Florida is a great place to own a boat.
It’s not always the easiest place to store one.
Between Florida’s heat, humidity, rain, and long stretches of time sitting between adventures, your boat can be especially vulnerable to moisture, mildew, and musty odors.
The good news? A little preparation can go a long way toward keeping your boat clean, dry, and ready for your next day on the water.
Here are 8 simple ways to help prevent mildew and moisture damage in your stored boat.
1. Start With a Clean, Dry Boat
Before putting your boat into storage, give it a thorough cleaning.
Rinse away dirt, grime, salt, and other residue from the exterior, and clean the interior as well. Pay special attention to areas where water can collect or dirt can become trapped.
Most importantly, let everything dry completely before storing it.
Moisture trapped inside a boat doesn’t simply disappear. When the boat sits closed up for weeks or months, that moisture can contribute to musty odors and mildew growth.
2. Don’t Leave Wet Gear Inside
It’s easy to toss a wet towel or life jacket into a compartment and forget about it.
Before storing your boat, remove wet towels, swimsuits, fishing gear, cushions, and other damp items.
Even a small amount of trapped moisture can contribute to a damp environment inside a closed compartment.
Give fabric items plenty of time to dry before putting them away, and consider storing removable cushions and other moisture-sensitive items where they can get adequate airflow.
3. Give Moisture a Way Out
A completely sealed boat isn’t necessarily a dry boat.
If moisture is already trapped inside, closing every hatch and compartment can leave that humidity sitting there.
Depending on your boat and the manufacturer’s recommendations, appropriate ventilation can help manage moisture and condensation.
The goal is to keep rain out while avoiding unnecessary moisture buildup inside.
Always follow your boat manufacturer’s recommendations for ventilation and storage.
4. Check the Bilge and Storage Compartments
Before leaving your boat for an extended period, check the areas where water is most likely to collect.
Take a look at your:
- Bilge
- Storage compartments
- Under-seat areas
- Engine compartment
- Floor drains
- Hatches and lockers
Look for standing water, damp surfaces, or signs that water has been getting in.
If you find moisture, don’t simply close everything up and hope it dries. Try to identify the source and address the problem before putting the boat into long-term storage.
5. Inspect Seals, Hatches, and Other Potential Leak Points
Small leaks can become bigger problems when a boat sits unattended.
Before storage, inspect hatch seals, windows, doors, fittings, and other areas where water could potentially enter.
Look for seals that are cracked, loose, worn, or deteriorating.
You don’t have to wait until you find a puddle to investigate. Repeated moisture intrusion into a closed compartment can create an ideal environment for mildew.
Taking care of a small issue now can be much easier than dealing with water damage later.
6. Consider Moisture Absorbers
Moisture-absorbing products can be useful in enclosed compartments, cabins, and other areas where humidity tends to build up.
They aren’t a replacement for fixing a leak or providing appropriate ventilation, but they can provide another layer of moisture control.
If you use moisture absorbers, follow the product’s instructions and check them periodically.
7. Don’t Forget About Your Boat Cover
A boat cover can help protect your boat from rain, sun, and other environmental exposure—but the cover itself needs attention, too.
Make sure your cover is:
- Clean
- Properly fitted
- In good condition
- Designed to allow appropriate airflow
A wet cover sitting against a damp surface isn’t going to help your mildew problem.
The goal isn’t simply to keep water away. It’s to prevent moisture from becoming trapped around or inside your boat.
8. Check on Your Boat Periodically
One of the best things you can do when storing your boat is simple:
Don’t completely forget about it.
If your boat will be sitting for an extended period, check on it periodically.
Look for:
- Musty odors
- Visible mildew
- Condensation
- Standing water
- Damp cushions or carpeting
- Water intrusion around hatches or windows
- Damaged or deteriorating seals
Finding a small problem early is much easier than discovering months later that moisture has been sitting inside your boat.
Why Covered Storage Can Help
You can’t control Florida’s humidity.
You can’t stop every afternoon thunderstorm.
And you certainly can’t ask the Florida sun to take the season off.
But you can reduce how much weather your boat has to deal with while it’s sitting unused.
Covered boat storage provides overhead protection from direct sun and rainfall while keeping your boat accessible.
For boat owners who don’t need fully enclosed or climate-controlled storage, covered storage can be a practical middle ground between leaving a boat completely exposed and paying for an enclosed facility.
At Charlotte County RV & Boat Storage in Punta Gorda, covered storage gives boat owners an additional layer of protection from the elements. Our facility also offers 30-amp power at every spot, an on-site wash bay, and a dump station.
Of course, the right storage setup doesn’t replace proper boat maintenance. But reducing your boat’s exposure to Florida’s weather while it’s sitting between adventures can be one more way to help protect your investment.
A Simple Pre-Storage Checklist
Before leaving your boat in storage, take a few minutes to run through this checklist:
☐ Clean the boat thoroughly
☐ Allow the interior to dry completely
☐ Remove wet gear and personal items
☐ Check the bilge and compartments for standing water
☐ Inspect hatches, windows, and seals
☐ Address potential leaks
☐ Consider appropriate moisture absorbers
☐ Make sure your cover is clean and properly fitted
☐ Check on the boat periodically during extended storage
A few minutes of preparation now can save you from dealing with a musty, mildewed boat when you’re ready to get back on the water.
FAQs
How often should I check on my boat while it’s in storage?
There’s no single schedule that works for every boat. It depends on how long the boat will be stored, how it’s covered, and your boat manufacturer’s recommendations.
The important thing is to check on it periodically rather than leaving it completely untouched for months. Regular checks make it easier to catch moisture, leaks, or mildew before a small problem becomes a bigger one.
Is a boat cover enough to prevent mildew?
Not by itself.
A cover can help keep rain and direct sunlight off your boat, but it won’t eliminate moisture that’s already trapped inside.
Damp cushions, wet gear, leaks, condensation, and poor airflow can all contribute to moisture problems.
A cover works best as one part of a larger moisture-management plan that includes proper drying, appropriate ventilation, and regular inspections.
What’s the difference between mildew and mold in a stored boat?
Both are types of fungi that can develop in warm, damp environments.
Mildew is generally associated with surface-level growth and may be easier to clean, while mold can grow more deeply into porous materials such as cushions and carpeting.
If you discover significant growth or aren’t sure what you’re dealing with, consider having it professionally assessed.
Does covered storage eliminate the need for a boat cover?
No.
Covered storage reduces direct exposure to rain and sun, but it doesn’t completely enclose your boat.
Many boat owners use both a boat cover and covered storage: the cover protects the boat itself, while covered storage reduces the amount of weather that cover—and the boat—has to deal with.
Ready for Your Next Day on the Water?
Your boat spends enough time dealing with Florida weather when you’re actually using it.
When it’s sitting between adventures, giving it a little extra protection can help you spend less time dealing with moisture and more time doing what you bought the boat for in the first place: getting back on the water.
Charlotte County RV & Boat Storage is open now in Punta Gorda and offers covered boat storage for owners looking for a place to keep their boat between adventures.
Store smarter. Protect your boat. Get back on the water.