Odor in the cabin

[Jill Mulford]

I notice an odor in the cabin of our '97 Hunter 29.5. It seems to be a "chemical-like" smell and is not originating in the head. It is the strongest in the aft berth but permeates the whole cabin. I was wondering if it is the smell of the fiberglass itself. Does anyone know what this is or how to get rid of it? Thanks.

 

[Wayne Estabrooks]

New Fiberglass Smell?

Some folks with older boats would be thankful to have only the smell of new fiberglass in their cabin. Open the hatches and vent it out. Run fans etc. My 1997 340 is more than 2 years old and still smells new when it has been closed up for awhile. I suspect that is what you are smelling.

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Could be several things...

Could be fiberglass...or it could have several other sources. What's in the aft cabin (holding tank, hoses passing through, shower sump, possible wet bilge etc)?

 

[Dan]

We have the smell too!

We have the same smell occasionally. It usually is the bilge. Since the shower and icebox drain into the bilge on the 29.5, sometimes you get some nasty gunk building up in the bilge over the week if you aren't using the boat. believe it or not, soap rots and stinks. Easiest thing to do is pull up the sole boards and flush the bilge with a hose until it is clean. Then drain as best as possible and use a good bilge cleaner. One of the organic or enzyme types are very good.The other cause could be the holding tank. We had this smell in the aft berth too. This year we tried the KO product and it is great. I can't believe how well it works to reduce odors versus masking them as with the "Blue Stuff".I would not imagine your odor is a "chemical" but and organic caused by either the holding talk (or a holding tank leak) or the bilge.Good Luck!