Removing smell in the cabin

T

TheMaples

New Member
Mar 8, 2009
10
Indianapolis
Hello- my dad and I are restoring a late 70's 240 cuddy and have pulled just about everything out of the cabin and we still have a pretty bad smell that we're having a hard time getting rid of. I just found this club... Anyone out there who has restored an older cuddy who can reccomend any product or anything we could do to get rid of a strong mildewy old wet carpet kind of smell? Thanks!
 
Welcome to CSR.

Before we get started, put some additional info about your boat, where you boat, etc. This will help others here help you in the future.

As for the smell, I'm not sure of the remedy, aside from removal of old carpet. What have you used to clean the carpet? Is this the carpet on the sides?

Gregg
 
Thanks Gregg... I will fill out some more details. We typically boat on Monroe Reservoir in southern Indiana and recently bought a 1975 Sea Ray 240 SRV Cuddy Cabin.

We have everything pulled out of the Cabin itself. The carpet and headliner were both holding a strong stinch in them and all that has been thrown away. Before we go replacing everything, there is still a strong smell.... almost like a combo of urine around where the toilet was with a mix of mildewy type smell. Its gotten much better, but not totally gone. I was just wondering if anyone knew of a good marine type product or something that was strong enough to get rid of odor's in the cabin before we replace the carpet and liner. Everything has been gutted out. Thanks!
 
Hi,
This is my first post on here guys.

My father used to sell a machine in the medical industry for doing what you are talking about. We had one in the house because we used to have a dog and anytime he had a little accident in the house my father would bring this machine out and it would eliminate the odour. It almost made the air smell of the seaside. Anyway, he called it an Ozone Generator and I'm fairly confident that having come 6 or 7 years from then, you can pick cheap ones up on ebay. Whether they would be of the same quality as the one he had is a question but for the sake of a few pounds (or dollars as it would be for you) its worth a shot. Hope this helps.

Kind Regards
Ross
 
If the smell is still left even without fabrics, the mold is still on the wood itself. In order to get rid of the smell, you need to get rid of the mold. Spray everything down with a bleach solution at a 1:1 ratio with water. A garden sprayer may come in handy. Wipe everything down after you let it sit for a while. Research contact times because I'm unsure off the top of my head. You may want to do a 2nd application as wel. That should clear things up.

Doug
 
1:1 ratio bleach seems a bit caustic to materials huh? I can't even imagine putting that on any cloth material. In the hospital we use a solution of 1:8 on hard surfaces.

I know I have used enzyme based cleaners with success with pet odors. My experience with them is successful and non-toxic. You just need to find one specific to mold/spores
 
Time and air do wonders, along with a little air freshner boost from Fabreeze (Good spray-on product) and an oil-based air freshner of the scent of your choice.

My new (used) boat's smell almost killed me the first night aboard. It took several months, but it's gone now. I think it was wet cherry, but there may have been a hint of curry in there too. My broker said it was just the natural wood. It was pretty bad. Now, the slight hint of it brings back very strong, warm memories.
 
Kurt said:
1:1 ratio bleach seems a bit caustic to materials huh? I can't even imagine putting that on any cloth material. In the hospital we use a solution of 1:8 on hard surfaces.

I know I have used enzyme based cleaners with success with pet odors. My experience with them is successful and non-toxic. You just need to find one specific to mold/spores
Click to expand...

A 1:1 ratio is a 50% diluted bleach solution. If you want it killed, the solution needs to be strong.

My recommendation was based on the fact that the interior was gutted as he said all the fabric was removed. I may have misinterpreted though. If this solution gets on anything fabric related, you will remove the color.

Doug
 
I thought that might be the case, just was not explained well. Good thing about about bleach is it is cheap and effective. Kind of like rubbing it down with gas and lighting a match. Sorry Doug.
 
Thanks for all the good info guys. We do have everything gutted out. Anything that could be unscrewed and pulled is out, along with all carpet and liner, everything. I will start with the bleach mix and go from there. I do think its gotten a little better just letting it air out, but definitely needs work to get it alot better. Thanks again!!
 
After you get the smell out following some of the advice from above and put the whole thing back together, buy a few sprigs of natural colored (not dyed) dried eucalyptus stems and stick them in a locker down below out of sight. They will give your boat a pleasent smell for the season. Spiders do not like the smell which is a plus. This will work well in your warm, humid, summer weather. We've been using it for years. We buy it at a large grocery store chain (Meijer) although craft stores sometimes sell it as well.
 
Blackmagicthe1st
I see youre in Northern Ireland. You must have a good story about how you got your Searay. And what about running it in the rough north atlantic?.
On the Discovery Channel I've seen those videos of those amazing pilot boats smashing out into the Atlantic with 12' waves.
 
Another product that would probably work well is called Consume. You can get it at commercial cleaning supply stores. It eats organic matter and is great to have at the boat and at home.
 
Kurt said:
I thought that might be the case, just was not explained well. Good thing about about bleach is it is cheap and effective. Kind of like rubbing it down with gas and lighting a match. Sorry Doug.
Click to expand...

I like that one...."rubbing it down with gas and lighting a match" -- That would definately take care of the urine oder. Now, how do I get rid of that burned wood smell?:grin:
 
+1 on the ozone generator after everything has been cleaned. When I had my detail shop I had a customer with a convertible who had left the top down while at the beach. Someone decided to dispose of a bushel of crab remains all on the inside... So - after everything had been taken out and cleaned we still had a smell - put the ozone generator in there for 2 days and the smell was gone. I think this is the job which made me go out and find something office related...:smt101
 
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