How can I get rid of humid smell in the cabin

[titoana]

Hi guys:

A couple of years ago I bought a 1982 25' O'Day. I've made many improvements to the boat and I like it a lot. This year the plan is to remodel the interior. We are in the process of ordering all new cushions including new foam. Something I've never liked too much is the humidity smell in the cabin. That definitely turns off my wife and kids. I bet the new cushions will help with this problem. My question is, what can I do to get rid of this smell? Most of it at least. It would be grat if we could enjoy the cabin without having to deal with the musty smell.

Thanks,
David

 

[BobM]

Damp rid makes some moisture collecting bags you can hang in the boat, but sounds like you need to increase your ventilation with some solar vents. A simple way is also to add a vent to one of your companionway boards.

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP80819538.htm

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Sunshine and ventilation

The cure: Sunshine. It's still a bit early to put all your cushions, PFDs, and other softgoods outside the sun for a day, but when it does warm up, that's the best cure for musty damp odors. Wipe down all hard surfaces with Tilex. Take all your towles, bedding and clothing home and wash 'em.


Prevention: Ventilation. A fan--there are solar fans if you don't have power (but Bob, Boatersworld has been out of business for most of a year now)...and maybe a dehumidifier too (but that requires shore power)...or maybe some of the Damp Rid Bob suggested. Leave all hatches and locker doors propped open so that fresh air can circulate..pull drawers out an inch or two so that fresh air can get into and behind them. Be religious about using a hand pump or shop vac and sponge to remove any remaining water--even if it's only a cupful or two--in the bilge before the boat will sit.

If that sounds like a lot of work, well...nobody--at least nobody who knows what they're talking about--ever said that maintaining a boat PROPERLY doesn't require a LOT of work.

 

[Roger Long]

If that sounds like a lot of work, well...nobody--at least nobody who knows what they're talking about--ever said that maintaining a boat PROPERLY doesn't require a LOT of work.

Speaking of a lot of work to keep a boat dry:

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/10Winter.htm

 

[Bill1565]

Re: Sunshine and ventilation

OFF topic. Glad to see you back on the forum Peggy. You have been quiet for a while.

 

[Ross]

cowl vents are very effective and when coupled with 3 inch computer fans are perfectly effective. You can get a solar panel from ebay for about 25 dollars for 3.5 watts. I have a fan from a computer downstairs that draws a stingy 12.75 milliamps at 12.5 volts. That's just .16 watts. On the 7.5 amphour battery that I have it could run about 600 hours.

 

[Hermit Scott]

cowl vents are very effective and when coupled with 3 inch computer fans are perfectly effective. You can get a solar panel from ebay for about 25 dollars for 3.5 watts. I have a fan from a computer downstairs that draws a stingy 12.75 milliamps at 12.5 volts. That's just .16 watts. On the 7.5 amphour battery that I have it could run about 600 hours.

Do you ventelate your boat even in the freezing cold?

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Thanks Bill... After nearly 5 years in a nursing home, my 94 yr old dad finally passed away on Jan 10...As his executor (Ok, executrix may be the correct term, but it's the silliest word in the English language!), taking carre of all the details involved in the end of his life and the changes it's made in mine have kept me kinda busy.

And as I've been doing all this, I've discovered a huge benefit of being an only child: I don't have to argue about ANYthing with ANYbody!

Hermit: Yes...cold fresh air is dryer than warm fresh air.

Btw...I THINK I finally succeeded in fixing the link in my signature

 

[catsailor]

Ventilation is probably most important in the winter and spring for boats that stay in the water

Do you ventilate your boat even in the freezing cold?

The cold water against the hull and snow on deck in combination with warmer days is deadly. Add warm bodies and cooking moisture - there is always condensation somewhere, in some cold locker.

