lingering oder after much work

[Mystic51]

We have our 1984 Hunter 28.5 looking good and have sunk many $$ and hundredsof hours in the past ten months reviving her. To combat oder we havereplaced the cushions, engin sound insulation, steam cleaned thecarpet liner, scrubbed everything three or four times; removed andreplaced the sole while cleaning the bilge. We also replaced the hose from the head to the holding tank.We still have a lingering oder, does not seem like a head oder, but sort of a mildew,boat oder that I can't explain. It is most noticable when you firstopen the boat up and does air out some but still lingers. It drives mywife nuts. I am thinking because the boat had water leaks and had beenneglected when we bought her that there is oder under the hull linerespecially around the holding tank and disel tank. Some oder seems tocome from the aft area. Any thoughts about oder sources as well asproducts and methods to combat this.We are desparate for we so much want to love our boat.Jeff

 

[Honeyman]

Had a 1987 model...

28.5 with some odor problems that were mainly diesel and holding tank related. Did actually have leaks from both that went into the "between the hull and liner" area. 1st step, obviously was to fix leaks. Diesel involved a leak on top of the tank of the vent line so that when tank was topped off, it ran down side of tank and under liner. Simple enough. Holding tank problem was a leak between head and holding tank that also went down between hull and liner. Short story is that KO (kills odors) which Peggie recommends so much is what I think finally chased the odors out. I would spray it in places where it would run down into area in question and just let it work. Eventually most water/moisture caught in that area will work its way into the bilge. KO has microbes in it that eat away at the things causing the odors. Start at the back of the boat in strbd. lazzerette and spray all around the fuel tank and back of the pan for the engine. Places where hoses run through bulkheads or pans, shoot some in there. Trick is to get the stuff in there and then go sailing so it'll help mix things around. Keeping the boat ventilated helps it work. I just kept at it till it was gone.

 

[RichH]

Mildew control .....

Suggest you visit with your local county health department and discuss remedies for mildew and its control. Any boat that has a liner that is unsealed is suspect to grow mildew in all the dark, moist, hidden places. Many of these molds/mildews are extremely toxic, especially to your respiratory tract. Depending on the sophistication of your health department, remedies can include fumigating the boat with paraformaldehyde gas, 'dry' fogging with peracetic acid/hydrogen peroxide, etc. Some contractors in the bio-pharm industry specialize in this remediation. If you do have visible mold/mildew, be very careful in its clean-up ... go to your state's health departments website and read/download the cautions, etc. for cleaning molds/mildews.

 

[Mystic51]

using KO or other products

Correction; boat is a 1985 model. I have heard of KO in this foreum. Where do I buy it. I do not have any more visable milldew and the boat is now dry. I was thinking of adding something like KO to the bildge and like the idea of spraying into the hidden areas. With the boat now dry should I add some water to the bilge along with the KO and then go sailing to slosh it around? Having replaced the cabin sole I have it so I can remove it and then I can suck up all water and grime when I am done. When replacing the head to holding tank hose we did not bother with the head discharge hose. Can that old hose be the source of unexplaned oder? Fumegation sounds drastic! I hope I do not have to resort to that.Jeff

 

[Paul Zetlmaier]

Check out the "Smelly Benateau" reply

The more exposure to boats, the more I realize that the odors I had come to associate with heads are actually resins and caulk cooking in the sun. Could that be it?"toxic"mold hysteria was last year's threat de-jour! There are only about a dozen uncommen types of mold that are "toxic" and they are uncommen. If the spaces are ventilated you are OK Fair winds and much enjoyment on your newgood old boat!

 

[Landsend]

Odors

I installed three solar vents in my 28.5 and saturated everything with lysol. Sadly, as a boat gets older the smellier they get. Because i'm lucky enough to dock my boat behind my home and can keep it plugged in, I also keep a plug in air freshner going.Mine is a 88 with a shoal draft keel.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

K.O.

Raritan K.O. (available from the online store here and most other marine stores) is a live bacteria holding tank product that also has other uses. The bacteria will "eat" odor causing bacteria and spores left behind by puppies who had accidents, holding tank spills...AND mildew. In fact, any organically caused odor.The key to success with it is plenty of fresh air. Spray it full strength on musty cushions and PFDs...spills and pet accidents...DO NOT RINSE! Leave everything open--even turn a fan on if you can aim one into an enclosed area--for 24 hours. It works...Lysol, Bleach and other "deodorizing" "antibacterial" cleaners don't.

 

[Mystic51]

using KO or BC

Peggy,In some of the postings on this site you respond to questions of an almost sweet, musty smell that it can be holding tank hoses. Since I have not changed out the discharge hose I am going to try the wet rag test. I do suspect that there is odor in recessed areas around the tank under the lazarett. Is KO good for cleaning under the hull liner. Most of it is not where I can spray. If I put a wet solution down there and go sailing what should I use. Afterwords I can take out my sole and vacume up the water so things can dry out faster. I have even been putting a small hose down the weep holes in the liner to suck up hidden water. I do agree that a dry boat is best but it seems that I need to get things wet with a cleraner first. I just ordered the cleaning test kit from this web site. should I use the KO under the liner or the bilge cleaner?Thanks,Jeff

 

[Jim Rushing]

KO

After my old tank leaked and I replaced it, there was some odor left over. This was because of the liquid that had run into creases, etc. I went back in with a KO solution and wetted the areas down that the leak had occurred in. Also let some run all the way to the bilge. Left everything open for a while and then dried the bilge out. Problem solved. Always add one cap full after pumping out the tank.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

What Jim said...

except...only one CAPful into the tank after each pumpout? Directions call for at least 4 oz.