I’ve put the boat on the hard several times but will be leaving it a bit longer this time and it can be hotter than the dickens where we are at.
Anyone have a good mothball checklist they want to share?
Depending on where you are leaving it. We do a few things..
Put the lithium batteries into storage mode by adjusting the charge curve so the do not charge to more than 70% ( super important)
Put cheap car windscreen shades between the window and the external clip on window shades. (Dramatically drops the internal temperature)
Setup the dehumidifier on the kitchen bench with the drain going down the kitchen sink. We set it at 50% humid. It’s a balance between how long the dehumidifier runs for, and the humidity.
We open every cupboard door, include the ones through the shower and have 2 fans on timers . One in each hull to promote air flow.
We drain the water tank. We do this before being lifted.. less stress. A friend had a toilet solenoid leak. It allowed the water to feed ever so slowly under gravity from the water tank through the toilet and out the toilet bowl. It was fresh water, and it was discovered on the first few days of storage, so no harm done. So we always drain the water tank.
Organise someone to do a video walkthrough. I have done this for lots of friends with boats in storage, and friends have done it for me. A live video walkthrough is gold. It allows you to examine anything. You know your boat better than anyone else. A storage report from a marina is nothing compared to a live messenger or WhatsApp video call.
If stored in water, all seacocks must be off, or you will have no insurance. Yes insurance companies send divers to check on the position of all seacocks.
Some people have really neat panels that sit on top of all of their hatches. They stop sunlight destroying the plastic in the hatches, and keep the boat much cooler.
We put tape between the winch push button and the flip up cover. It protects the rubber pushbutton from UV and dramatically increases their life.
I have seen a shade tarpaulin over the trampoline.
Some people put a funnel on the shore power cable to prevent rats getting in. Some people put cockroach bait on pieces of cardboard around the boat. The same with ant bait.
Everyone probably already does this. I’m sure others have some really good ideas.
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