Planning for the winter and trying to avoid mildew. Do you remove your interior seat cushions or leave on the boat?
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On the boat.
All the cushions stand on edge in the q-berth, v-berth, and salon. They are just too big and bulky to remove and take home. But we use a lot of calcium chloride to keep the moisture to a minimum. It's only for five months.
All the cushions stand on edge in the q-berth, v-berth, and salon. They are just too big and bulky to remove and take home. But we use a lot of calcium chloride to keep the moisture to a minimum. It's only for five months.
I agree, use calicium chloride
I use about 7 buckets in my 40.5. Use a plastic colander in the top of the bucket with 4-5 cups of calicum chloride. Water is absorbed and drips into the bucket. I collect about 2 gallons of water in the spring. Buckets and colanders are $1 each at a dollar store. You still need to make sure that you don't have any existing mold/mildew going into the storage period. We clean thourghly and lemon-oil all the wood surfaces in the fall.
I use about 7 buckets in my 40.5. Use a plastic colander in the top of the bucket with 4-5 cups of calicum chloride. Water is absorbed and drips into the bucket. I collect about 2 gallons of water in the spring. Buckets and colanders are $1 each at a dollar store. You still need to make sure that you don't have any existing mold/mildew going into the storage period. We clean thourghly and lemon-oil all the wood surfaces in the fall.
Interior seat cushions
We have removed all the interior cushions from our Hunter 280 and previous boats and stored up in the rafters of our garage covered by cotton sheets. We are of the opinion that this action has prevented the all too familiar musty smell from appearing on our boat.
We have removed all the interior cushions from our Hunter 280 and previous boats and stored up in the rafters of our garage covered by cotton sheets. We are of the opinion that this action has prevented the all too familiar musty smell from appearing on our boat.
Get them off
Our season runs 10 months, but we cruise for only thrree. Otherwise, the cushions are home in a dry setting. Just take one home each time you depart the boat.
Our season runs 10 months, but we cruise for only thrree. Otherwise, the cushions are home in a dry setting. Just take one home each time you depart the boat.
Calcium chloride sources.
I think some nurseries carry it, 20 or 25 lb. bags I think. We go to a small place that specializes in outdoor stuff as well as plants. We tried kitty litter without too much success. If you read the labels the kitty litters vary a lot in quantity of calcium chloride. You might also call the places that supply softener salt. I think that our Peck stores carry it. We have no mildew or musty smells on our boat. The cushions have been on the boat since 1979 and only reupholstered once. If I take anymore stuff home I'll be thrown out or told to trade for a Sunfish. With sail bags, dodgers, biminis, dinghies, and outboards all I would need is those cushions.
I think some nurseries carry it, 20 or 25 lb. bags I think. We go to a small place that specializes in outdoor stuff as well as plants. We tried kitty litter without too much success. If you read the labels the kitty litters vary a lot in quantity of calcium chloride. You might also call the places that supply softener salt. I think that our Peck stores carry it. We have no mildew or musty smells on our boat. The cushions have been on the boat since 1979 and only reupholstered once. If I take anymore stuff home I'll be thrown out or told to trade for a Sunfish. With sail bags, dodgers, biminis, dinghies, and outboards all I would need is those cushions.
More sources of Calcium Chloride
In any cold climate where ice and snow can develop, check any hardware or department store for calcium chloride. It's used as an ice melter. That's what the highway dept often uses on icy roads.
In any cold climate where ice and snow can develop, check any hardware or department store for calcium chloride. It's used as an ice melter. That's what the highway dept often uses on icy roads.
Question re use of calicium cloride
HOW DO YOU PLACE THE CALCIUM CLORIDE ARROUND THE BOAT. In jars, or just spread around the below area?
HOW DO YOU PLACE THE CALCIUM CLORIDE ARROUND THE BOAT. In jars, or just spread around the below area?
Fred, use colanders.
You will find that those cheap plastic colanders fit perfectly into those cheap plastic buckets. We use three, one in v-berth, one in main salon, and one in q-berth. We fill the colanders to overflowing. The water that is absorbed flows into the bucket. By late January there will be three or four inches of water in the bucket. Then we dump and refill with fresh CaCL2 for the remainder of the winter.
You will find that those cheap plastic colanders fit perfectly into those cheap plastic buckets. We use three, one in v-berth, one in main salon, and one in q-berth. We fill the colanders to overflowing. The water that is absorbed flows into the bucket. By late January there will be three or four inches of water in the bucket. Then we dump and refill with fresh CaCL2 for the remainder of the winter.
Here is a Neat Trick
If you dessicant is in a strainer over a sink that drains outside the boat all of the moisture that is collected will find it's way outside the boat. In addition to that I run a couple of 100 watt bulbs all the time. We are only humid about 49 weeks a year but it helps during those weeks.
If you dessicant is in a strainer over a sink that drains outside the boat all of the moisture that is collected will find it's way outside the boat. In addition to that I run a couple of 100 watt bulbs all the time. We are only humid about 49 weeks a year but it helps during those weeks.
Golden Rod
I use a golden rod for under the engine, just to dry the moisture, I still winerize the engine and water systems. I also use a round dehumidifier for the salon and cabins, they sale them at Boat US, they use less power and are safer than a light bulb. They work by heating/drying the cold air beneath them thus creating air circulation. I don't have to mess with chemicals, buckets, etc. I love them. Ozana
I use a golden rod for under the engine, just to dry the moisture, I still winerize the engine and water systems. I also use a round dehumidifier for the salon and cabins, they sale them at Boat US, they use less power and are safer than a light bulb. They work by heating/drying the cold air beneath them thus creating air circulation. I don't have to mess with chemicals, buckets, etc. I love them. Ozana
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