use charger.

Question is this - i've seen solar powered fans that get put thru the canvas. Are these worth the money and effort?

 

[99yam40]

at least you would know the fans would not run the battery down if they just ran off the solar panels

 

[redneck joe]

true but will have two batteries hooked together so should be ok.

also, should i remove the fuel tank?

 

[99yam40]

If it is a small one and easy to remove I would,
are you just going to move the air around inside, not replace it with fresh from outside?

Fuel fumes could build up under there if no fresh going in

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, canvass covers usually do not need fans. Why do you need 'em?

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

I've seen plenty of boats with canvas covers be soaking wet inside.

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, then either they are not treated, which is unusual, or they have some other issue. When I cover my boats, I use a ridge pole. That allows wind-powered flow-thru ventilation, even if the covers do not have vents. They are bone dry in the spring, and all winter. I am not sure I ever saw one with a fan.

Usually when "canvass" covers which are usually some synthetic material, allow water thru them, they are near the end of their life.

 

[aspeck]

No need to put the boat to bed until the water turns hard! Mine will possibly go to sleep the end of January ... depends on how thick the ice is at the launch ramps... However the Army Corps is doing maintenance on the lake this year so they are dropping the Lake level 8 feet, I believe. That will close 4 of the launch ramps, but my preferred one will still be open.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

If you are not in snow it will be just fine

 

[aspeck]

If you are not in snow it will be just fine

I wouldn't do it now, but in my younger years I water skied on January 1st in the middle of a snow storm. And no, alcohol was NOT involved, just stupid college kids not using any common sense! LOL!

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Yeah I once went water skiing after duck hunting in Minnesota in October, it was cold.