Persistent kerosene odor

[dressler]

The previous owner of our boat had a kerosene lamp suspended in the salon. We removed the lamp but still have a "fuel-type" odor in our cabin. We had the cushions cleaned and ozoned, and have also thoroughly cleaned the inside of the cabin. The only thing left to do is to remove and replace the wall padding. Does anyone have any tips on how to completely and permanently ridding our boat of this type of odor? A fellow sailor has suggested using Wisk and I'm considering using something like that in a hose-end sprayer and completely rinsing the cabin area from top to bottom. Thanks.

 

[Robert147]

Boats sometimes just smell "funky".

Your history is a little incomplete. Is your auxilary a Diesel? That "fuel smell" could be eminating from your engine, your fuel tank, an old fuel spill still sloshing around in the bilge or the cockpit lockers. Boats have an awful lot of hidden places where smelly stuff can accumulate. On the other hand, boat cabins and bilges kind of have a funky smell. It's a boat thing. My wife (sensitve to these things) keeps bunches of dried eucalyptis in lockers, drawers and cabinets. We were pleased when a friend stepped into the cabin and immediately exclaimed "Wow, your boat smells great!" Sometimes, you just have to cover up the naturally funky smell of a boat below deck.

 

[dressler]

Thanks Robert

Our boat has a diesel engine. Others have enlightened me about the expected "funky" smells and I'm not expecting an "Irish Spring" scent. But this odor is just not the same as what I have noticed in others boats. I do plan on making a serious effort to find all of the hidden places where the source could be. But I will take your advice and look for some eucalyptus to spead around. I still wonder if anyone has heard about using Wisk.

 

[Gene16575]

My mechanic....

told me to buy an inexpensive ozone generator and run it about 2 days initially, and then once a week or month depending on the "severity" of your "boat smells".I have not yet tried it.