I have two questions, #1 is Raratin KO ok to use for getting the musty old shoe, boat smell out of my interior cushions? And #2 since I’ll be using my boat on a lake where dumping of waste is illegal, I plan on taking out the diverter valve and running my waste hose from my head directly to my holding tank. What is the best to seal the ball valve that I wont be using for discharge anymore? I plan on running a piece of hose from the valve to above the water line and sealing the end. Any suggestions on the best way to do this?
KO and Head Plumbing Rerouting
- Thread starter ChuckH
- Start date
- Status
Re: question #1, spraying KO on the cushions full-strength, then allowing it to dry - just spray it on to where it saturates the outer covering, then leave it there and don't do anything else - will help to some extent. Put the KO in a sprayer bottle like is used for Windex and similar products, then spray it on and allow it to soak in.
But it also wouldn't hurt to pull all the cushions out of the boat and leave them out on the deck on a sunny, breezy day, allowing them to air out thoroughly - kinda like hanging your wash out on a clothesline. If the smell has gotten into the actual "stuffing" of the cushions, KO will only help the situation marginally.
Re: question #2, use a wooden plug and stainless steel hose clamp? Better yet, why don't you just turn off the seacock at the through-hull, then remove the handle from the seacock, so it can't be turned on accidentally? That's what most sailors do.
Store the handle in your toolbox or somewhere where it will be available should you ever need it, but won't be still on the valve, where it could be turned on accidentally. To open it would require that the handle first be located, then re-attached to the valve, before the valve can be turned to the open position.
But it also wouldn't hurt to pull all the cushions out of the boat and leave them out on the deck on a sunny, breezy day, allowing them to air out thoroughly - kinda like hanging your wash out on a clothesline. If the smell has gotten into the actual "stuffing" of the cushions, KO will only help the situation marginally.
Re: question #2, use a wooden plug and stainless steel hose clamp? Better yet, why don't you just turn off the seacock at the through-hull, then remove the handle from the seacock, so it can't be turned on accidentally? That's what most sailors do.
Store the handle in your toolbox or somewhere where it will be available should you ever need it, but won't be still on the valve, where it could be turned on accidentally. To open it would require that the handle first be located, then re-attached to the valve, before the valve can be turned to the open position.
I never like to disagree with MY guru, but...
He's right that only spraying the surface of a cushion with anything will only work temporarily...till the odor that's still deep in the foam works its way out again. But this will get rid of the odor permanently...or at least till all the conditions that caused it in the first place recreate new odor:
Remove the covers and spray them as Vic advised...but also spray the foam on BOTH sides, using enough to penetrate to the middle. Then put everything outside the sunshine to dry for a day. It'll all be fresh a daisy when you put it back...and stay that way.
And I prefer pump up garden spray jugs to trigger sprayers...but do spend about $15 for a good one that holds at least a gallon...the little cheap ones don't work worth a damn and don't last longer than the first job you use it for..if that long. A 1 or 2 gallon pump up jug can do all kinds of jobs...K.O. every surface, nook and cranny on the boat...spray bilge cleaner or detergent into all those place you can't reach...kill weeds in the garden...:dance:
Yes...and also out your wet locker, musty pfds, foulies, boat shoes, sea boots, cabinets, drawers...
He's right that only spraying the surface of a cushion with anything will only work temporarily...till the odor that's still deep in the foam works its way out again. But this will get rid of the odor permanently...or at least till all the conditions that caused it in the first place recreate new odor:
Remove the covers and spray them as Vic advised...but also spray the foam on BOTH sides, using enough to penetrate to the middle. Then put everything outside the sunshine to dry for a day. It'll all be fresh a daisy when you put it back...and stay that way.
And I prefer pump up garden spray jugs to trigger sprayers...but do spend about $15 for a good one that holds at least a gallon...the little cheap ones don't work worth a damn and don't last longer than the first job you use it for..if that long. A 1 or 2 gallon pump up jug can do all kinds of jobs...K.O. every surface, nook and cranny on the boat...spray bilge cleaner or detergent into all those place you can't reach...kill weeds in the garden...:dance:
Thank you. The smell has gotten into the foam as well. I have pulled the cushions out of the boat and brought them home. I'll bring them outside as well to air out as you suggest.
