I have a 1984 Catalina 36 Tall Rig in great shape. The only deal is that the interior cabin develops fumes (they don't smell bad) that really make me dizzy and lightheaded. I keep a ventilation fan (out the aft berth port) blowing at all times, but they still build up. I thought it was methane from the holding tank ( not carbon monoxide, because I'm not running the engine when it builds), but I put a new holding tank in and it still is present. I recently pulled all the cushions out for a cleaning and while transporting them in my car had the same effect. What the heck is going on here??
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Joe , you must be more difinitive with the term
fumes. Since they are apparently associated with the cushions, leave the cushions out of the boat for a while and use the boat without the and see if you still have the problem. Perhaps this is a new problem or you are new to the boat, you don't say. If you are new to the boat then the cushions could have received some sort of a treatment to neutralize or cover another odor.
fumes. Since they are apparently associated with the cushions, leave the cushions out of the boat for a while and use the boat without the and see if you still have the problem. Perhaps this is a new problem or you are new to the boat, you don't say. If you are new to the boat then the cushions could have received some sort of a treatment to neutralize or cover another odor.
Belige
Have you checked the bilge you don't say much. Need more Info,maybe the odor in the boat is permeated in the cushions and everything needs good cleaning before you put cushions back in. Nick
Have you checked the bilge you don't say much. Need more Info,maybe the odor in the boat is permeated in the cushions and everything needs good cleaning before you put cushions back in. Nick
Any Water Leaks?
Joe - A source of odor is moisture. any rain-water leaks getting your cushions wet or even allowing a significat amount of humidity to build inside? Unfinished and damp wood is a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Rob
Joe - A source of odor is moisture. any rain-water leaks getting your cushions wet or even allowing a significat amount of humidity to build inside? Unfinished and damp wood is a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Rob
Batteries
Wet cell batteries produce some pretty nasty stuff and you need to ensure the space they're in is well ventilated. Normally it should not be a problem but if they're old or in bad shape they could be gassing pretty well. Just one more thing to check.
Wet cell batteries produce some pretty nasty stuff and you need to ensure the space they're in is well ventilated. Normally it should not be a problem but if they're old or in bad shape they could be gassing pretty well. Just one more thing to check.
Check the foam material in your cushions.
Some foam rubber as it degrades releases particles into the air which may cause allergic reactions in certain people. If the rubber is solid and looks fairly new I would look for other reasons. To eliminate the possibility of it being the cushions, do remove them and go sailing to see if the problem continues. If it does continue it could be emanating from mold growing in the under sole. It is not a bad idea to every so often disable the bilge pump and fill the bilge with a solution of clorox and water and let it sip back into the underside for a few hours. If that is the case it could be the cushions are already being permeated by this mold so give them a thorough cleaning before placing back on the boat. Down here our humidity in the summer months is unrelenting so a lot of sailors will plug in an electric dehumidifier to shore power and leave them running inside the cabins. They do a real good job in removing that musty smell. The best units have a thermostat which will control the amount of humidity removed from the air. You also do not want it extra dry as certain materials like fabrics, foam and rubber will degrade if the air is too dry. Good luck.
Some foam rubber as it degrades releases particles into the air which may cause allergic reactions in certain people. If the rubber is solid and looks fairly new I would look for other reasons. To eliminate the possibility of it being the cushions, do remove them and go sailing to see if the problem continues. If it does continue it could be emanating from mold growing in the under sole. It is not a bad idea to every so often disable the bilge pump and fill the bilge with a solution of clorox and water and let it sip back into the underside for a few hours. If that is the case it could be the cushions are already being permeated by this mold so give them a thorough cleaning before placing back on the boat. Down here our humidity in the summer months is unrelenting so a lot of sailors will plug in an electric dehumidifier to shore power and leave them running inside the cabins. They do a real good job in removing that musty smell. The best units have a thermostat which will control the amount of humidity removed from the air. You also do not want it extra dry as certain materials like fabrics, foam and rubber will degrade if the air is too dry. Good luck.
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