Outdoor storage

[MOWtown]

I am going to start storing my boat outdoors. Â* I have always garage stored my previous boats. Â*I remember some of you guys discussing moisture, mold issues, etc. Â*What is my best approach? Â*Should I cover it with the regular canvas type cover then a blue tarp? Â*Isn't there some moisture inhibitors for the interior that can be purchased?

The family's toys are increasing (kid's toys, bikes, motorcycles ) and I want to be able to turn my garage into a cabinet shop so the boat must go. Â*Any advice?

Thanks in advance...

[kevnmcd]

Shell out the $$$ and have a custom cover made for it out of Sunbrella. Â*I had one made for my old boat, cost me $565.00 (about 5 years ago). Â*It was the best investment I ever made on that thing. Â*My boats sit outside in the environment 24/7 365 days a year. Â*The cover was towable, so I was able to get it extremely tight with no sags in the open bow or cockpit areas. Â*This way when it did rain the water just ran off and didn't pond. Â*The Sunbrella material is breathable so I never had to worry about mold or mildew. Â*Just my .02 Â*http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Red Horse]

It is probably dry enought here to leave it covered all the time. But I would still open it up on a cool morning and let it air a little. You would be surprised what can find its way in there in the off season!!!

[kevnmcd]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Red Horse @ Sep. 22 2003, 4:51 pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">You would be surprised what can find its way in there in the off season!!![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
If you live on your side of the tracks! http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[beer hunter]

Mike, Kevin is right. Spend a little extra money on a quality cover. Then cover it one of the plastic tarps to extend the life of your Sunbrella cover. I would place something between the two covers which will allow them to breathe. Maybe a few water noodles like the kids play with at the lake http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[TooMuchFun]

Kevnmcd is right. Spend the cash and make a sunbrella cover. Custom Canvas and Awnings (564-1098) on 719 E. Lake Mead Drive does great work and is reasonably priced. They also guarantee their custom covers for 5-7 years depending on type of material.

If stored for a long period of time I take all the removable seat cushions out and lean up vertically to let the compartments breath, and this may sound a bit ridiculous but I take some cat litter and put in a bowl and leave a few bowls of the stuff here and there in the boat. It cuts the moisture and, therefore, the mildew problems. It really works.

TooMuchFun

[Rude]

maybe i'm not particular enough about my boats but i've never had a mold/mildew problem and my nordic has been outside for years. it's got a custom cover made from sunbrella material. i wouldn't think that it's wet enough here that you should have to worry about a mold problem. just make sure you have a pole in the center of the cockpit to push the tarp up high enough to drain off any water. you will still get dust inside the boat unfortunately, but at least you won't get critters (cats, etc) and any large debris.

[kevnmcd]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (beer hunter @ Sep. 22 2003, 6:14 pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Mike, Kevin is right. Spend a little extra money on a quality cover. Then cover it one of the plastic tarps to extend the life of your Sunbrella cover. I would place something between the two covers which will allow them to breathe. Maybe a few water noodles like the kids play with at the lake http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Very, Very, Very, Very, Very important......

I would place something between the two covers which will allow them to breathe.

Did I say this is important? http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[MOWtown]

thanks for all of the info!

[Essex502]

You can also try large dessicant cylinders that can be "recharged". I keep one in the boat over the winter.

Dessicant (http://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/109/html/0580.html)

[Havasu Dreamin]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Essex502 @ Sep. 23 2003, 2:51 pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">You can also try large dessicant cylinders that can be "recharged". I keep one in the boat over the winter.

Dessicant (http://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/109/html/0580.html)[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
You should be using that bad boy during the winter! At least once per month! http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Essex502]

I actually put the cylinder into the boat every time we leave LHC. Goes in right before the cover goes on. It can be recharged in the kitchen oven every once in a while. Seems to work.

Yeah...we're gonna try and put it into the water each month if for no other reason to say we did to all the east coasters we know. Pisses them off big time! http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[ex cracker]

Those taller orange construction cones work good for a center pole. I have a few you can have on my job. As windy as it gets here it dust your cover off.

[Ultranaught]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (MOWtown @ Sep. 22 2003, 3:36 pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I am going to start storing my boat outdoors. Â* I have always garage stored my previous boats. Â*I remember some of you guys discussing moisture, mold issues, etc. Â*What is my best approach? Â*Should I cover it with the regular canvas type cover then a blue tarp? Â*Isn't there some moisture inhibitors for the interior that can be purchased?

The family's toys are increasing (kid's toys, bikes, motorcycles ) and I want to be able to turn my garage into a cabinet shop so the boat must go. Â*Any advice?

Thanks in advance...[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
In LV you are probably OK, like the rest of the posts have said. A fan inside on a timer set to turn on at night when it is cool will keep the condensation down in the coolest months, otherwise a good sunbrella cover with a tarp over the top with an air gap should serve you well. I have stored my boat(s) outside for the past 15 years in Norcal. Condensation moisture is a huge problem here, but the fan and drop light combo I mentioned in the winterization post completely took care of the problem.
I am putting a canopy over the top of the Ultra soon to keep the rain off of the cover, but in LV it would be more useful as a shade than to ward off rain...