Re: Mildew removal
Posted: Wed May 29, 2019 9:39 pm
Yep, your suspicion is correct. Closing the boat super tight sets up mold conditions because there's no air circulation. All the things you describe are going on - heating, cooling, condensation, mold.
I cut a hole for a vent (well, actually, I chickened out and made the yard cut it -- for a fee, of course) and mounted a solar charged vent fan and left it on all winter. There was still mold in damp places (like behind sliding doors and the bilge) but very little. That thing ran for several years, round the clock until the battery needed changing. You could also try to rig sturdy cover over a couple of windows (opposite sides or one fwd, another aft) to set up an air flow but arranged to keep out rain and snow. Should help.
Also in my mix was a mold inhibiting product sold at West Marine. From Star Brite ( https://www.westmarine.com/buy/star-bri ... ecordNum=6 ). I went with that instead of the Damp Rid calcium chloride stuff because once the material is saturated, you have to change it - it does collect a lot of moisture but I don't think it would last long, esp when you have lots of moisture.
Finally, if you have access to AC power, WM sells a small heater/fan unit for $100 that should keep things drier. Good luck
I cut a hole for a vent (well, actually, I chickened out and made the yard cut it -- for a fee, of course) and mounted a solar charged vent fan and left it on all winter. There was still mold in damp places (like behind sliding doors and the bilge) but very little. That thing ran for several years, round the clock until the battery needed changing. You could also try to rig sturdy cover over a couple of windows (opposite sides or one fwd, another aft) to set up an air flow but arranged to keep out rain and snow. Should help.
Also in my mix was a mold inhibiting product sold at West Marine. From Star Brite ( https://www.westmarine.com/buy/star-bri ... ecordNum=6 ). I went with that instead of the Damp Rid calcium chloride stuff because once the material is saturated, you have to change it - it does collect a lot of moisture but I don't think it would last long, esp when you have lots of moisture.
Finally, if you have access to AC power, WM sells a small heater/fan unit for $100 that should keep things drier. Good luck