Looking after Life Jackets

[garryl]

I've been trying hard to look after my boat and gear (which doesn't ccome naturally). I wash down everything in fresh water and then lay everything out to dry. I have some 90lt plastic tubs that I keep my stuff in, life jackets and Tubing gear. Even though I let them dry out for a few days a couple of the jackets must have had a bit of water in them and when I pulled them out of the tub after a couple of months they had a heap of black splotches on them. Any tips out there on keeping them in good condition?

I thought about putting holes in the tubs to allow the air to get in also thought about some absorbant material like you get in new shoe boxes (wife's favourite collectable, shoes, that is)

Also a similar problem with my nylon covered cushion seat pads that sit around the bow in the bow rider. I can take them out of the boat, wash them down, and leave under the pergola, but they are still full of water after a week. I don't want to even try to open the zipper in case the guts fall apart. Any tips on drying them out and looking after them

Thanks in advance

Garry