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  1. #1
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    May 2012
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    Cold Weather Boat Care

    Hi All, I live up in WI, am a first time boat owner & planning on storing my boat for the season sometime in Dec. It's relatively clean because I wipe it down after each use & it's garage kept. However, the carpet will need of a good cleaning because of the Smallies that have been getting it dirty this Fall. If I go to a power wash facility to hose it down with warm water, my concern is that because of the sub freezing temps, my carpet, compartments, etc., will frost or freeze up while waiting until I can have it winterized. Short of installing a $500 heater in my garage, does anyone have any suggestions for efficiently drying out the carpeted areas? Thanks!

  2. Member DrewFlu33's Avatar
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    Mar 2016
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    #2
    If it were me I'd wait til spring to clean it up as it'll probably get dusty over the winter anyhow. Even under a cover mine always ends up dusty after being stored. Past that, unless you're pretty far north in WI, looks like some days above freezing coming down the pipe over the next several weeks.
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  3. Member
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    May 2012
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    #3
    I appreciate the response. I'm in the Green Bay area. I won't be putting the boat away until sometime during the first half of Dec. By then temps will likely not get above freezing very often, and even if they do, it would likely only be for an hour or two depending on if there's a wind chill. Sun or lack there of would also factor in to drying time, assuming I might try to use Mother Nature to my advantage. If I keep it in the garage to dry, I'm assuming it will take longer. The length of time it may take going that route may have me dealing with it partially drying then freezing up. Maybe I wait until Spring. Just don't want to struggle getting the fish stank etc out if I wait. I get what you're saying about the dust. I can live with that.

  4. Member
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    Apr 2018
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    Shawano, WI
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    #4
    I'm not too far from you, I would wait until spring to do any major work. My boat sat out in the rain for two days at the canvas shop when I was getting the cover modified and even with fans inside the garage it didn't really dry out until I could get it outside in the sun. As for the fish stink I started having the same problem and ordered some silicone pet food mats from amazon to drop the fish on. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 They come in various sizes and roll up so they take up very little space, if you get bigger fish put two next to each other. Just make sure you secure it before racing to your next spot.

  5. Member Flex's Avatar
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    May 2015
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    Ogden, UT
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    #5
    I would wait until spring.

  6. Member crawdadking's Avatar
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    #6
    I agree with the other guys/ I'd vacuum it out and clean it in the spring.

  7. Member
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    Mar 2017
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    Edmonds Washington
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    #7
    Yep, that cold of weather even in a garage wet carpet sounds probmatic. Wait till spring. You could sprinkle some baking soda to get rid of any smell then vacume it good come spring. Worth a try anyway

  8. Member
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    raymond, nh
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    #8
    Vacuum now wait till warm weather to really clean. Dried fish slime will not destroy your carpet when it is dry and frozen like a rock.... just my 2 cents.

  9. Member
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    May 2017
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    Green Bay, Wisconsin
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    #9
    Live in gb also, put the boat away last weekend. My carpet needs a cleaning also with out a heated garage you aren't getting it dry this time of year.
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  10. Member Ranger519VS's Avatar
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    Mar 2011
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    Traverse City, Michigan
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    #10
    Wet carpet this time of year means compartment lids that will freeze shut and moisture build up inside them. That leads to mildew on everything inside. I store mine inside and have found that I need to leave the compartment lids cracked open just to avoid the problem even with "dry" carpet.
    Butch Derickson
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  11. Member
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    Feb 2015
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    #11
    I would wait till spring, I would think that ice would probably loosen or damage the adhesive holding the carpet down
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  12. Member
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    May 2012
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    De Pere, WI
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    #12
    I appreciate all of the responses. Sounds like a pretty convincing consensus.