trailer boat under tarp for 7 years, couple of questions.

[CoreyTMorine]

I am the new owner of a 1984 O’day 222, ID# XDYJO319F484.

I didn’t think that I was in over my head until I met him. The boat has been under a tarp out in the woods for 7 years or so, and as my 8 year old niece says ‘Uncle, your boat smells like a porta potty!’ But to my eye it’s just some elbow grease, that is until I pulled the head out, and there he stood.

One eye leveled ominously at me, the other covered in a black patch. The incessant tapping I had been hearing earlier was also revealed; a peg leg! He squealed and ran under the shop-vac; my boat is infested with mice pirates!

At any rate, I have a bunch of questions!

1) Everything is out from below decks at this point and the lose debris vacuumed up. I’m thinking my next step is to use a lot of soap and water, then rinse things off with the garden hose while running a floor pump to get rid of the water. Is spraying the heck out of the interior, especially all those little voids in the stowage areas, a good idea or something to be avoided?

2) The cushions; should I unzip all the fabric covers and wash them, or rent a small carpet cleaner and do them with the fabric on. I worry about the washer stretching the fabric out.

3) Can I leave the lifelines up while trailering the boat?

4) The vinyl gunwale guard has a 2” piece torn off, I have the piece. Can I just glue it back?

Ok my 17 month old is up and wanting a story, thanks in advance for any help!

 

[CoreyTMorine]

5) The bill is stuck in a seam between the outboard mount and the hull; I was thinking about calking it, but then wondered if it would be better left open for drainage. Also should I be worried about the mounting hardware inside, hate losing outboards. The boat has never seen salt water so I’m not convinced that it would be worth removing for inspection.

6) Can I just glue the overhead carpet back with gorilla glue?

 

[RichBone]

Try posting on "Ask an Oday Owner" for more specific answers.

Rich

 

[caguy]

1) Everything is out from below decks at this point and the lose debris vacuumed up. I’m thinking my next step is to use a lot of soap and water, then rinse things off with the garden hose while running a floor pump to get rid of the water. Is spraying the heck out of the interior, especially all those little voids in the stowage areas, a good idea or something to be avoided?

2) The cushions; should I unzip all the fabric covers and wash them, or rent a small carpet cleaner and do them with the fabric on. I worry about the washer stretching the fabric out.

3) Can I leave the lifelines up while trailering the boat?

4) The vinyl gunwale guard has a 2” piece torn off, I have the piece. Can I just glue it back?

Ok my 17 month old is up and wanting a story, thanks in advance for any help!

1. I used a pressure washer on my C27 after removing all of the loose crap with a shop vac. Mine has an electric bilge pump and a hand pump so removing the water was easy. There were a few wells where I used a `12v water pump hooked up to a garden hose. The pump came from Harbor Freight for $29. I still have to use al ot of elbow grease and a soft scrub sponge. I found that 409 cleaner take off just about everything. I followed with bleach to kill off any of the left over spores. Rinsed and dried.
If you have any through holes such as a scupper drain speedometer or a sink drain you can disconnect it to allow the boat to drain. You can always put in a drain plug on the lower transom. My Hobie had two to drain the ever leaking pontoons at the ramp.
2. If they are zippered I would wash them in cold or warm water after a good soaking. Air dry in a dryer not heat or hang dry. The heat would likely shrink them.
3. Yes.
4. Yes.Urethane or 5200.
5. Does it look like the Bolts are sealed? Is there any sign of leakage on the inside? If not I wouldn't worry about it. Just check to see that the bolts are tight.
6. Contact adhesive may work, but if the rubber backing is crumbling no amount of adhesive will hold it. You may want to put a strip of decorative plastic over the seam to hold it in place.
Now back to my summer project.

 

[JerryA]

A friend of mine power washed the inside of his Catalina 22 after purchase. I like Caguy's suggestion for the carpet on the ceiling. Maybe a nice piece of teak. A boat cat will take care of the mice.

JerryA

 

[Steve L22188]

Keep stuffing in those Benjamins!

Your pic of the $100 bill in the seam was priceless -- and likely more than symbolic.

Get those $100s ready -- you'll use several getting the boat ready to go! There'll be times when you're certain it'd actually be cheaper just to stuff $100s into a crack or hole or seam.

But the good news -- you'll feel like a thousand bucks when the sails are up, the wind is steady and the boat is skimming across the water.

Check the foam in the cushions. You may need new foam in your seat cushions. The foam disintegrates after a few years. And it might have been good mice chow. Good luck.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

In my experience, if the fabric and foam is impregnated with holding tank stink, there is no remediation. We tossed anything with fabric and started fresh. Just make sure you have more of those bills. The carpet ceiling may be salvagable but it is vulnerable to moldyness in a humid environment.

 

[dscribner]

Do you know how to make a small fortune? Start with a large fortune and buy boat.

We trailer our Lancer 25 with everything attached, except the base of the mast and the fore stay. We even leave the temporary stays (for stepping the mast) attached. We just loosen the halyard.