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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Fuel Locker Mold

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Peregrine
Admiral

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830 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/08/2013 : 17:49:53

I found a thread on this topic but it was locked, not sure why.
I have always had black mold migrating out of the fuel locker but it seems since getting a 4 stroke (no oil mixing) it is getting worse.
Do you have the same problem and if so what have you done about it?
I saw a post saying using "Tilex"might work.
Thoughts?
Thanks

John Gisondi
Peregrine #4762

*

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5431 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2013 : 17:54:12

I clean it out about once every two-three months in season.
I assume it's just some kind of evaporative hydrocarbon residue.
But it could be a form of mold promoted by ethanol/gasoline/oil mixture....

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4316 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2013 : 19:48:06

I work near the Houston Ship Channel where all the refineries are located and I see what appears to be the same black mold on huge storage tanks around the area.

Edited by - on

sfsmith
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2013 : 07:02:45

I've had the same problem. Bleach seems to clean it, but it always comes back. On the theory that the locker doesn't get enough air circulation, I installed a 3" diameter vent in the side of the lid. I'll see if it makes a difference this summer.

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2013 : 07:51:31

Yep. Tilex or Chlorox clean-up. Just spray on and wipe down.

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2013 : 09:49:53

I'm curious about leaving the lid propped up, even if just 3-4".

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4316 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2013 : 11:02:21

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser's work well too.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2013 : 12:13:13

Power washer will make quick work of it, but you will be soaked afterwards.
Bleach and water with a scrub brush works well, but wear rubber gloves.
I find that my butt also does a decent job rubbing it off, but then SWMBO complains about the laundry.

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4031 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2013 : 16:47:05

It's a mystery to me but I get it too. Also black sooty looking mold? on the tops of the cockpit seats. Bleach works for me.

Edited by - islander on 04/09/2013 16:49:54

Peregrine
Admiral

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830 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2013 : 19:46:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 Power washer will make quick work of it, but you will be soaked afterwards.
Bleach and water with a scrub brush works well, but wear rubber gloves.
I find that my butt also does a decent job rubbing it off, but then SWMBO complains about the laundry.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks that was useful.

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binky
Navigator

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USA
115 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2013 : 19:47:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PZell
 Yep. Tilex or Chlorox clean-up. Just spray on and wipe down.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I have the same issue, cockpit turns black due to this mold. I thought it was a result of coal dust......coal piers are nearby.

PZell, thank you for the tip, the Tilex worked like a champ. I was able to clean the cockpit in a 1/4 of the time that it had previously taken to scrub and scrub. Spray it on, let it sit for a few minutes, sponge it off and spray the boat down.

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Frank Law
Navigator

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USA
159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2013 : 10:56:59

I've had the same problem in the fuel locker ,for years ... I blame it on the lousy ethanol fuel ... I even get the same black crud inside the gas cover on my cars ... Any one else have that problem??
Frank Law
"ABOUT TIME"
# 3519 1983
SWK ,SR

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2013 : 14:32:06

Does anyone have any proof that this is actually mold? It's hard to imagine any strain of mold that would be attracted to hydrocarbons and ethanol.

The black gook accumulates on my transom around the motor, and on my HDPE fuel locker lid. It seems similar to the stuff that accumulates around the fuel tank on cars that I keep outside. My garage-kept cars don't accumulate it at all.

I've always assumed, based on the fact that it happens outside but not in my garage, that gas and exhaust fumes leave a little oily residue to which dust and pollen stick, and as they decay they turn black. It does not wash off easily (it's especially tenacious on the fuel locker lid), so I'll try the Tilex and see if it helps.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3478 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2013 : 20:41:41

I have the black gunky stuff in my fuel locker. It is my opinion that it forms from some of the gas vapor depositing a film on the inside, then mix some moisture, etc and that is what you get. It is directly linked to the gas. When you open the vent on the tank, that produces some of the gaseous mix. Also, when you disconnect the fuel connector from the outboard and tuck it into the locker, there is also some gas residue on that connector. I still get the black gunk but less so these days. When I use the outboard, I slide the gas tank out of the locker, open the vent, use it and when done, close the vent and then store it back in the locker. Less balck stuff but it eventually builds up and needs to be cleaned out.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/22/2013 : 07:01:27

I mentioned previously that I've seen the black gunk building up on my HDPE fuel locker cover. I had tried washing it with detergent over the past couple of years, and never got it off. Over the weekend I decided to try the Tilex recommendation. I didn't have any Tilex around, but I found a bottle of some stuff called Brawn Cleaner with Bleach. I don't even know where it came from, but I decided to try that before buying another bottle of Tilex, since we have too much stuff lying around the house anyway. It worked! I did need to use a scrub brush to get into the pebbled surface of the HDPE, but the stuff came right off. The cover is now cleaner than it was when I bought the boat.

I'll try this inside the locker itself, although the locker has stayed pretty clean. The hydrocarbon gunk seems to be preferentially attracted by the HDPE instead of the fiberglass.

Edited by - TakeFive on 04/22/2013 07:02:02

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