Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Ok folks, this issue has me totally perplexed.
I have a 22' Sweetwater that is about to drive me crazy. Almost every time I uncover the boat, I find a large wet spot (puddle) on the carpet next to the captains seat.

At first I thought the cover was leaking but I've gone as far as to go sit under the cover during a downpour and the cover does not leaking...at least not that I can tell. What I have noticed is that on hot days (80's), the underside of the cover gets soaking wet with condensation, to the point were there are droplets of water all over the inside of the cover. I suspect this condensation is what is creating the puddle(s) on the carpet.

As you can see in the picture, the cover has 6 vents (Boat Vent II), one on the end of each pole. Shouldn't this be enough to keep this boat ventilated?

I try never to cover the boat wet as I don't want to create a mildew issue, but this is driving me crazy! Has anyone else experienced this problem. Any solutions?

Thanks,

KPC

FWIW, these are the vents that each of the six poles slip into.

KPC

Do you have power at your dock? If so get a box fan and keep it running

Thanks, but no power at the dock.

I've even thought about leaving the side door open for additional air exchange, but I don't really want to have critters getting into the boat and leaving their mess. (happened to a friend)



KPC

since no power at dock, get solar powered fan... sounds like you're trapping air/moisture... it's gotta circulate....

and/or, find a way to open 'water' side of boat cover <so critters can't get in>

PlaynDoc wrote:...and/or, find a way to open 'water' side of boat cover...

I might try to leave the water side door open for additional air exchange.
I've avoided doing that because a friend had a problem with a Cormorant getting into his boat and puking up, tearing apart, and crapping out his daily kills.



KPC

We always leave the front and rear doors open when the cover is on to allow air flow through the whole boat. We don't really have the condensation issue but when it rains the carpet will get drenched whether doors are open or closed - this just allows the carpets to dry out faster.
Never had an issue yet with critters.

Tooner606 wrote:Almost every time I uncover the boat, I find a large wet spot (puddle) on the carpet next to the captains seat.

The above quote has me scratching my bald head.

I live in Louisiana (think rain, heat, humidity) and general condensation is not going to leave a "puddle", especially in one specific location. My first boat had carpet and the entire inside was moist/damp because the carpet never really dried out after a rain and the cover did not breath worth a crap. I installed the vents like you have but nothing helped. The cover was a cheap OEM from Bentley and it did not breath worth a crap.

Anyway, back to the puddle by the captains seat.....My boat usually gets rained on 2/3 times a month when it is tied to the dock and not on my covered lift. What I have found is that water pools under the console/helm and since the boat leans to the stern, I will notice a puddle around my captains chair. Maybe that is what is happening???

I get what you're saying Bob, it's confusing to me too. I'm thinking the condensation is running down the inside of the cover and dripping in a certain area.

My boat is covered all the time that it is not in use so the idea that rain water is pooling under the helm and then leaking out is unlikely.

I will try to take a picture under the cover next time it happens.

Like I said, it's driving me crazy!!



KPC

Try a bucket of charcoal... I winterize with one.

eh, what the hell... at the puddle area, drill a hole through the floor! puddle gone. hehe

Here is the area that I'm talking about. I took a pic under the mooring cover this afternoon. There wasn't a puddle today, but you can see a mild discoloration of the carpet where the water was.

Vinyl floor in back is never wet, just the carpet in the area noted.

KPC

Maybe there's a correlation between the boudoir look under the cover and the moisture. Love the look!

Could you rig up some type of screens for the doorways to keep out the critters and then leave the doors open for cross ventilation? I would look at a solar powered fan as well.

what type of material is it made of, sumbrella or a PVC covered cloth

MH Hawker wrote:what type of material is it made of, sumbrella or a PVC covered cloth

That's what I was wondering, It'd have to be a 1/2" hefty bag to gain that much water.