In the intense August heat and humidity, I've experienced mold and mildew appearing in the cabin, usually on the teak surfaces. Previously, West Marine had a product...something like"Mold and Mildew Preventer" that could be sprayed on surfaces to prevent growth. It seems that product has since been discontinued, so I've used an occasional treatment of Lysol, and it seems to work. Do any of you use other products to help prevent mold and mildew? I know, I know--mold and mildew are symptoms of too much moisture and not enough ventilation. However, I've done everything I can think of: I have two Nicro solar vents (one intake in the forward hatch, one exhaust in the main cabin), plus the vent in the main hatch boards, the bilge is as dry as possible, and I even leave a small hatch (about 10" x 10") popped open an inch or so on dry days. Despite all this, during the extreme summer heat, I still get mold! Randy
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It takes multiple things to CONTROL it.
Randy: It takes multiple things to control the mold/mildew problem. The first thing I would do is remove your fabric items from the interior and let them sit out in the sun for several hours. While these items are outside the boat, take a mixture of bleach and water in a pan a wipe down ALL of the hard surfaces in the boat. This process will kill the existing mold spores that you cannot see. Then I would wipe down all the wood with a citrus cleaner/oil (lemon oil etc). This will have basically treated the interior so you start off with something you can control. You may need to find something to treat the fabric surfaces too. There are some products that you can purchase from Walmart (and other places too) called Damprid. You can get some of this stuff that hangs in lockers/closets. It is amazing. There is also some of their products that you can put in your sinks to attract the moisture and it would go down your sink drains. (lookup DAMPRID on the internet). I would also suggest that you purchase a couple of small fans (110vac) and place them around the boat to keep the air circulating. The next thing is to get a small portable dehumidifier. Set it up so the water can automatically drain down the sink. The last thing that I have no experience with, but understand that they really do work (from owners that have them) is a Ozone Generator. They have some that will cycle on and off as required (if you purchase the correct one). I would try everything else first. The rest of this stuff is inexpensive and just takes some time. Try this stuff out and see if it does any good. Let us know about your results (or not).
Randy: It takes multiple things to control the mold/mildew problem. The first thing I would do is remove your fabric items from the interior and let them sit out in the sun for several hours. While these items are outside the boat, take a mixture of bleach and water in a pan a wipe down ALL of the hard surfaces in the boat. This process will kill the existing mold spores that you cannot see. Then I would wipe down all the wood with a citrus cleaner/oil (lemon oil etc). This will have basically treated the interior so you start off with something you can control. You may need to find something to treat the fabric surfaces too. There are some products that you can purchase from Walmart (and other places too) called Damprid. You can get some of this stuff that hangs in lockers/closets. It is amazing. There is also some of their products that you can put in your sinks to attract the moisture and it would go down your sink drains. (lookup DAMPRID on the internet). I would also suggest that you purchase a couple of small fans (110vac) and place them around the boat to keep the air circulating. The next thing is to get a small portable dehumidifier. Set it up so the water can automatically drain down the sink. The last thing that I have no experience with, but understand that they really do work (from owners that have them) is a Ozone Generator. They have some that will cycle on and off as required (if you purchase the correct one). I would try everything else first. The rest of this stuff is inexpensive and just takes some time. Try this stuff out and see if it does any good. Let us know about your results (or not).
J
james rohr
Ozone generator
No matter how much you clean and use cleaners you can never reach all the mold spores to kill them. there is a product out there that is basically a desicant that will help keep down the moisture content in the air. An ozone treatment will get you back to a mold free environment and you can go from there. However there are A couple of things that you must be careful of with using an ozone generator to kill the mold spores in that it is toxic to breath. (its an oxident) since it is an oxident, you have to coat any natural rubber products with silicone to keep the ozone from destroying it. Capn Jim
No matter how much you clean and use cleaners you can never reach all the mold spores to kill them. there is a product out there that is basically a desicant that will help keep down the moisture content in the air. An ozone treatment will get you back to a mold free environment and you can go from there. However there are A couple of things that you must be careful of with using an ozone generator to kill the mold spores in that it is toxic to breath. (its an oxident) since it is an oxident, you have to coat any natural rubber products with silicone to keep the ozone from destroying it. Capn Jim
Have you used one?
James: Have you used one of these Ozone Generators? All of the techie stuff that I read about them say they DO NOT work. But everyone that I have heard that HAS one say they do. WHAT is the real story?
James: Have you used one of these Ozone Generators? All of the techie stuff that I read about them say they DO NOT work. But everyone that I have heard that HAS one say they do. WHAT is the real story?
T
Tom Monroe
they work in homes ...
