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Musty Smell Below

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Mike
Deckhand

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USA
9 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/07/2002 : 20:58:35

Has anyone discovered a good resource for fighting the musty, mildewy smell that comes with having a boat with a cabin. I know it's a boat and it is going to get wet inside from a number of sources, and it does dry out but the smell is nasty. I sure woul

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 02/07/2002 : 21:27:55

Other than cleaning witha bleach mixture to rid yourself of milldew what about using a stick up or bathroom deodorizer?

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John G-
Admiral

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793 Posts

Response Posted - 02/07/2002 : 21:41:42

Mike – Douglas is right. Use a mild bleach solution to get rid of any mildew. After that I clean with a mild soap and Real Lemon. Yep grocery store lemon and indeed the boat smells “lemony fresh” <img src=icon_smile

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Ken Cave
Navigator

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USA
148 Posts

Response Posted - 02/07/2002 : 23:13:10

There is another product out there that also works great and is from your local True Value Hardware Store. It is called Germicidal Cleaner and is used in hospitals to kill all sorts of stuff. It isn't as nasty as bleach, but does an excellent job of kil

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2002 : 08:38:58

As for the drying pellets, they work great. I would suggest buying the commercial pellets...Called Damp Rid. As I learned from previous posts, trying to rig up your own setup is fine, but 1. don' use metal and 2. Don't spill the collected water. The D

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2002 : 11:30:55

When I get that "musty smell below" my wife sends me to the shower with fresh undergarments <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> I couldn't resist that!
Becareful not to let the Damp Rid spill on anything after it has liquified as it is

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2002 : 12:00:21

Just in case you are price shopping Damp Rid and another product from the hardware store used on driveways in winter (Driveway Heat) its all the same stuff and the driveway stuff is cheaper. I think its all sodium chloride. One other thought if you have

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2002 : 13:36:54

Brakish is an understatement!!!!

Duane Wolff
"The Flying Wasp"
C-25, #401 std,sk
On the Hard for another Winter
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2dc20b3127cce9cd2f45b211a0000004010" border=0>

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andy p
1st Mate

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55 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2002 : 20:19:40

Hello Mike,

One source of odor down below is old plumbing. I replaced the line from the head to the waste tank using the expensive stuff (you only need a few feet) and put two SS clamps on either end. Adios odor!

Andy P.
#5708

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Bristle
Admiral

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USA
834 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2002 : 20:58:49

First, you have to get any mildew out--usually by using a bleach solution on all interior surfaces. Then, there's the cushions--a product call Febreze (from the supermarket) seems to help alot.

The most common cause of mildew is stagnant air--particul

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Mike
Deckhand

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USA
9 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2002 : 08:29:38

Andy P. I have suspected the head as a possible problem, when you say the "expensive stuff", what is the expensive stuff? I would be interested in replacing this as part of the attempt to extingush the smell below. And, by the way thanks for all of the

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n/a
deleted

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29 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2002 : 10:03:51

Hi Mike,

West Marine has a tubing called "Odorsafe" at $8 a foot. You can find cheaper tubing but since I only needed 3 feet or so it didn't make sense for me. Don't forget the double clamps on both ends and use the stainless steel variety. Good Luc

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Ronald Bales
Deckhand

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12 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2002 : 14:57:45

Once you clean the boat with a bleach product to remove mildew you can leave a bucket of charcoal brickets in the cabin. The charcoal will absorb the moisture in a real nice manner. Chance every time you fire up the dockside bbq.

Ron Bales
School's O

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Ronald Bales
Deckhand

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12 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2002 : 15:02:56

That should read change every time you fire up the dockside bbq.
As a school teacher I should do a better job of proofreading.

RB

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2002 : 15:11:37

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
That should read change every time you fire up the dockside bbq.
As a school teacher I should do a better job of proofreading.

RB

<

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Jeff
1st Mate

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37 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2002 : 19:43:58

Not to sound like an alarmist.... But for what it's worth, damp charcoal left in an area of limited ventillation has been known to spontaniously combust. So if you really want to go the charcoal route, some caution using charcoal would be wise. Limit th

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William Matley
1st Mate

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52 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2002 : 23:03:32

After you have done everythng that has already been suggested, the final act is to leave an open bar of Irish Spring soap sitting around. That will make your boat smell very clean and fresh.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/14/2002 : 13:37:57

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
After you have done everythng that has already been suggested, the final act is to leave an open bar of Irish Spring soap sitting around. Tha

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/14/2002 : 13:39:38

One last idea.

If your boat has shore power and 110 outlets, a glade plugin will help. Don't expect it to get rid of the problem, but it will leave your cabin a little fresher.....Although, that bar of Irish Spring sounds interesting...Do they still

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Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 02/14/2002 : 14:33:00

DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER!

Those little plug in air fresheners can be a very distinct fire hazard. They are one of the things we look for as a fire source. I haven't looked on the web, but I'd be willing to bet that a search would deliver enough news

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/14/2002 : 15:07:00

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER!

They are one of the things we look for as a fire source. I haven't looked on the web, but I'd be willing to

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Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 02/14/2002 : 15:35:20

Duanne,
I'm an insurance fire adjuster. Just make sure it's really windy when those jack stands fail! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Doug - #1913 Noeta

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ltenny
1st Mate

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35 Posts

Response Posted - 02/14/2002 : 17:40:14

I've read that using a household dehumidifier, if you have shore power, works well against mildew. Since those are a little expensive, what about just a 110 volt space heater running in the cabin? That would provide dry heat and would help circulate air

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Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 02/14/2002 : 17:58:06

I stressed about leaving a heater on the boat this Winter. Just before Chistmas I was down unloading anything that I though might freeze- beer, coke, canned goods etc. Then I noticed the condensation dripping down and mold growing up inside the windows o

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Rodney Tow
Deckhand

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USA
4 Posts

Response Posted - 02/14/2002 : 22:28:19

I cured the musty problem by purchasing a $13 fan from home depot and plugging it into a timer switch. The fan turns on for a few hours every day and keeps air circulating and there is no longer any musty smell. The fan I bought was one of the big squar

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.