• If growth is established, vacuuming with a HEPA filter unit would be the first step followed by cleaning.
• For fabric and vinyl surfaces, shampoo lightly with an upholstery shampoo.
Focus on Prevention:
The key in eliminating mold growth is controlling moisture. Remove it as a factor and growth simply will not
occur, so maintaining a cool and dry condition with clean surfaces is paramount. Using a dehumidifier isn’t practical for boat storage,
but a simple remedy can be using desiccant bags. They must be monitored as they will absorb moisture and become ineffective but
they can be replaced and this is a relatively inexpensive method. They are available in packs for a normal-sized boat and called “Boat
Dry,” purchasable from Sun Solutions www.sunsolutionproducts.com.
When the boat is ready to store, the best practices are:
• Clean and dry the boat thoroughly.
• Place a “Boat Dry” set of desiccant bags throughout the boat.
• Put the mooring cover on and tightly ratchet (seal will be created at the rub-rail).
Drying out a boat is difficult but the extra care you take will keep your boat looking new for a long time.
Condensation Cause and Protection:
Water vapor in the atmosphere will condense onto another surface only when
that surface is cooler than the dew point temperature, or when the water vapor equilibrium in the air has been
exceeded. The dew point temperature is based on the air temperature and relative humidity. A typical example is
with 90˚F air temperature and 50% RH, the dew point temperature is about 73˚F.
Many times, through the evening dew will condense onto all outdoor surfaces like grass, cars, patio furniture,
toys, bikes and the like as the air temperature and surfaces cool below the “dew point.” Once the morning sun heats
the air temperature or those surfaces heat up enough, the dew will evaporate back into “humidity” and this cycle
will continue as long as the weather conditions permit.
When you cover your boat, you are sealing the outside air in its present condition under the cover. Also, if the
boat wasn’t dried out, that additional moisture will add to the wetness of the trapped environment. As the air and
surface temperatures cool below the dew point the water vapor in that air will condense onto all surfaces inside the
boat. In the morning it will take longer to heat the air and surfaces under the cover as it affords protection thereby
lengthening the time it takes to have the condensation evaporate. It’s very possible if weather conditions change
that the condensation may not return to vapor for quite some time.
This condition is often misunderstood as the cover “leaking” water through the fabric, but because of the fabric’s
high hydrostatic water resistance (160 cm) this is not possible. It’s understandable to think that having the cover
wet underneath is somehow due to it allowing water through, but it is just condensation forming on its surface.
It’s like camping in a synthetic tent; if you’ve ever done it you’ll remember water beads form on the tent surface and
bumping the tent would cause them to “rain” on you!
Pooling Water:
Water can pool on a cover for various reasons. However, the Malibu cover is designed to combat
this by having the overall features and characteristics work in concert to maximize its resistance. The fabric choice
requires it to be lightweight, high-strength, coated, water-repellent treated and “dimensionally” stable. This
minimizes the fabric adding weight, and its strength and stability allows for the necessary tight fit.
The “face” surface is treated with a water repellency, lowering the surface tension so water beads up and runs
off. The “back” surface is urethane-coated, providing additional defense against water penetrating the cover.
The new water repellent lowered the surface tension further over traditional treatments where the water beads
move sooner joining with others making them run off the cover sooner & faster (very visible). It also increased
hydrostatic water resistance (the ability of fabric to resist water penetration) from about 100 cm to 170 cm.
All “face” water repellent treatments wear off and the “water beading” will lessen eventually, allowing water to
be absorbed by the fabric fibers, but the “back side” urethane coating will provide the second defense of penetration.
A traditional “face” treatment lasts about six (6) to nine (9) months, and tests on the enhanced treatment (BW+)
show it will last three to four times longer.
In all cases durability of the treatment is very dependent on the environment and use the cover experiences.
Providing the enhanced water repellent as a re-apply alternative isn’t possible because it requires a controlled
bonding process to properly attach it to the fabric surface. There are various aftermarket repellents available, but
because they are mechanically attached they usually only last about one month or so–like waxing your car!
Malibu Owners Manual • 2018 • Care and Maintenance • Page 7-3
Maintaining Zippers and Hardware:
• Lubricate zippers periodically using a clear silicone spray. Spray silicone on to the zipper and work the zipper back and forth.
• Lubricate fasteners periodically using a clear silicone spray to keep corrosion to a minimum. Replace any missing fasteners or
fasteners that show signs of corrosion.
• Do not use petroleum-based products; i.e. petroleum jelly.
Summary of Contents for M235 2018
Page 4: ......
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Page 14: ...Safety...
Page 48: ...Quick Reference Guide...
Page 69: ......
Page 70: ...Dashes and Video Screens...
Page 109: ......
Page 110: ...How It Works...
Page 134: ...Trailers...
Page 147: ......
Page 148: ...Get Ready...
Page 156: ...Care and Maintenance...
Page 171: ...Malibu Owners Manual 2018 Care and Maintenance Page...
Page 172: ...Malibu Limited Warranty Statement...
Page 182: ......
Page 188: ...Malibu Owners Manual 2018 Warranty Page 8 17...
Page 189: ...Malibu Owners Manual 2018 Troubleshooting Page 8 18...
Page 194: ...Malibu Owners Manual 2018 Service Log Page 8 23 Date Date Date Date Date Date Date Date...