Black mold inside lazarettes on H34

[Capt Robbie]

Does anyone get what appears to be black mold or mildew inside the aft and side lazarettes? If so what have you done to prevent it ?

I have been using a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle that kills and clean it well, but it keeps coming back.
Someone at the marina suggested installing a uv light or an ozone generator.
Not to happy about leaving electrical devices on when nobody is aboard.

 

[Sefuller]

There are lots of similar recipes online, but I have used these with good success in our boat. I last did the area under the v-berth three years ago, and I will probably need to do it again this year.

https://stingysailor.com/2017/02/11/remove-and-prevent-mildew-for-pennies/

 

[SFS]

I use formula #2 from the article linked in the previous post. Works well. Spray it on, wipe it off, do not rinse. If you are worried about the finish on your wood, test an inconspicuous are first, and don't spray directly on the wood - spray the rag and wipe with the dampened rag.

Keeping the boat as dry as possible helps enormously as well.

 

[JamesG161]

Here a few good discussions on Mildew and mold.
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/exterior-mildew-will-anything-prevent-it.175780/

This one is more inside...
http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/black-mold.176769/#post-1265888

I am using a much cheaper version of Wet & Forget from a local chemical cleaning supply house.
Jim...

 

[Ned Ludd]

Anyone use these? I think I will give them a shot next winter.

 

[jssailem]

It is a constant issue on our boats in the PacNW during winter - known as the rain season. Have used Tea tree oil

Spaced 3 around the boat. First year. Then bought a 35 pint dehydrater. Works great. Also put DampRid container in the ice box. Opened up all the cabinets and doors for air circulation. No problem this past winter. Except for a window leak that appeared in November. Now waiting till warm dry weather to remove window and reseal.

 

[kloudie1]

Previous posts are all great as in JamesG's links.. I have had very good luck with the stuff I noted in post #23 of that thread.. Keeps exterior lockers and laz walls clear of the stuff. Thinwater's posts were tested and reported on by him in a Practical Sailor series.. good work !

 

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[Capt Robbie]

Don't waste your money on "star bright nos guard sg bags"
They really are not good for anything they claim.
They helped slightly for odor control, however I found that a plan 10 lb bag of Kingsford charcoal is the cheapest and works the best for Odor control.

 

[rgranger]

Those are several good recipes for cleaning mold and mildew ... but here is how you keep it from coming back...

Most people really don't like this suggestion but it is biochemically sound and actually works and is inexpensive and gets at the root of the problem and also addresses a few other issues.

Here it is ....
Once you have your surfaces clean, leave a few open containers of naphthalene (moth balls) in your boat every time you leave the boat. Naphthalene actually KILLS mold and mildew spores.

No spores = no returning mildew.

It also keeps out wasps and mud dabblers and squirrels and mice etc. BONUS!

I keep my mothballs in two separate empty Folgers containers. When I enter the boat, I seal the container and stow in a locker. Then open all off the hatches while I make the boat ready. By the time I am ready to sail, the smell is gone. I NEVER have mold or mildew in my boat..... and my marina is known for having a serious mud dabbler problems... but not on my boat. I've also noticed that I only ever see spiders on the outside of my boat. I have had no spider webs or spider poop in my boat at all.

So go to Wallmart in the section that sells coat hangers and you will find some mothballs, get a box and a resealable container to keep them in. Next time you clean up the mildew, place an open container of mothballs in that area when you leave the boat. When you come back, just seal up the container, open up the boat and air it out... freshest your boat will have ever smelled. I promise I'm not exaggerating. And it will cost you less than $5.

 

[Gunni]

You will never eliminate the problem because your cockpit lockers are not really dry and you are constantly putting damp/wet things in them. The concrobium generic mix that Thinwater mixed up (linked by Sefuller, above) works to kill, remove and keep mildew at bay. If you are Practical Sailor subscriber you can find Thinwater's blog discussion on the subject of mildew control.