Musty Odor on Boats

[embo]

Has anyone dealt with a boat that has been moored for a while on the water and has that musty smell? Do you know if it can be removed and if so how? Does it ever complety go away?

[jwanck11]

Let the boat air out in the sun for as long as is possible - open all the hatches and take up all the seats, etc.

You can also use a carpet cleaner.

[jbort]

Where is the boat? See any mold anywhere?

[embo]

Well, it's been at a lake for the summer...short summer but still at the lake moored there. I suspect it's just got moisture all over and needs a good drying. But I wante to know if anyone ever has delt with this with their own boat or known of someone that has. I was told to take a pressure washer to every inch of the rug. Using only the widest setting on the tip being careful not to get too close to the rug. As the water goes from being dirty to clean, then move on to the next section. What does that sound like to the rest of you? Is there a spray or anything that is know to work after cleaning out in this way that will prevent/kill any fungi if there is any?

[MoneyPity]

I would not pressure wash the carpet. You may cause more harm than good. You may want to steam clean it with a carpet cleaner that deodorizes. I have used Carpet cleaner meant for pets. It typically will clean better and kill off some of the bacteria that may be producing the smell.

I would also open up seats and look for mildew.

Once you have cleaned carpet and any mildew make sure you put boat in direct sunlight for a couple of days to dry out the boat. Remove seat bottoms and lay in grass with as much of seat bottoms off the ground as possible to make sure that they completely dry out.

Once dry leave them on the grass during the day and the grass will help pull odor out. Then I would treat them with 303 protectant. Once done you can put charcoal in a couple of small buckets and with covers on boat it will absorb some of the smell that may be lingering. Just be careful with the charcoal dust and keep it off the carpet and vinyl.

In the Midwest it has been so damp that moisture would have built up in a covered boat especially one kept on a covered lift. The family who bought my boat kept putting boat on lift at end of day and never let the interior dry before covering. Even though the bow and cockpit covers have a total of three vents, he has green mildew all over the seats top and bottoms in the cockpit area as well as the storage under the rear hatches due to putting gear and boat away soaking wet for 4 days or so before the next use.. After about 4 weeks on the lift he has a major mildew problem and green candy stains all over the place from the grand kids. When I showed them the boat one of the kids dropped their candy on seat and it took me over an hour to get most of the stain out. Kind of sad. After a few weeks it no longer looks like a new boat.