Great idea on removing the handle on the seacock, I will do that as well as the wooden plug and hose clamp.
I do have one more question. The 1.5 inch sanatation hose is pretty stiff and I think I will run into some difficulty attaching it. What's the best way to make this easier, warming the hose to make it more pliable, lubricating the fitting first, if so with what?
Thanks for the help.
Great idea on removing the handle on the seacock, I will do that as well as the wooden plug and hose clamp.
I do have one more question. The 1.5 inch sanatation hose is pretty stiff and I think I will run into some difficulty attaching it. What's the best way to make this easier, warming the hose to make it more pliable, lubricating the fitting first, if so with what?
Thanks for the help.
Warm the hose AND lube it...
I prefer a blow dryer 'cuz it's safer than a heat gun unless you really know what you're doing with one. Lube the outside the fitting and the inside of the hose with K-Y jelly...it works a lot better than the dish soap the industry has always recommended.
However, if this is existing hose that's gotten stiff and hard, it's time to replace it. If it IS new hose, you must have bought Sealand "OdorSafe"...that stuff is stiffer than an ironing board!
I prefer a blow dryer 'cuz it's safer than a heat gun unless you really know what you're doing with one. Lube the outside the fitting and the inside of the hose with K-Y jelly...it works a lot better than the dish soap the industry has always recommended.
However, if this is existing hose that's gotten stiff and hard, it's time to replace it. If it IS new hose, you must have bought Sealand "OdorSafe"...that stuff is stiffer than an ironing board!
I used Sheilds Poly X Premium hose. West Marine was having a moving sale and I was able to get it at 75% off. Still about $5 a foot though. It actually went on a lot easier than I thought, a little too easy. I hope the fittings are tight enough. I used 2 hose clamps on each side and tighted it down pretty hard. We'll see how it works this Spring.
As a side note, I noticed the holding tank was about half full and frozen. The guy I bought the boat from said the yard pumped it out before hauling, apparently not. I hope it doesn't cause any damage.
As a side note, I noticed the holding tank was about half full and frozen. The guy I bought the boat from said the yard pumped it out before hauling, apparently not. I hope it doesn't cause any damage.
I bow to the Mistress, with respect to spraying KO all the way through the foam cushions - she has much more experience than I regarding its use - after all, she practically invented it!
<< As a side note, I noticed the holding tank was about half full and frozen. The guy I bought the boat from said the yard pumped it out before hauling, apparently not. I hope it doesn't cause any damage. >>
Uhh, ohhh! Could be trouble! Come spring, pump out the tank, then flush it out real well. Fill it all the way to overflowing with clean water and a hose - you can do it via the deck fitting. Then look for leaks. Wouldn't hurt to toss a good-sized bottle of food coloring in, too, when the tank is about 1/2 full. Then fill it the rest of the way. Look at each fitting and joint on the tank, also at the corners of the tank itself, for any sign of a leak. The food coloring will help to spot a leak if there's one there. Hopefully if it was only 1/2 full when it froze, there was enough room for expansion of the ice without damaging the tank - but one never knows for sure until later on...
<< As a side note, I noticed the holding tank was about half full and frozen. The guy I bought the boat from said the yard pumped it out before hauling, apparently not. I hope it doesn't cause any damage. >>
Uhh, ohhh! Could be trouble! Come spring, pump out the tank, then flush it out real well. Fill it all the way to overflowing with clean water and a hose - you can do it via the deck fitting. Then look for leaks. Wouldn't hurt to toss a good-sized bottle of food coloring in, too, when the tank is about 1/2 full. Then fill it the rest of the way. Look at each fitting and joint on the tank, also at the corners of the tank itself, for any sign of a leak. The food coloring will help to spot a leak if there's one there. Hopefully if it was only 1/2 full when it froze, there was enough room for expansion of the ice without damaging the tank - but one never knows for sure until later on...
- Status