Jack Tyler on the SSCA board suggested I post this question for Peggy Hall on this board. I'm about to become the proud owner of a fiberglass over wood hulled, plywood uppers boat that's seen better days. She's been sitting in a dock for some years, and is el stinko inside. 8cP I'd say the smell is reminiscent of a whole lot of seaweed and rotten fish and other 'briny deep' smells, with a healthy (??) mixture of mildew and dry rot (which she has plenty of). Aaannyway, Jack suggested I try to find Peggy and ask her the best way to de-stinkify a boat. And advice from anybody else would also be useful.
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Detergent, water, and a LOT of elbow grease!
Your story brings back memories of what my last boat smelled like when I bought her--a wet bilge that hadn't cleaned in at least 5 years, permeated sanitation hoses, mildewed lockers and softgoods (carpet and upholstery) that not only stank but had stains I didn't even want to speculate about. First, toss all the cushions, any carpets and or rugs, life jackets and everything else that's loose off the boat. Then either grab a scrub brush, a bucket, several gallons of Raritan B.C. and start scrubbing...better yet, borrow or buy a power washer--1200 psi at Home Depot is about $200 and worth every penny IMO...I use it at home too..don't know how I ever got along without one. Aside from the dry rot, the bilge, chain locker and any sumps are your main odor culprits...followed closely by lockers and sanitation hose. Once you get the boat clean--really CLEAN--it'll be a lot easier to pinpoint the other sources. The key to really clean bilges, chain locker and sumps is a LOT of detergent, followed by rinsing ALL the dirty water out. A real advantage to using a power washer is its ability to clean and then rinse out places you can't reach. Once you get it all clean, use a hand pump, sponge bucket to remove the water the bilge pumps leave behind...your objective is a dry bilge. So leave hatches open so that plenty of fresh air can circulate for at least a day. Lockers are next. Since they're likely to be full of mildew, Clorox Cleanup is a good choice for scrubbing 'em all out. Again, leave all the doors and hatches open for a day. Now you'll be able to tell what else still stinks--sanitation hoses, dry rot--anything else you haven't found yet. If you only plan to work on the boat without any thought of sailing her this season, toss the cushions and soft goods. If you'd like to be able to use the cabin, you may be able to salvage 'em enough to make using 'em bearable. Buy a bottle of Raritan K.O. and pump sprayer bottle...spray the cushions enough to penetrate 'em completely, then put 'em in the sun for a day. They'll still be ugly and dirty
...but at least they won't stink! Get back with me after you gone this far...we'll discuss what to do next. Few things are more satisfying than turning a floating "bag lady" back into an elegant lady.
Your story brings back memories of what my last boat smelled like when I bought her--a wet bilge that hadn't cleaned in at least 5 years, permeated sanitation hoses, mildewed lockers and softgoods (carpet and upholstery) that not only stank but had stains I didn't even want to speculate about. First, toss all the cushions, any carpets and or rugs, life jackets and everything else that's loose off the boat. Then either grab a scrub brush, a bucket, several gallons of Raritan B.C. and start scrubbing...better yet, borrow or buy a power washer--1200 psi at Home Depot is about $200 and worth every penny IMO...I use it at home too..don't know how I ever got along without one. Aside from the dry rot, the bilge, chain locker and any sumps are your main odor culprits...followed closely by lockers and sanitation hose. Once you get the boat clean--really CLEAN--it'll be a lot easier to pinpoint the other sources. The key to really clean bilges, chain locker and sumps is a LOT of detergent, followed by rinsing ALL the dirty water out. A real advantage to using a power washer is its ability to clean and then rinse out places you can't reach. Once you get it all clean, use a hand pump, sponge bucket to remove the water the bilge pumps leave behind...your objective is a dry bilge. So leave hatches open so that plenty of fresh air can circulate for at least a day. Lockers are next. Since they're likely to be full of mildew, Clorox Cleanup is a good choice for scrubbing 'em all out. Again, leave all the doors and hatches open for a day. Now you'll be able to tell what else still stinks--sanitation hoses, dry rot--anything else you haven't found yet. If you only plan to work on the boat without any thought of sailing her this season, toss the cushions and soft goods. If you'd like to be able to use the cabin, you may be able to salvage 'em enough to make using 'em bearable. Buy a bottle of Raritan K.O. and pump sprayer bottle...spray the cushions enough to penetrate 'em completely, then put 'em in the sun for a day. They'll still be ugly and dirty
...but at least they won't stink! Get back with me after you gone this far...we'll discuss what to do next. Few things are more satisfying than turning a floating "bag lady" back into an elegant lady.Thanks, fellas!
It's really gratifying to know that at least a FEW people think I know what I'm talking about! More importantly...does this mean you'll buy my book???
It's really gratifying to know that at least a FEW people think I know what I'm talking about! More importantly...does this mean you'll buy my book???
Sweet Bilge?
After a successful fishing trip off the North Carolina coast, the friend of a friend brought back his part of the catch on ice in a cooler, which he put in the trunk of my car. When we had returned home and I mentioned that the cooler had leaked all over my trunk, he responded, "oh yeah, that cooler leaks a little." That nasty fishwater residue made my trunk stink despite all attempts to clean it with everything I could think of. Finally a buddy told me to sprinkle oil of wintergreen liberally throughout the area - BINGO - no more fish smell.
After a successful fishing trip off the North Carolina coast, the friend of a friend brought back his part of the catch on ice in a cooler, which he put in the trunk of my car. When we had returned home and I mentioned that the cooler had leaked all over my trunk, he responded, "oh yeah, that cooler leaks a little." That nasty fishwater residue made my trunk stink despite all attempts to clean it with everything I could think of. Finally a buddy told me to sprinkle oil of wintergreen liberally throughout the area - BINGO - no more fish smell.
It'll be available from the online store here
as well as directly from the publisher and should be in all the major book stores and boat stores.
as well as directly from the publisher and should be in all the major book stores and boat stores.
Title:
"Get Rid of Boat Odors! - A Guide to Marine Sanitation and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor." Publisher is Seaworthy. Barring any production problems, it should be out in a couple of months. It better be, 'cuz I'm booked into Pacific Sail Expo to give seminars and sell copies in April!
"Get Rid of Boat Odors! - A Guide to Marine Sanitation and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor." Publisher is Seaworthy. Barring any production problems, it should be out in a couple of months. It better be, 'cuz I'm booked into Pacific Sail Expo to give seminars and sell copies in April!
Will report back
Wow - thanks for all the advice. I don't have possession of the boat yet, soon as I get her I'll try everything you say and report back. I'll rent a power washer for the big clean up.
Wow - thanks for all the advice. I don't have possession of the boat yet, soon as I get her I'll try everything you say and report back. I'll rent a power washer for the big clean up.
Thanks!
Hey, thanks! I'll check out the book when it comes out, but for now I'm better equipped to deal with the immediate needs. I'll definitely try to scrape up a power washer. Annie, soon to be captain of the good ship Funny Smells 8cP
Hey, thanks! I'll check out the book when it comes out, but for now I'm better equipped to deal with the immediate needs. I'll definitely try to scrape up a power washer. Annie, soon to be captain of the good ship Funny Smells 8cP
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