Still Stinks

[bcboomer]

Our new to us O'Day 40 came complete with REALLY smelly holding tank hoses. The system was so poorly designed with low loops etc that we decided to go with a C-Head. After removing the tank, and yards and yards of hoses, the smell persists in the V-berth and cabinets. We've stripped out the wood platform and washed the fiberglass and gelcoat twice with bilge and boat cleaner. The smell is still in the fiberglass and the fabric liner. The drawers stink. Any suggestions?

[tamicatana]

I'm a firm believer in bleach.

Alternatively, you can spray with tea-tree oil. Two teaspoons oil to two cups water

[Ocean Girl]

Also try KO. It eats the anaerobic bacteria i believe. And for Gods sake read Peggie's book about boat odors.( yes drama is warranted in this occasion ) Have you checked the sump too? Simple green for Fabic, though the KO may be good for that too.
In the end a good paint job may be in order..?

[Ocean Girl]

Links
Raritan K.O. Kills Odors Bioactive Treatment

Amazon.com: Peggie Hall: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

[Crimea Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

Also try KO. It eats the anaerobic bacteria i believe. And for Gods sake read Peggie's book about boat odors.( yes drama is warranted in this occasion ) Have you checked the sump too? Simple green for Fabic, though the KO may be good for that too.
In the end a good paint job may be in order..?

A1+ Simple Green or KO. Let is slosh around for day or two. Otherwise a sealer coat of paint might be in order as Ocean Girl suggests. Some people just are oblivious to stench until it permeates too long. Hopefully you have it half conquered already.

[ohdrinkboy]

have you checked your upper lip

[Crimea Cruiser]

Another option that does not necessarily get rid of odor, but seals it in and covers it, is to open everything up in interior, seal hatches and smoke bomb it with several days of burning incense. Not just a little, but smokehouse quantities. You can get an incense in numerous scents, and some with antiseptic qualities like tea tree oil too.

[Matt sachs]

I agree get Peggys book, or e-mail her. Shes a hoot.

[peghall]

Wellll...since you're taking my name in vain here, I'll drop in and help out.

There is a product that will totally eliminate any odor...PROVIDED that the SOURCE of the odor has been completely removed. It's called PureAyre. PureAyre I first came across it at a boat show in Seattle sometime around 2005...they gave me some samples to take home and the stuff knocked my socks off...it WORKS! And I have first hand experience in just how well it works: my dad spent the last 4 of his 95 years in a nursing home..I did his laundry at home, which required dealing with lots of accidents...for 3 years I bought PureAyre gallons by the case! And not only does it work on the type of odors you're dealing with, but it's the only product I've found that will also eliminate diesel and even smoke odors. We've all had meat and/or diary products spoil in a fridge. PureAyre is rated for use around food and is the only thing I've found that get rid of THAT odor too!

Sorry if I sound like a shill for PureAyre...I'm not...have no connection whatever with 'em.

So...assuming that you've already removed all the sources of odors and thoroughly cleaned the whole boat, here's what you do:

Buy a couple of gallons of the stuff (get the "household" formula, it costs less and works just as well as the "marine" version). Also buy a gallon size pump-up garden sprayer...and get a good one 'cuz cheap ones don't work very well. Ortho makes a very good one for use with their Round-up. Spray--just a nice mist, you don't have to drown stuff in it--every CLEAN surface, nook and cranny...inside of drawers--bottoms of 'em too...lockers inside and out, especially those that the hoses passed through...the whole bilge...every inch of the boat. Then just let it dry, leaving all hatches and lockers open, fans running if possible, for 24 hours. If you still have any odor anywhere, you either missed a spot in cleaning or treating.

As for your fabrics and soft goods...you'll want to use enough to penetrate all the way through the liner, cushions to the middle from both sides. If you can put soft goods out in the sun to dry, all the better.

Good luck!

Oh...btw...I've been invited to come and give a seminar at the SSCA GAM in Melbourne FL in Nov...would love to meet any of y'all who plan to be there.

[Jim Cate]

Hi Peggie,

I thought you told us that you had retired!! But like the retired fire wagon horse hearing the fire bell, a whiff of holding tank and you're off and running.

Good to have you back, lady!

Cheers,

Jim

[Teknav]

For the ULTIMATE (nuclear bomb) solution to smelly fungal growth, bacterial and viral growth, use Formaldehyde with Bleach (10:90) solution mix; not sold in stores. Wipe surfaces or soak tubing for a few hours. No odor causing organism can live through this solution. PERIOD. WARNING: Formalin/Formaldehyde is a cancer causing agent and can damage the liver...you must wear a mask, and minimize your exposure to it. Formaldehyde is a stinky chemical; plenty of aeration is required and plenty of water rinse-off is necessary post application. Good luck!

Mauritz

[peghall]

Not exactly how I'd have put it, but an accurate assessment nonetheless!

[bcboomer]

Thanks for all the ideas. Since the odor sources are gone I'll start with a wash with 20% bleach solution then rinse with vinegar. PureAyre will be next as it should be safe on the wood in the lockers and drawers.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by tamicatana

I'm a firm believer in bleach.

I'll start with a wash with 20% bleach solution then rinse with vinegar.

Bleach will do it.

But bleach is already 5% sodium hydroxide so breaking it down by 80% water will be a joke not worth telling.

Just splatter Clorox on in its full 5% solution.


Mark

[peghall]

It's ok with me if you want to do three times as much work as you need to... first you wash with bleach, then you rinse (btw, don't combine bleach & vinegar...that combo creates a gas that's even more lethal than that produced by combining bleach and ammonia)....and FINALLY you do the easy job--just spraying, no washing or rinsing--that all you needed to do in the first place.