How to Prevent Mildew

November 05, 2005
By David Bryant

Mildew is a thin, white (although occasionally black) growth common on many surfaces, including the interior of your boat! Mildew flourishes in environments where it is damp, poorly lighted, warm, and/or where the air is not circulated well. Follow these tips and hopefully avoid what is the plague of many boaters.

1. Open all enclosed areas to allow ventilation. These include cuddy cabins, cupboards, drawers, ski-lockers, etc. Also, open any doors.
2. There are products on the market that absorb excess moisture and other musty odors that cause mildew. Damprid (http://www.DampRid.com) is popular with boaters.
3. Protect your boat with a water-proof cover that still allows it to breath.
4. One of the most innovative things you as a boater can do is to invest in a smaller solar-powered fan. The fan operates on a self-contained solar cell and requires very little sun-light. This is the ideal solution for individuals who have their boat stored many miles away and cannot always have a normal electric fan running. You can find these fans at most auto part stores, Nicro-Fico also manufactures one.

If you’ve already been inflicted with nautical mildew, check out our boat cleaning article for suggestions on how to get rid of it.