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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Dealing with Smell

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John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/12/2005 : 07:50:33

So, now that the boat is on the water and has been sailed, I can now start to address some pressing issues. Like the smell. When first opened up for the day, I am hit with a smell that is def a boat smell (must-mildew type), but there seems to be something else, like from the toilet. This one has me baffled since the PO siad he never used it in the 3 years he had it. There is RV anti-freeze in the bowl (or I think that is what it is).

So, I am curious how everyone else deals with the boat smell.

I am thinking of hauling out all the cushions, carpet, etc and cleaning entire interior with a bleach solution, then installing a solar fan to keep the air moving all the time.

'84, C-25, SR/FK, #4663, "ILLUSIONS", Chazy, NY (Lake Champlain)
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/illusions

Edited by - on

John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2005 : 07:52:53

Here is a link I found that appears to be quite helpful.

http://shop.catalinaowners.com/detail.tpl?cart=1123846529743822& fno=20& group=327

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2005 : 09:57:22

Wash down the interior with a TSP solution then wipe down the teak with lemon oil. Don't forget to clean the bilges and lockers. Also install a vent of some sort.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2005 : 15:34:05

One cup of vinegar mixed with one gallon of water also works to get rid of milddew. There's also a variety of household bathroom cleaners which do a good job on mildew.

After washing this spring I repainted the hull interior with white topside paint to which I added mildewside - available at most paint stores. It helps to keep mildew from forming and penetrating the paint.

Edited by - aeckhart on 08/12/2005 15:52:30

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2005 : 09:45:20

John...I had the same problem when we purchased "Great Escape" last fall. While on the hard I pulled everything readily removable and then methodically washed the interior down as suggested above. Don't overlook blasting with a garden hose the space between the interior liner and the hull. Access can be got through the inspection port behind the head, under the storage areas. etc. although be wary of your wiring. I was amazed at how much crud presumably left over from when the boat was assembled washed down into the bilge and it did smell bad! Then we replaced all hoses and the head which leaked. Last I pulled and scrubbed the freshwater tank. All combined foul smells are gone.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2005 : 16:03:02

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by aeckhart
 
After washing this spring I repainted the hull interior with white topside paint...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I,I,I cannot imagine needing to do that! What happened to your interior to justify that!?

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John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2005 : 20:53:06

Stink appears to come from the access under the v-birth where the depth sounder and knot metere sensors are mounted. Thinking it is the calking that was used.

I totally scrubbed the v-birth, then used clorox cleaner, then put a stickup in the access area. Smell was gone for most of the day, but is creeping back.

Plan to scrub the rest of the boat tomorrow and see what else I can do.

Edited by - on

mwalkup
1st Mate

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USA
79 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2005 : 21:14:16

John,
wow I hope you solve the source of your boats funk, because when you do, I believe it will be a joy to remove the hatch covers, revel in the smell of a good boat.
Everytime I open my boat up I'm struck with a kind of musky boat aroma that reminds me of a) teen spirit b) sea-faring dreams yet fullfilled c) alot of hard work thats paid off great dividends.
d) all of the above..
Everyones boat can and should be so lucky.,

83 t/r f/k

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2005 : 09:46:07

Frank,
I don't think anything major happened to the interior other than she had been long ignored. The hoses,water and holding tanks were foul. I was surprised, though, at how much dust (looked like fiberglass flour or something used perhaps as a release agent) washed out from behind the interior liner into the bilge. Really wasn't that big of an effort. The real (boring) work was cleaning up the spilled stain/varnish/? the PO had hidden beneath the carpeting. A little acetone, a stiff brush, and a little effort and it's as clean as new. Now on to the remaining countless projects....

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2005 : 15:06:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">how much crud presumably left over from when the boat was assembled <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Everyone should take a hose to their bilges and get as much of the crud out as possible....stink or not. Because if you ever end up with a lot of uninvited water in the bilge, the crud WILL start migrating, right into the intake hose of your bilge pump....

Edited by - Oscar on 08/14/2005 15:07:24

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2005 : 18:51:52

When installing our stero system recently, I ran the power cable from the power panel, to the stero behind the galley.
While reaching around to find the snake I used, I found all three of the round cotouts from the cup holders down in the bilge area, they were already damp from an earlier leak test. Gald I found them early.

Edited by - on

John V.
Admiral

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USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2005 : 21:32:06

Hey Frank, Having been on Al's boat this summer I can attest to the fine smell of his interior. I think he meant that he re-painted the locker interiors. I have done that also and it does prevent mildew from forming in the lockers. It also helps to pop the cushions and open up the lockers when you are going to be off the boat for a week. It lets air into the potentially stinky parts and keeps the moisture from building up. Being in the upper Great lakes we deal with a lot of cold water and in the humid summer that makes for a lot of condensation in the closed hull spaces.

Edited by - on

John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2005 : 07:20:17

So, The entire interior has been scrubbed, minus the bilge. Amazing how bad things get. the aft port cushion in the starboard berth was total scrap. the entire length of the left side of the cover is just rotted away. the floor of the birth was black with mildew.

I took down the curtains and will try and clean them, but not too optimistic. The curtains in the head and sink area are trashed. They actually fell apart when removing them. Interestingly enough though is that you can barely see in the boat with the dark windows, so I may not put curtains back up.

Murphy's law. As I am cleaning everything and trying to get it all dry, the rain comes. So, who knows what shape things are in now. I may have to start from scratch. Definately going to bring in a small fan to run all the time. Hopefully order a solar fan in a week or two.

Edited by - on

PamC
Navigator

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171 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2005 : 16:10:36

John,

I read a thread on another forum about this and several folks swear by tea tree oil as a remedy for mildew. Haven't had to try it myself yet (knock on wood) but will probably use it if & when the need arises. Apparently it's more people, pet & nature friendly.

Edited by - on

John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2005 : 18:34:29

I will get a solar fan eventually, but for now, it's an electric, on shore power, on a timer, to run during the evening/morning hours. still smells 100% better.

Edited by - on

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