How to avoid musty smell

feb · 07-19-2010, 12:14 PM

After a weekend like we just had, kids in and out of the boat all day, the boat rugs (non snappable) are soaked. It's Sunday evening and I have to cover her up and head home. I know when I come back in 5 days and open up that cover it's going to be a bit musty after sitting in 5 days of hazy hot and humid weather.

Any tips on anything I can do to help with this issue or is it just something to get over. I'm starting to see some mold on the inside of my boat cover and want to clean that up and stop it from happening.

jrc · 07-19-2010, 12:28 PM

Obviously you should tend to the visible mold issue as soon as possible with some strong cleaner and sunlight.

The answer to the damp carpets is more heat. Check out goldenrod. They are basically rod shaped electricheaters that are safe to use in wet areas and on a boat. You need to have electric access for these to be usefull. Ventilation is also important, can you leave the cover open so air can get in and out but not rain?

Wolfeboro_Baja · 07-20-2010, 08:39 AM

Perhaps this product would help? I've never used it (or anything like it) but I have read on other forums that they are helpful in controlling moisture. Also try Googling "moisture control boat"; there seemed to be quite a few products out there for controlling moisture in boats, campers, etc.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...classNum=10701

AC2717 · 07-20-2010, 08:44 AM

Those DampRid plastic buckets work really good beleive it or not, have to leave the boat covered though or else will just suck in moister from the air outside
Can get them almost anywhere

jrc · 07-20-2010, 09:56 AM

we use the damp-rid type products during the off-season, seem to work well.

I just don't know if the have enough capacity to deal with really wet carpets. Cheap enough to try.

NoBozo · 07-20-2010, 02:20 PM

Besides Carpets, Cushions get soaked as well. The water gets in through the stitching and the foam stuffing acts like a BIG Sponge. Un-zip the cushion cover and reach in and see if the foam is wet. If it is, pull the foam out and "drain" it and dry it out on the dock. On a good breezy day with some sun, the cushion may dry out in a day. The cushion covers will need to be turned inside out and dried as well.

NB

robmac · 07-21-2010, 03:54 PM

They showed a product on Ship Shape tv for that problem,you can look on their site for it.

07-19-2010, 12:14 PM	#1
feb Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Meredith (Winnisquam) & Nashua, NH Posts: 209 Thanks: 25 Thanked 20 Times in 17 Posts	How to avoid musty smell After a weekend like we just had, kids in and out of the boat all day, the boat rugs (non snappable) are soaked. It's Sunday evening and I have to cover her up and head home. I know when I come back in 5 days and open up that cover it's going to be a bit musty after sitting in 5 days of hazy hot and humid weather. Any tips on anything I can do to help with this issue or is it just something to get over. I'm starting to see some mold on the inside of my boat cover and want to clean that up and stop it from happening.

07-20-2010, 08:39 AM	#3
Wolfeboro_Baja Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hopkinton NH Posts: 395 Thanks: 88 Thanked 80 Times in 46 Posts	Perhaps this product would help? I've never used it (or anything like it) but I have read on other forums that they are helpful in controlling moisture. Also try Googling "moisture control boat"; there seemed to be quite a few products out there for controlling moisture in boats, campers, etc. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...classNum=10701 __________________ Cancer SUCKS!

07-20-2010, 08:44 AM	#4
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,522 Thanks: 747 Thanked 344 Times in 257 Posts	Those DampRid plastic buckets work really good beleive it or not, have to leave the boat covered though or else will just suck in moister from the air outside Can get them almost anywhere __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"

07-19-2010, 12:28 PM	#2
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	Obviously you should tend to the visible mold issue as soon as possible with some strong cleaner and sunlight. The answer to the damp carpets is more heat. Check out goldenrod. They are basically rod shaped electricheaters that are safe to use in wet areas and on a boat. You need to have electric access for these to be usefull. Ventilation is also important, can you leave the cover open so air can get in and out but not rain?

07-20-2010, 09:56 AM	#5
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	we use the damp-rid type products during the off-season, seem to work well. I just don't know if the have enough capacity to deal with really wet carpets. Cheap enough to try.

The Following User Says Thank You to jrc For This Useful Post:
OCDACTIVE (07-20-2010)

07-20-2010, 02:20 PM	#6
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	Besides Carpets, Cushions get soaked as well. The water gets in through the stitching and the foam stuffing acts like a BIG Sponge. Un-zip the cushion cover and reach in and see if the foam is wet. If it is, pull the foam out and "drain" it and dry it out on the dock. On a good breezy day with some sun, the cushion may dry out in a day. The cushion covers will need to be turned inside out and dried as well. NB

07-21-2010, 03:54 PM	#7
robmac Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashua,Meredith Posts: 951 Thanks: 213 Thanked 106 Times in 81 Posts	They showed a product on Ship Shape tv for that problem,you can look on their site for it.