Anyone who has a boat as old as mine knows the smell in lockers and on things stored in lockers, especialy clothing...a musty, mildewy smell. There is no mildew to be seen, but the smell is related. Is there a way to eliminate and not just cover up that odor?
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
Hello Louis
Louis: You should try some of the KO from the website. Peggie just had someone discuss the odor from stinky waste hoses. I believe that you just spray this in the lockers and let it sit. Another thing that I am looking at the an Ozone generator for the boat. This is suppose to kill mold and mildew and will also keep the boat fresh smelling. They are not cheap ($250+) but may be a worth while investment. A moldy/mildewed interior is very hard if not impossible to clean, especially if it is on the fabric and cushions of the boat. The delta region can be a terrible place in the winter. Unlike the area where you live the humidity in the winter and the fog can turn a clean boat into a green and smelly place. We leave some fans running and some of the turbo de-humidifyers going too during the winter months.
Louis: You should try some of the KO from the website. Peggie just had someone discuss the odor from stinky waste hoses. I believe that you just spray this in the lockers and let it sit. Another thing that I am looking at the an Ozone generator for the boat. This is suppose to kill mold and mildew and will also keep the boat fresh smelling. They are not cheap ($250+) but may be a worth while investment. A moldy/mildewed interior is very hard if not impossible to clean, especially if it is on the fabric and cushions of the boat. The delta region can be a terrible place in the winter. Unlike the area where you live the humidity in the winter and the fog can turn a clean boat into a green and smelly place. We leave some fans running and some of the turbo de-humidifyers going too during the winter months.
P
Paul Akers
Two comments
1. For fabrics, we have found "Fabreeze" helpful but not a permanent solution. But Nicro solar vents help quite a bit. We have one mounted on a hatch in the center of the salon. 2. Apparently the ozone things work pretty well, as Steve said in the other post. I know a car dealer that uses one for his used car inventory. If a car smells of smoke, etc, they run the unit overnight in the closed car to remove the odors. He has used it in his power boat (large air volume) quite successfully and has offerred it to me to borrow. I haven't taken him up on the offer yet.
1. For fabrics, we have found "Fabreeze" helpful but not a permanent solution. But Nicro solar vents help quite a bit. We have one mounted on a hatch in the center of the salon. 2. Apparently the ozone things work pretty well, as Steve said in the other post. I know a car dealer that uses one for his used car inventory. If a car smells of smoke, etc, they run the unit overnight in the closed car to remove the odors. He has used it in his power boat (large air volume) quite successfully and has offerred it to me to borrow. I haven't taken him up on the offer yet.
B
Been there
Ventilation, ventilation, and ventilation
The most important thing is to keep the boat well ventilated. The little solar-fan vents work well. Install one so that it blows OUT, not in. Leave closets and bins open, or cut vents into their doors.
The most important thing is to keep the boat well ventilated. The little solar-fan vents work well. Install one so that it blows OUT, not in. Leave closets and bins open, or cut vents into their doors.
B
Bryan C.
P
Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
No to ozone generators on boats
Your suggestion to use K.O. to get rid of the musty smell in lockers is a good one...I use it for that too. It's very versatile product...also works on cushions (let 'em dry in the sun for a day) and pet accident sites. However... An ozone generator on a boat is a bad idea. The health hazards from it may be arguable, but it's UN-arguable that ozone is highly corrosive...AND it's even more destructive to rubber, neoprene and hoses than it is to metal. Besides, ozone is just an "air freshener"...it doesn't eliminate the source of any odor...and the only way to get rid of an odor is to get rid of whatever is producing it. Otherwise, you're stuck with continually trying to purge that odor from the air. I recently heard a great idea for dealing with humidity in boats, but it does require shore power: a household de-humidifer with a drain (this takes a little modification of any basic table-top unit) routed overboard. Inexpensive...doesn't generate any corrosive chemicals...and the people who've done it, even in south FL say it works--no more mildew in their boats.
Your suggestion to use K.O. to get rid of the musty smell in lockers is a good one...I use it for that too. It's very versatile product...also works on cushions (let 'em dry in the sun for a day) and pet accident sites. However... An ozone generator on a boat is a bad idea. The health hazards from it may be arguable, but it's UN-arguable that ozone is highly corrosive...AND it's even more destructive to rubber, neoprene and hoses than it is to metal. Besides, ozone is just an "air freshener"...it doesn't eliminate the source of any odor...and the only way to get rid of an odor is to get rid of whatever is producing it. Otherwise, you're stuck with continually trying to purge that odor from the air. I recently heard a great idea for dealing with humidity in boats, but it does require shore power: a household de-humidifer with a drain (this takes a little modification of any basic table-top unit) routed overboard. Inexpensive...doesn't generate any corrosive chemicals...and the people who've done it, even in south FL say it works--no more mildew in their boats.
M
Mike Knight
Vent Companionway Board
I bought two teak louvers, cut a opening in my top companionway board, and mounted them back to back with a screen insert (to keep critters out)between them. The louvers are inserted downward. This has worked well, and I have zero mildew. Odor is kept at a minimum with good cleaning every six-months or so. MK (Chivalry II)
I bought two teak louvers, cut a opening in my top companionway board, and mounted them back to back with a screen insert (to keep critters out)between them. The louvers are inserted downward. This has worked well, and I have zero mildew. Odor is kept at a minimum with good cleaning every six-months or so. MK (Chivalry II)
P
Paul Akers
J
Jim Rice
Clean the upholstery
We have a upholstery-cleaning service come in every spring and clean the interior cushions (in our garage). They also apply an anti-mildew coating. While ventilation is the answer to smell problems, this has helped a lot. PS--storing the cushions in the attic over the winter, and not on the boat, helps too.
We have a upholstery-cleaning service come in every spring and clean the interior cushions (in our garage). They also apply an anti-mildew coating. While ventilation is the answer to smell problems, this has helped a lot. PS--storing the cushions in the attic over the winter, and not on the boat, helps too.
B
Bryan C.
Bilge clean?
If your bilge has not been thoroughly cleaned out for a long time, you can count on the slimy yucky stuff that accumulates adding to the "old boat" smell.
If your bilge has not been thoroughly cleaned out for a long time, you can count on the slimy yucky stuff that accumulates adding to the "old boat" smell.
B
Bob Rutland
Electric Dehumidifier
I have a friend that uses a portable electric dehumidifier. When these machines run the produce alot of water, so he rigged a hose from the machine's holding tank that drains into the bildge where it is pumped out buy the bildge pump. Works great! Try it, Bob S/V Lady Di II
I have a friend that uses a portable electric dehumidifier. When these machines run the produce alot of water, so he rigged a hose from the machine's holding tank that drains into the bildge where it is pumped out buy the bildge pump. Works great! Try it, Bob S/V Lady Di II
P
Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
I'd rig the dehumidfier to drain...
...directly overboard, not into the bilge. Bilge pumps don't pump the bilge completely dry...that leaves water in the bilge that just creates more humidity in the boat...and wet bilges can get VERY stinky in hot weather.
...directly overboard, not into the bilge. Bilge pumps don't pump the bilge completely dry...that leaves water in the bilge that just creates more humidity in the boat...and wet bilges can get VERY stinky in hot weather.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.