Rain Damage?

[jumpjets]

After waiting a month, yesterday I was finally able to make the 300 mile drive to retrieve the 1990 wellcraft ecplipse I purchased 6 weeks ago.

As I was towing it home, I had no choice but to drive through 2.5 hours of hard, cold driving rain. Now I'm Worried that I'll have some interior molding/rotting issues.

The boad was covered in storage, but the cover is loose enough that I didn't trust it not to blow off on the interstate drive, so it came home uncovered.

The seats are crap, and they are getting replaced soon anyways, but I'm worried about the pockets of water sitting in the corners of the deck.

The upholstered side areas are damp too, and I don't want them to mold. Should I just try to towel out the wet areas, or is there a better way to dry it up? What else do I need to do to keep it in good condition while it sits in my backyard for the next 4 months?

BTW, I'm a very very novice boater. I've been out on a boat once, ever, and I literally know nothing about what I just got myself into. (the motor/outdrive are winterized, I at least researched that much)

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Rain Damage?

i know what your thinking this has happend to me the first time it raind to with my boat dont worry its ment to get wet and dry out if you get mold theres tons of prodects that can get rid of mold if that does acoure but it shouldnt if its in the sun

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Rain Damage?

Not all boats are built to get wet inside and then dry out....If they were, we wouldn't have a thread every other day on replacing rotted floors and stringers.

With that said, I doubt if you did any permanent damage. However, I would do my best to drain and dry it out. Towels, a shop vac, and a few days sitting in the sun should take care of it.

 

[jumpjets]

Re: Rain Damage?

Not all boats are built to get wet inside and then dry out....If they were, we wouldn't have a thread every other day on replacing rotted floors and stringers.

With that said, I doubt if you did any permanent damage. However, I would do my best to drain and dry it out. Towels, a shop vac, and a few days sitting in the sun should take care of it.

Thanks!

I'll take the cover back off tomorrow morning and let it air out, then towel off as much as I can. It's a pretty robust wellcraft, with a painted floor, so it'll prolly be fine, but I don't want it to suffer from having standing water stagnating for months.

What are these anti-mold chemicals? Does west-marine offer them?

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Rain Damage?

yes west marine should have them or bleach will do but most all boat are made to get wet and dry out thats why there boats and the floor should be fiberglasse or painted and it should all dry out

 

[sasto]

Re: Rain Damage?

You'll be fine. My stuff is getting wet right now...and some of it is 38 years old.

Search "winterization" for your area.

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Rain Damage?

have had massive mold issues before black mold all un the insibe of the bow and stern trasmon and i bleached it down and it went for black to white in a day

 

[JBow]

Re: Rain Damage?

Hey jumpjets, If your storing it outside get the bow up as high as you can so it will drain well and be sure the plug is not in it.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Rain Damage?

Welcome to iboats!

Don't sweat it. One dunking won't cause rot. A wet/dry shop vac is your friend in this situation.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Rain Damage?

have had massive mold issues before black mold all un the insibe of the bow and stern trasmon and i bleached it down and it went for black to white in a day

Hey Small;

Please take this advise in the context it is intended, but it would be much easier to read and understand your comments if you could find the "period",
"comma",and "shift" keys on your keyboard, and use "spell check" or proofread your posts. As short as they are, they still take too long to decipher their meaning.

And as an added bonus, it will be easier for an old guy like me to take you seriously.

 

[jumpjets]

Re: Rain Damage?

Thanks guys.

I'll take some pics and post them tomorrow, so you can see what I'm dealing with. All in all the boat is in fantastic shape for being 20 years old.

I'm thinking about starting a thread in the "restoration" section, but I'm not really doing a restoration. Just a thorough cleaning, de-molding, re-upholstering, and complete repair of all inop systems.

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Rain Damage?

Hey Small;

Please take this advise in the context it is intended, but it would be much easier to read and understand your comments if you could find the "period",
"comma",and "shift" keys on your keyboard, and use "spell check" or proofread your posts. As short as they are, they still take too long to decipher their meaning.

And as an added bonus, it will be easier for an old guy like me to take you seriously.

sorry im just use to writing that way. Mabey ill take more time to write like this.

 

[sasto]

Re: Rain Damage?

If she were mine I would take her for a ride before I put much time and money in her.....you know, like your first gir......nevermind.

Seriously!

Good Luck.

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Rain Damage?

My friend, you bought something that is designed to be wet. They ALL get wet inside as well as out.
Rain doesn't cause mold. A wet boat wont get mold unless the conditions are right in your post your said that you would take the cover off and let it dry. Don't put the cover on a boat that is wet. When your boat gets wet, open everything up and let it dry. Lift the seat cushons and engine lid and just let it dry. When your boat is on the trailer, always keep the drain plug (s) out and the bow up slightly. that way any water can run out the bilge drain.
If mold is a big problem where you are (I get the feeling it is ) then install a dehumidifier in the boat.
As a new boater you have more things to worry about than mold anyway. Like launching and trailering the thing. learning how to NOT hit the dock, and how to stay out of the rocks at a crouded launch ramp on a windy day. Put that boat on the trailer sideways once or twice because you aren't sure how much of the trailer should be in the water and mold wont seem so bad.

When you are putting the boat back on the trailer, don't submerge the whole thing. Leave about 2-3feet of the bunks above water. Use them to guide yourself in, and the winch on the trailer to pull the boat up the last little bit.
This will center your boat on the trailer, it keeps your boat from drifting sideways in the hardest wind, and most of all, the winching eye will slide right up to it's correct position and wont move when you pull the trailer forward.
Too often people let the last 15 minutes of the weekend be the part most remembered.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Rain Damage?

OMG a boat got wet inside??????? It's ruined. Just give it to me and all your headaches will be gone.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Rain Damage?

My friend, you bought something that is designed to be wet. They ALL get wet inside as well as out.

Well.......

A one-time soaking won't cause problems if you get it dried out, but don't make a habit of it. I've rebuilt two boats and feel pretty confident in saying that water doesn't belong inside a boat. But again, when they do manage to get wet remove all the water out as soon as possible afterwards, store them with a good cover and keep the bow raised (and plug removed), and check on them after a rain to towel out any water that may have gotten in.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Rain Damage?

Although many of the above posts have implied this, I haven't seen it stated explicitly: Getting a boat wet inside will not cause rot as long as the boat is allowed to dry out. It's LEAVING a boat wet inside that causes rot (and mold). Mold can grow in a wet, warm boat interior in a couple of days. A boat needs to be wet for a couple of months before rot is a concern.

A few hours in a rainstorm won't hurt anything.

 

[GLENN M]

Re: Rain Damage?

after reading hundreds of posts on iboats,ive come to the conclusion that boats that rot have an problem to begin with.they are not sealed or cracked or somebody drilled a hole in it somewhere,allowing water to get through to the wood.my boat is sealed tight i believe i could fill it up swim in it,and not have a rot problem.but i wont try it

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Rain Damage?

When you get ready to cover it for the Winter get a couple buckets of Damp-Rid....Sold at Walmart usually in the camping or RV section.

Put them in the boat and cover it up.
This stuff really works and no mold or mildew come Spring..

 

[jumpjets]

Re: Rain Damage?

When you get ready to cover it for the Winter get a couple buckets of Damp-Rid....Sold at Walmart usually in the camping or RV section.

Put them in the boat and cover it up.
This stuff really works and no mold or mildew come Spring..

I will do this tonight!

I uncovered the boat this morning to let it air out, but of course the few small pockets of water and moisture froze overnight. Hopefully the sun will thaw them this afternoon.