I'm thinking of building a car port for my boat, and leaving it in the cover over the winter. I would also affix tarps to the sides of the car port, to keep lateral rain out. <BR> <BR>my question is, if frost or any other moisture builds on the cover, will that inevitibly lead to mildew in the boat itself? Or will the cover do a good enough job of keeping moisture out? <BR> <BR>I also plan to put a few pouches of a chemical drying agent (Used to keep car parts dry in assembly plants) in the boat to help keep it dry. <BR> <BR>Does this sound safe?

If you have electrical connection close, put a dehumidifier in the boat.

Should be fine, Jack. <BR> <BR>If electrical is an option, then a dehumidifier, fan, bilge heater or light bulb is always a good idea. It just depends on your climate. A dehumidifier around here would dry out the interior so bad it would end up looking 100 yrs old by spring. <BR> <BR>(Message edited by bill_airjunky on October 29, 2008)

Is that what you do, lavinder?

Depends on the material of the cover. If it's Sunbrella or similar, no worries. I wouldn't even bother with the carport. My boat sat all winter with a Sunbrella cover on it, &amp; one of these dessicant trays inside ( <a href="http://www.drizair.com/products.html" target="_blank">http://www.drizair.com/products.html</a> ) &amp; was bone dry in the spring. As long as you have a quality, breathable cover that doesn't allow water to pool up on it you shouldn't have a problem with mildew/mold. <BR>This is where I got my cover. Couldn't be happier <BR><a href="http://skiboatcovers.com/boatstyle.php?manufacturer=malibu" target="_blank">http://skiboatcovers.com/boatstyle.php?manufacturer=malibu</a>

<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/640746.jpg" alt="Upload"> <BR> <BR>This is the cover that came with my boat, which I just bought. It is a custom cover, but I'm not sure who made it.

Jack - I did the exact thing you are talking about. My brother and I built a car port type garage with a metal roof and tarps on the sides. <BR> <BR>I store the boat with the cover on but take it out a couple times a month during the winter months. Although I live in southern california it does get frost pretty frequent where I keep the boat. I did not have any problems this past year.

Thanks, ed. Did you mean that you took it out a couple times just to make sure everything was ok?

I take it out a couple times a month to at least check on it. If its a nice enough day we will take the boat to the lake.

Congrats on your new boat, Jack! <BR> <BR>Jman

Thanks Jman, only 4 months of excruciating winter to go! <BR> <BR>I wish someone could give me the Han Solo treatment and freeze me for winter.

I keep my boat in the driveway under it's waterproof (more like resistant) cover and a dehumidifier running in the boat. The cover has vents to keep airflow going. I am in the thought process of building a carport for it.