Never used an ozone generator in a boat. But I lived in an area once that had extensive flooding. They were used quite effectively in homes and small businesses, where the cubic feet and surface area issues are CONSIDERABLY larger than a sailboat. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
Never used an ozone generator in a boat. But I lived in an area once that had extensive flooding. They were used quite effectively in homes and small businesses, where the cubic feet and surface area issues are CONSIDERABLY larger than a sailboat. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
P
Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
The truth about ozone generators
There are ozone generators...and then there are OZONE generators. The big commercial units that are brought in after flood damage are totally different from the small portable units sold for use on boats. If the commcercial units were used properly, they should have been used only in unoccupied areas or in stores and offices at night after everyone went home, or before they moved back in after the flood--never when people were present...run for a few days or a couple of weeks, and then removed once they'd done the job, because ozone in any concentration strong enough to do any good is a health hazard. Here are two sites that address the issue: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/p...9_62e.htm http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html Ozone is also HIGHLY corrosive and destructive rubber, neoprene and flexible PVC....iow, every seal, valve and hose on a boat. As for how well they work at getting rid of odors...the only way to eliminate an odor completely is to find the source and remove it. You could hire someone to bring a commercial unit aboard periodically...but the small portable units don't produce enough ozone to do more than freshen the air. People who have ozone generators rave about how well they work...and the mfrs assure you that the concentrations are below that which can present any health hazard. If that's true, they can't deliver enough ozone to destroy the sources of any odors. And among all the people who rave about 'em, have you ever met anyone who has one who's been able to STOP using it? That SHOULD tell you that they don't kill the sources of the odors--that all they're only VERY high-priced air fresheners...'cuz they don't deliver enough ozone to be anything else. So save your money and get rid of the SOURCES of your molds, mildew and odors--as much ventilation as possible, a dehumidifier (I know people who set portable units on galley and head counters and run the drain into the sinks), and a really GOOD cleaning, especially the bilges...and keep your bilges dry...'cuz a wet bilge creates a humid environment...and humidity breeds molds and mildew.
There are ozone generators...and then there are OZONE generators. The big commercial units that are brought in after flood damage are totally different from the small portable units sold for use on boats. If the commcercial units were used properly, they should have been used only in unoccupied areas or in stores and offices at night after everyone went home, or before they moved back in after the flood--never when people were present...run for a few days or a couple of weeks, and then removed once they'd done the job, because ozone in any concentration strong enough to do any good is a health hazard. Here are two sites that address the issue: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/p...9_62e.htm http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html Ozone is also HIGHLY corrosive and destructive rubber, neoprene and flexible PVC....iow, every seal, valve and hose on a boat. As for how well they work at getting rid of odors...the only way to eliminate an odor completely is to find the source and remove it. You could hire someone to bring a commercial unit aboard periodically...but the small portable units don't produce enough ozone to do more than freshen the air. People who have ozone generators rave about how well they work...and the mfrs assure you that the concentrations are below that which can present any health hazard. If that's true, they can't deliver enough ozone to destroy the sources of any odors. And among all the people who rave about 'em, have you ever met anyone who has one who's been able to STOP using it? That SHOULD tell you that they don't kill the sources of the odors--that all they're only VERY high-priced air fresheners...'cuz they don't deliver enough ozone to be anything else. So save your money and get rid of the SOURCES of your molds, mildew and odors--as much ventilation as possible, a dehumidifier (I know people who set portable units on galley and head counters and run the drain into the sinks), and a really GOOD cleaning, especially the bilges...and keep your bilges dry...'cuz a wet bilge creates a humid environment...and humidity breeds molds and mildew.
J
Jim Maroldo
Humidity & mold
Randy, we've found that the Nicro vent, Lemon Oil finish, airing out the (new) cushions, and "DampRid" work for us here in Ocean Gate. BTW, you can get 1/2-gallon refills at the Home Depot for considerably lower cost than at boating stores. I don't know if anyone has a better idea, but our original cushions stunk to high heaven, and I was never able to figure out how to get rid of the smell. So we got rid of 'em! The Lil' Wass Ett has been fine ever since! Jim Maroldo
Randy, we've found that the Nicro vent, Lemon Oil finish, airing out the (new) cushions, and "DampRid" work for us here in Ocean Gate. BTW, you can get 1/2-gallon refills at the Home Depot for considerably lower cost than at boating stores. I don't know if anyone has a better idea, but our original cushions stunk to high heaven, and I was never able to figure out how to get rid of the smell. So we got rid of 'em! The Lil' Wass Ett has been fine ever since! Jim Maroldo
M
Mark
Use a dehumidifier
I use a dehumidifier and love it. Routed the drain hose to my shower sump. All I have to do is plug it in and I come back to a dry odor-free boat - except for the slight odor coming from my head, but that is a separate problem.
I use a dehumidifier and love it. Routed the drain hose to my shower sump. All I have to do is plug it in and I come back to a dry odor-free boat - except for the slight odor coming from my head, but that is a separate problem.
K
KEN MATEJKA
MOLD/MILDEW HATES LIGHT
I WIPE ALL INTERIOR SURFACES OF MY BOAT WITH LEMON OIL EVERY OTHER WEEK AND I LEAVE A 100 WATT 110 VOLT LIGHT BULB ON AT ALL TIMES I AM NOT ON THE BOAT. THE THEORY IS THAT MILDEW DOES NOT GROW WELL IN HIGH LIGHT CONDITIONS. MY BOAT REMAINS MILDEW FREE BY USING THESE 2 SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS.
I WIPE ALL INTERIOR SURFACES OF MY BOAT WITH LEMON OIL EVERY OTHER WEEK AND I LEAVE A 100 WATT 110 VOLT LIGHT BULB ON AT ALL TIMES I AM NOT ON THE BOAT. THE THEORY IS THAT MILDEW DOES NOT GROW WELL IN HIGH LIGHT CONDITIONS. MY BOAT REMAINS MILDEW FREE BY USING THESE 2 SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS.
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