Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

It is almost time to put the pontoon up for the year. I have seen threads about getting rid of mildew but none on preventing it. What are you guys doing while your boats are covered for the winter to prevent mildew from forming?

putting up boat for the year? wow.

yea i have 10 weeks left

Has anyone tried Zep Clear Shell Mold and Mildew inhibitor on a toon?
I know it works for other applications.

Tums wrote:Has anyone tried Zep Clear Shell Mold and Mildew inhibitor on a toon?
I know it works for other applications.

I've used odoban on boat carpet before with good success. Cleaned it good then put the odoban down with a bug sprayer slightly diluted abs let dry.

The biggest thing I've learned owning 3 pontoons over the last 30 years is to store it under some sort of roof. I don't have a carport at my house so I pay to store my boat under a shed at my local mechanic's yard. In our climate (central SC), we have sunny days with temps in the 40's (or higher) all winter but overnight lows in the 20's. If the boat is exposed to the sunshine, it heats up during the day and cools off at night creating lots of condensation. If it's in the shade all day, the problem doesn't seem nearly as bad.

Air circulation is key. I possible keep a small fan moving air under cover

Zep clear shell works well. But air circulation is the key.

I installed these on my cover about 3 weeks after I got the boat and it was a noticeable difference in the "mildewy" smell.

Taylor Made Products 11982 Boat-Vent II Boat Cover Vent https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000221LGS/re ... YxbNK55ACG

Our boat is fully covered and under a boat house, but I still use some DAMP RID...... I buy 1 container that is their "refill" bucket, and talk half of it out and put it into a Zip Lock bag which I leave open in the bow area, then use the rest of the container, open, at the stern area...... all of which are under the boat cover. No mold yet.... I also leave the open in floor storage hatch open too.

+1 on Damp Rid. Boat under cover, on the lift, under the roof of our boat dock, good ventilation from lake wind. We also put Damp Rid in our Hobie Kayaks. They're closed systems and condensation can normally collect inside. No water in the kayaks when we open them up in the spring. The stuff works.

If you have power the best way might be to buy a small dehumidifier and put it under the cover with a hose to take the water off the boat.
I keep my toon in the barn, leave the cover off a day or two unless it is really dusty out. I have a small oscilating fan that I leave on under the cover with the ends left open for air circulation for a couple weeks.
Even when you think the boat is dry there is probably residual water in the foam in the cushions that causes the problems and as the air cools the amount of water it holds is reduced and it has to go somewhere.