I have a recently purchased a 2001 Hunter 240. The interior curtains and berth cushions have mildew. In talking to the cushion manufacture this seems to be a consistant problem. Anybody else have the same experience? If so what did you do to get out the mildew? I don't see any signs of leaking from the deck. We have just had several days of rain and the cabin seems totally dry.
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Cleaning Cushions and Covers
I'm in the process of tackling this job on the cushions and covers for my "new" 1986 H23. After much research, here is what I found and what I'm trying..... A complete replacement from U.S. Yacht cushions is in the order of $1,000. Not unreasonable but high relative to the boat's overall value. The main salon cushions had ripped covers and terrible mold/mildew. The v-berths and others are in a bit better shape. Put the worst cover in a washing machine on the gentle cycle and damaged it (ripped and disintegrated) even more. However, the vinyl bottom and zipper are actually in very good shape. Wife said they still smelled of mildew, but not nearly as bad. Next attempt was to rinse another cover with luke warm water in the bathtub, then fill the tub about 4" deep with hot water and a moderately sudsy solution of Arm and Hammer detergent (says on the box it attacks mildew). Submerge cover and soak for about 20 minutes. Gently scrub entire cover, inside and out with moderately soft bristled brush. Rinse. Repeat soaping/brushing. Rinse. Dry in dryer on gentle cycle low heat. Voila! No further damage, no shrinking, 100% pass on the wife smell test! Must tell you that on mine the dye bled extensively (less after each cycle) but it did not adhere to the bathtub surface and the cleaned covers did not change colors. Next - the foam inserts. Followed basically the same process, starting with the very worst cushion. bathwater turned black on the first cycle (imagine a kneeding and squeezing process with frequeny cushion turning and repositioning instead of brushing). Second cycle - gray water. Final rinse - clear! Again passed smell test, although stains are still visible in the foam. Big problem is getting them dry in the middle of an Ohio winter that won't quit. Too big for the dryer. You can't squeeze them enough to get all water out. Eventually, they air dry in my enclosed but unheated porch. Space heaters and fans help, marginally. A day in direct sunlight with moderate temperatures would do the trick, but that isn't happening here, at least not yet. I'm putting about 3 hours into each cushion, but I've worked only on the largest and dirtiest so far. Fot the covers that are torn, we will salvage the vinyl and zippers and sew on new cloth (wife says IF sewing machine is stout enough, otherwise we'll let a pro do it). This isn't a process for the fainthearted, but I keep telling myself "I'm saving $1,000 bucks." By the way, the U.S. Yacht Cushions crew are very friendly, helpful, flexible and reasonable. They will do any part of the job and recycle good parts (like the vinyl) if you want them to. It's just that all my discretionary income currently goes to Wake Forest and Miami University
I'm in the process of tackling this job on the cushions and covers for my "new" 1986 H23. After much research, here is what I found and what I'm trying..... A complete replacement from U.S. Yacht cushions is in the order of $1,000. Not unreasonable but high relative to the boat's overall value. The main salon cushions had ripped covers and terrible mold/mildew. The v-berths and others are in a bit better shape. Put the worst cover in a washing machine on the gentle cycle and damaged it (ripped and disintegrated) even more. However, the vinyl bottom and zipper are actually in very good shape. Wife said they still smelled of mildew, but not nearly as bad. Next attempt was to rinse another cover with luke warm water in the bathtub, then fill the tub about 4" deep with hot water and a moderately sudsy solution of Arm and Hammer detergent (says on the box it attacks mildew). Submerge cover and soak for about 20 minutes. Gently scrub entire cover, inside and out with moderately soft bristled brush. Rinse. Repeat soaping/brushing. Rinse. Dry in dryer on gentle cycle low heat. Voila! No further damage, no shrinking, 100% pass on the wife smell test! Must tell you that on mine the dye bled extensively (less after each cycle) but it did not adhere to the bathtub surface and the cleaned covers did not change colors. Next - the foam inserts. Followed basically the same process, starting with the very worst cushion. bathwater turned black on the first cycle (imagine a kneeding and squeezing process with frequeny cushion turning and repositioning instead of brushing). Second cycle - gray water. Final rinse - clear! Again passed smell test, although stains are still visible in the foam. Big problem is getting them dry in the middle of an Ohio winter that won't quit. Too big for the dryer. You can't squeeze them enough to get all water out. Eventually, they air dry in my enclosed but unheated porch. Space heaters and fans help, marginally. A day in direct sunlight with moderate temperatures would do the trick, but that isn't happening here, at least not yet. I'm putting about 3 hours into each cushion, but I've worked only on the largest and dirtiest so far. Fot the covers that are torn, we will salvage the vinyl and zippers and sew on new cloth (wife says IF sewing machine is stout enough, otherwise we'll let a pro do it). This isn't a process for the fainthearted, but I keep telling myself "I'm saving $1,000 bucks." By the way, the U.S. Yacht Cushions crew are very friendly, helpful, flexible and reasonable. They will do any part of the job and recycle good parts (like the vinyl) if you want them to. It's just that all my discretionary income currently goes to Wake Forest and Miami University
Well Gary join the club
down here where it gets bloody hot I have the same problem. At every oportunity I air all the cushions and mattreses in my 260. That way they stay fresh and dry. But leave the yacht locked up for a few weeks and everything gets pretty damp.
down here where it gets bloody hot I have the same problem. At every oportunity I air all the cushions and mattreses in my 260. That way they stay fresh and dry. But leave the yacht locked up for a few weeks and everything gets pretty damp.
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