Anyone used any of the anti-mildew products. If the boat is shut up then I imajine they absorb any moisture in the boat. However if hatches and ports are open to encourage airflow, as many reccomend ( boat winter stored under frame and canvas cover ) surely more moisture will keep entering the boat untill the products used are saturated. Any thoughts on above, shut up and have lots of No-Damp or simelar or opened to allow more air in (and more moisture!!)
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Mildew
Mildew needs moisture and some kind of nutrition source (dirt works). A good first step is to thoroughly clean the interior and remove all the cushions (take them home). Get everything out of the boat that need to stay in the boat. This includes sails, extra rope, lifejackets, throwables, etc. Then get some kind of dehumidifier and some boxes of baking soda. Try to keep the moisture level at a minimum inside the boat. That will help. We've had pretty good luck with just a little circulation and a chemical dehumidifier. might want to dconsider suspending the chemical above a bucket so that it doesn't end up in a pool of water. If you can, an option might be to drain the moisture from the chemical into an open through hull (like a sink) to get teh water out of the cabin.
Mildew needs moisture and some kind of nutrition source (dirt works). A good first step is to thoroughly clean the interior and remove all the cushions (take them home). Get everything out of the boat that need to stay in the boat. This includes sails, extra rope, lifejackets, throwables, etc. Then get some kind of dehumidifier and some boxes of baking soda. Try to keep the moisture level at a minimum inside the boat. That will help. We've had pretty good luck with just a little circulation and a chemical dehumidifier. might want to dconsider suspending the chemical above a bucket so that it doesn't end up in a pool of water. If you can, an option might be to drain the moisture from the chemical into an open through hull (like a sink) to get teh water out of the cabin.
Motion seems to matter more than moisture
Tony, my current boat is a 1987 Cal 28 with 2 dorade vents on the coach roof. These 2 vents move an amazing amount of air through the otherwise tightly shut boat; I've never found any mildew spots inside the boat, even on cushions and under lockers, whereas my previous Catalina 25 had all of that because it did not have passive ventilation. My eyes have been opened to the value of ventilation; moisture in the air doesn't seem to matter if the air is kept in motion.
Tony, my current boat is a 1987 Cal 28 with 2 dorade vents on the coach roof. These 2 vents move an amazing amount of air through the otherwise tightly shut boat; I've never found any mildew spots inside the boat, even on cushions and under lockers, whereas my previous Catalina 25 had all of that because it did not have passive ventilation. My eyes have been opened to the value of ventilation; moisture in the air doesn't seem to matter if the air is kept in motion.
motion seems to work very well
I had mold and mildew all over the cabin when I purchased my boat. Six weeks after a thorough cleaning it was as bad or worse than before. I checked my solar vent and found that the battery was shot and replaced it. I also have a $10 box fan near the companionway that runs 24/7 when I am on shore power. Things have remained clean for 8 months or so. I tried crystals in a bucket stuff, but in the gulf south it is so humid the bucket would be full in just a few days. That stuff is supposed to quit or slow absorbing at 40% humidity or so and we regularly are at 80%+.
I had mold and mildew all over the cabin when I purchased my boat. Six weeks after a thorough cleaning it was as bad or worse than before. I checked my solar vent and found that the battery was shot and replaced it. I also have a $10 box fan near the companionway that runs 24/7 when I am on shore power. Things have remained clean for 8 months or so. I tried crystals in a bucket stuff, but in the gulf south it is so humid the bucket would be full in just a few days. That stuff is supposed to quit or slow absorbing at 40% humidity or so and we regularly are at 80%+.
wipe down
An amazing and cheap way to keep mildew off solid surfaces is to wipe them down with white distilled vinegar. You can dilute it but I use it full strength. It is non-toxic and does keep the spores away for a long time.
An amazing and cheap way to keep mildew off solid surfaces is to wipe them down with white distilled vinegar. You can dilute it but I use it full strength. It is non-toxic and does keep the spores away for a long time.
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