Baller fu_man Posted December 8, 2015 Baller Share Posted December 8, 2015 I need a new boat cover. The one I had was cheap and didn't breath and I had some mildew growth on the bottom side of it. I added some vents and that seemed to help. I intend on getting a Sunbrella cover which is supposed to breath and thus prevent mold. I am wondering if I should add vents with the Sunbrella fabric when I order it or if the breathable fabric is enough on its own. When I search "Sunbrella & mold" there are discussions out there about cleaning mildew off of Sunbrella fabric. This may be an indication Sunbrella is good at mildew prevention but not perfect. Anyone with any experience with this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller oldjeep Posted December 8, 2015 Baller Share Posted December 8, 2015 No matter what your cover is made of you need to have vents in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller blagrata Posted December 9, 2015 Baller Share Posted December 9, 2015 Search "Evolution covers". Amazing product and service. He does take special requests Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller LZywicki1 Posted December 9, 2015 Baller Share Posted December 9, 2015 Only mildew I have ever had was on the outside of the cover, Sunbrella. Take a look at http://skiboatcovers.com/index.php?route=common/home>. I've had 3 covers from them and all last at least 8 years with beings outside 6 months out of the year before some of the stitching came undone. Larry -----<| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Waternut Posted December 11, 2015 Baller Share Posted December 11, 2015 Have owned 4 covers over the years and dealt with several others on boats I've used. If the cover fits really tight, the condensation gets trapped and mildew happens. If you have big enough vents, even a vinyl cover will be fine. For reference, a vent the size of your fist on each side are not big enough IMO. If the cover fits too tight and you can't get vents big enough, have a small fan on a timer under your cover to circulate the air enough to get it out through the smaller vents. The last cover I bought was from boatcoversdirect.com. They have a lot of options on closeout covers for pretty cheap and one may work perfectly for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ski6jones Posted December 11, 2015 Baller Share Posted December 11, 2015 Agree with @LZywicki1 on skiboatcovers.com. I've had a waterline sunbrella cover on my boat for 8+ years and it sits on the lift year round. Just noticed some thread starting to come loose at one of the high stress seams. Otherwise it's still in great shape. No problem with mildew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller fu_man Posted December 11, 2015 Author Baller Share Posted December 11, 2015 @ski6jones No vents? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaiMei Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 Definitely vent, add some damp-rid packs as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ski6jones Posted December 13, 2015 Baller Share Posted December 13, 2015 Nope. Adding vents would be a good idea but i don't have any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
east tx skier Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Check out Coversports. Fantastic product. Mine is going on 7 years old and in great shape. No vents on mine though. Sunbrella breathes pretty well. http://www.coversports.net/about.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
east tx skier Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Check out Coversports. Fantastic product. Mine is going on 7 years old and in great shape. No vents on mine though. Sunbrella breathes pretty well. http://www.coversports.net/about.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller thager Posted December 16, 2015 Baller Share Posted December 16, 2015 No vents in my Sunbrella cover either. No problems with mold/mildew at all. Cover is still in great shape and came with my 02 196 in 2005. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller thager Posted December 16, 2015 Baller Share Posted December 16, 2015 No vents in my Sunbrella cover either. No problems with mold/mildew at all. Cover is still in great shape and came with my 02 196 in 2005. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporting Member Than_Bogan Posted December 16, 2015 Supporting Member Share Posted December 16, 2015 Also loved skiboatcovers.com work. Get the vents for sure -- they made a big difference. But if your spot is wet and shaded enough, like mine, then nothing will completely stop mildew from forming. But one or two times a year spraying with Tilex wipes it out. I've heard some claim that bleach ultimately erodes either their fabric or their stitching, but my ski partner cleans fabrics for a living and he says it's fine because it's all synthetic materials. I personally have never suffered any damage. And also no color issues, even for black fabric. Tried on Nautique '05 and Nautique '07 fwiw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporting Member Than_Bogan Posted December 16, 2015 Supporting Member Share Posted December 16, 2015 Also loved skiboatcovers.com work. Get the vents for sure -- they made a big difference. But if your spot is wet and shaded enough, like mine, then nothing will completely stop mildew from forming. But one or two times a year spraying with Tilex wipes it out. I've heard some claim that bleach ultimately erodes either their fabric or their stitching, but my ski partner cleans fabrics for a living and he says it's fine because it's all synthetic materials. I personally have never suffered any damage. And also no color issues, even for black fabric. Tried on Nautique '05 and Nautique '07 fwiw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skier2788 Posted December 16, 2015 Baller Share Posted December 16, 2015 If mildew is a big problem. I have found some damp rid stuff at dollar general. It works great to dry things out. At a dollar a bucket it is an inexpensive solution. Just set it in next to the engine cover and then cover the boat. I do like one brand over the other as it has a breathable fabric that keeps the desiccant in. The other is just an open bucket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skier2788 Posted December 16, 2015 Baller Share Posted December 16, 2015 If mildew is a big problem. I have found some damp rid stuff at dollar general. It works great to dry things out. At a dollar a bucket it is an inexpensive solution. Just set it in next to the engine cover and then cover the boat. I do like one brand over the other as it has a breathable fabric that keeps the desiccant in. The other is just an open bucket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporting Member Than_Bogan Posted December 16, 2015 Supporting Member Share Posted December 16, 2015 Ooh -- how did I not think of a desiccant!? Great idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporting Member Than_Bogan Posted December 16, 2015 Supporting Member Share Posted December 16, 2015 Ooh -- how did I not think of a desiccant!? Great idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skier2788 Posted December 16, 2015 Baller Share Posted December 16, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skier2788 Posted December 16, 2015 Baller Share Posted December 16, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller fu_man Posted December 16, 2015 Author Baller Share Posted December 16, 2015 Great ideas. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller fu_man Posted December 16, 2015 Author Baller Share Posted December 16, 2015 Great ideas. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Commuterfisher Posted January 10, 2016 Baller Share Posted January 10, 2016 I got my boat cover from baldmikes.com on the suggestion of the Malibu crew forum. I got the Westlund cover for my 1999 Malibu Response LX. It has 2 vents behind the the windshield. Sunbrella 9 1/4 oz. Mike sent me extra material to alter the cover to fit around my wakeboard tower with Velcro tabs. There are reinforced padded areas at all wear points, windshield, ski pole etc. It covers the swim step and tightens down tight. I had a local upholsterer do the alterations for the wakeboard tower. Looks great and works great. The upholsterer said he couldn't buy the Sunbrella material for what I paid for the cover. Not sure if this is true. Goldenrod dehumidifier or Eva Dry controls mildew. http://www.amazon.com/GoldenRod-inch-Saver-Dehumidifier-GS-18/dp/B005FRGQUG#customerReviews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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