Do you store them onboard the boat or bring them home? If you store them on the boat do you do anything special to them to prevent mold? I am running out of room at home to store my cushions and am thinking of leaving them on board next year. I run a solar powered fan and store my boat outside in a climate that varies from very cold (-30F) to warm (+50F) in winter.
Where do you store your cushions over winter?
- Thread starter Steve Ord
- Start date
- Status
Garage
Oh i must have been smart when i was younger (LOL) I built a garage like a barn with all kinds of room on the second floor, just in case i wanted to store things. well i now store all 18 cushions from my Newport 30 plus cushions from my brothers 23 Maxium cuddy. Also just about everything else for the 2 boats except the batteries which are in the basement on large metal and wood shelves. The nice big double door makes it easy to get everything in and out. It's dry and no micce or any other animals as the stairs fold down from the ceiling.
Oh i must have been smart when i was younger (LOL) I built a garage like a barn with all kinds of room on the second floor, just in case i wanted to store things. well i now store all 18 cushions from my Newport 30 plus cushions from my brothers 23 Maxium cuddy. Also just about everything else for the 2 boats except the batteries which are in the basement on large metal and wood shelves. The nice big double door makes it easy to get everything in and out. It's dry and no micce or any other animals as the stairs fold down from the ceiling.
Store room
I just put a low watt heater in the boat and throw a tarp over it. In the spring I uncover and open her up. Everything is just as it was when I put her up, nice and dry and smellin' good.
I just put a low watt heater in the boat and throw a tarp over it. In the spring I uncover and open her up. Everything is just as it was when I put her up, nice and dry and smellin' good.
Air Flow
We store them on the boat, but prop them up so that they are not flat on the surface. So far so good.
We store them on the boat, but prop them up so that they are not flat on the surface. So far so good.
cushion mold
Steve: There are several mildew stop products on the market. They are solids that sublimate to a gas and prevent mildew. One, available from West marine, puts out formaldehyde, which of course you don't want to breath, but which stops mould and mildew. According to a local marina chandlery, there are newer ones out that aren't as toxic to humans. The use of products like these should allow you to leave your cushions on board for the layup.
Steve: There are several mildew stop products on the market. They are solids that sublimate to a gas and prevent mildew. One, available from West marine, puts out formaldehyde, which of course you don't want to breath, but which stops mould and mildew. According to a local marina chandlery, there are newer ones out that aren't as toxic to humans. The use of products like these should allow you to leave your cushions on board for the layup.
We leave 'em on board -
We are just down the road from you. For many years we removed all the boat cushions and stored them at home in the crawl space. After talking to a couple of old timers on this topic, I discovered that providing you have a boat that doesn't leak - leave them aboard. It is important that storage lockers be left open over the winter to allow air circulation. It's also important that the cushions be left in such a manner that air can circulate around them. We stand them up on their sides. Works just great.
We are just down the road from you. For many years we removed all the boat cushions and stored them at home in the crawl space. After talking to a couple of old timers on this topic, I discovered that providing you have a boat that doesn't leak - leave them aboard. It is important that storage lockers be left open over the winter to allow air circulation. It's also important that the cushions be left in such a manner that air can circulate around them. We stand them up on their sides. Works just great.
keep the critters out
Store them where the mice, squirrels, raccoons, etc. can't chew them up and make a nest and have babaies in them. Ironically, when you store indoors, they can climb up in the rafters and drop down into the boat from above. Outdoors, it's hard for them to climb up the side of the hull and get in.
Store them where the mice, squirrels, raccoons, etc. can't chew them up and make a nest and have babaies in them. Ironically, when you store indoors, they can climb up in the rafters and drop down into the boat from above. Outdoors, it's hard for them to climb up the side of the hull and get in.
Let them freeze
Several years ago a person on one of the forums said he considered quitiing sailing because his mold allergy made him miserable when below in the boat. After leaving the cushions in the boat one year rather than storing them inside his allergy symptoms markedly decreased. He assumed it was because the freezing interupted the mold spore formation or germination. No scientific evidence to support this that I'm aware of but it worked for one person. Geoff
Several years ago a person on one of the forums said he considered quitiing sailing because his mold allergy made him miserable when below in the boat. After leaving the cushions in the boat one year rather than storing them inside his allergy symptoms markedly decreased. He assumed it was because the freezing interupted the mold spore formation or germination. No scientific evidence to support this that I'm aware of but it worked for one person. Geoff
I take them home
Steve, I take mine home and store in the basement. I found they take on less of a boat smell when off the boat for 6 months plus with the cushions out of the boat it lets me do a fast but thorough cleaning of the inside each spring. But I'd guess that the majority of the boats at our club leave the cushions on board for the winter. Mostly because of convienience, more than any other reason. Kevin
Steve, I take mine home and store in the basement. I found they take on less of a boat smell when off the boat for 6 months plus with the cushions out of the boat it lets me do a fast but thorough cleaning of the inside each spring. But I'd guess that the majority of the boats at our club leave the cushions on board for the winter. Mostly because of convienience, more than any other reason. Kevin
Cheap deodorizer
If you elect to leave the cushions on board, try putting ordinary clay cat litter in a cloth bag or old pillow case---leave it around the area of concern. I've had good success with it over the winter. Try to get one that's scented. It seems to pick up excess moisture, as well. Cheap,too!!
If you elect to leave the cushions on board, try putting ordinary clay cat litter in a cloth bag or old pillow case---leave it around the area of concern. I've had good success with it over the winter. Try to get one that's scented. It seems to pick up excess moisture, as well. Cheap,too!!
Why would cushions pick up a "boat odour"?
From what I am reading here, some of you fellows had better get Peggy's book and read it. There is no need to have any "boat odour" on your boat. If you do - you're absolutely right - take the cushions home. Ye gads - boat odour - what next?
From what I am reading here, some of you fellows had better get Peggy's book and read it. There is no need to have any "boat odour" on your boat. If you do - you're absolutely right - take the cushions home. Ye gads - boat odour - what next?
- Status