 

[zeehag]

i keep my boat open year round rain or shine--in rain i make sure th ewater stays outside and make sure the bilges are bone dry after the rain is gone---makes a big difference--the boats i visit that stay closed all the time have a peculiar smell--the open ones smell good....that is both my formosa and my ericson--the plastic boats seem to get funnier smells than the formosa gets....i always keep the fore hatch open in ericson--just an inch or so----works great --also keeps the sweating inside the boat to a minimum.

 

[Bill1565]

Sorry for your loss. I too was an only child. I still miss my folks even though they have been gone 10 years.

I sometimes forget how good it is to have your boat in your back yard. I open mine up almost daily. No musty smell . In the summer I use mildew bags 'cause even the fresh air then is 90% humid.

 

[Rick Webb]

Solar Day/Night Fan Makes a Helluva Difference

As does a couple of 100 watt light bulbs. Down here it is amazing how much condensation we get inside the boat but those two things keep mine dry.

 

[RECESS]

Does your O'Day 25 have the original carpet that runs up the inside wall? If you are going to remove the musty smell completely, that will have to be dealt with. Changing out the old cushions help, but that is another source. I removed all my cushions for over 6 months and that carpet on the lower half of the wall was the biggest source of that smell.

Off Topic

Peggy, taking care of my mother and moving her from Texas to Georgia so I could have her in a really nice care facility ended my sailing year last June. I still love being with her everyday, but it is amazing how you have to realign what you can do with the little spare time you have.

 

[Ross]

Do you ventelate your boat even in the freezing cold?

As long as the sun shines the fans run. There are fans in the cowl vents and in some of the lockers and in the lazerette.

 

[seadaddler]

Venting

You need to add some type of venting of the boat for fresher smells,unless the smell is from being asorbed into the interior parts of the boat which may than need a good cleaning to rid the odor,could be many things causing the smell but you already are replacing some things.
I have used the 24/7 solar vents in the veeberth hatch and fans pushing air around plus also use damprid time to time and have seen a very good improvement in boat smell of my newer boat with the solar vents.
Nick

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Off Topic

Peggy, taking care of my mother and moving her from Texas to Georgia so I could have her in a really nice care facility ended my sailing year last June. I still love being with her everyday, but it is amazing how you have to realign what you can do with the little spare time you have.

How well I know! But what's really amazing is, how well we manage to do it! I knew I'd never dynamite my dad out of Arkansas, so after 26 years in Atlanta I moved to AR.. He was 86 then...I thought I'd be here a couple of years. That was in 2001. But I don't regret a minute of it...and wouldn't take anything for the time we were able spend together before he became ill and afterward. And I'm sure the same is true for you.

 

[titoana]

Thanks to everyone. Very good advice. Funny, that some of the advice was new to me but the rest were things I had though about but lazy enough not to do. This is a new season ...

 

[stephen Penny]

Suggest purchasing a 110 volt thermostatic heater with fan. It worked on the sail boat I recently purchased. You can purchase it from West Marine or on-line. You can also purcahse a 110 volt golden rod.

 

[Ross]

Suggest purchasing a 110 volt thermostatic heater with fan. It worked on the sail boat I recently purchased. You can purchase it from West Marine or on-line. You can also purchase a 110 volt golden rod.

Many people will find it amazing that unheated open buildings with tight roofs have no mold or mildew problems. But back yard storage sheds that are closed up tight to keep thieves out also keep dampness and mildew and mold in. Ventilation is worth far more than a little heat and is much less expensive. Nobody ever succeeded in drying clothes in a plastic bag with a heater inside but thousands of loads of laundry have dried on the line.

 

[woodster]

I knew I'd never dynamite my dad out of Arkansas, so after 26 years in Atlanta I moved to AR.. He was 86 then...I thought I'd be here a couple of years. That was in 2001. But I don't regret a minute of it...and wouldn't take anything for the time we were able spend together before he became ill and afterward.quote]

...that is totally amazing Peggie...i moved from AR to Atlanta and have a great fondness for both places ...i had to go back to AR. in the early 80's to take care of my parents in there final years ...i am sorry to hear of your loss....and i wish you brighter days ahead......

a fan of yours

regards

woody