Musty smell

[Bigplumbs]

Being new to proper Boats with cabins etc mine is smelling a bit musty there is no water getting in and it does not feel damp anywhere

I am sure this is a common issue what do others do to combat this

My boat is in the Uk which is a bit minging at the moment

 

[Oscar24]

Ventilltions the key,
i open all the windows every week and prop up seats to allow air flow underneath. I also use a stand alone dehumidifier using desicant which i replace every couple of weeks.
I also use a couple of stand alone air fresheners and replace every month.
Seems to keep the boat nice and fresh

 

[kashurst]

The air inside the boat gets damp over the winter and mould forms - hence the smell
best fix is a dehumidifier and a good airing every now and then.
If you leave one or two portholes open on opposite sides (and ends) of the boat and let the wind blow through that can help.

 

[shan]

Dehumidifier draining into the sink via a hose.

 

[Canopy Locked]

+1 to the above however it also helps to remove cushions / fabrics and give them a good airing. In the winter if the boat is not being used, it's as well to take these home to stop them getting damp.

 

[A_8]

Cleaning the blidges helps, all sorts of stuff get down there and with a bit of water sitting there for a long time I found it starts to smell.
I used bleach/clorine and flushed a few times once a year and it kept the boat without any odd smells.

Offcourse I always also made sure mold could not start to build using dehumidifiers and heat when needed.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Pointless using a dehumidifier if you leave the ports open...

 

[CX54WEK]

Can't say ours has ever smelt musty but we do use it most weekends and have the windows and hatches open whenever we are onboard.

Ventilation is the key.

 

[petem]

In a small boat like your Dennis, in the winter shut all the portholes and distribute some some de-humidifier crystal packs around the boat. I buy packs of 3 for Asda for a few quid and replace them every few months. A dry boat with no leaks will have hardly any moisture to absorb. As mentioned above, remove all cushions, etc and ensure that you're not getting damp under the mattresses. And ensure bilges are dry and clean.

In the summer, ventilate the boat well.

If the smells that you have don't go with some ventilation then ensure that all the bedding is freshly laundered, perhaps dry clean any curtains and give all non-porous surfaces a wipe. If the carpets can be removed then have them dry cleaned at home. If they can't be removed them perhaps give them a spray with febreeze.

I don't generally like the smell of air fresheners as it just makes the boat smell like an air freshener!

 

[Bigplumbs]

Thanks for all the good advice. I have bought one of these which might help. As Petem ssys the inside of our boat is small so it may wekk work

https://www.therange.co.uk/diy/fans-and-heaters/dehumidifiers/unibond-aero-360-device/#870453

Reviews look reasonable


https://www.amazon.co.uk/UniBond-Ae...ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=2

It is both a dehumidifier and air freshener. It is passive which suits me as I don't like the idea of leaving the electric on when I am not there

I will report back on how it does

Dennis

 

[mlines]

We use a dehumidifier through the winter, remove soft furnishings and put tumble dryer sheets (eg. Bounce) around

 

[Scubadoo]

Thanks for all the good advice. I have bought one of these which might help. As Petem ssys the inside of our boat is small so it may wekk work

https://www.therange.co.uk/diy/fans-and-heaters/dehumidifiers/unibond-aero-360-device/#870453

Reviews look reasonable


https://www.amazon.co.uk/UniBond-Ae...ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=2

It is both a dehumidifier and air freshener. It is passive which suits me as I don't like the idea of leaving the electric on when I am not there

I will report back on how it does

Dennis

That is what I use, also leave the various doors open. As your is new to you, check the toilet plumbing, the exterior surface can get mould which won't help, particularly where the water pump is located, the rest is under the panel in the second berth.

I also use odour neutraliser very cheap and last several months, the non fragrance type.

 

[jcwads]

Advice on what not to do. I purchased an aerosol called ‘Boat Bomb’. It chugs out a smell to deodorise the cabin.

It completely knackered the finish on my cherry wood table. Not happy

Stick to open windows and also dehumidifier crystals work well for me. I tend to only use my desiccant unit over winter.

 

[Momac]

I have taken my Meaco dehumidifier off my F33 now. Hopefully we will soon get some sustained warmer temperatures.
On our S23 we found moisture traps adequate .
If you stay overnight some ventilation is essential in any boat.

 

[simonfraser]

dehumidifier and are you sure its not leaking somewhere ?
checked all the voids etc ?

 

[Bigplumbs]

went to the boat again today the smell was a lot better. I think it might have been the water from the river her indoors left in the toilet. We now use the shower as a flush instead. I have put the little passive dehumidifier in place and cleaned the boat thoroughly so will see when we are next their.

As others have said ventilation is key....................... Will be nice when in the UK we get some weather where you can ventilate

In the meantime I just switched my heating back on

Dennis

 

[CX54WEK]

Thanks for all the good advice. I have bought one of these which might help. As Petem ssys the inside of our boat is small so it may wekk work

https://www.therange.co.uk/diy/fans-and-heaters/dehumidifiers/unibond-aero-360-device/#870453

Reviews look reasonable


https://www.amazon.co.uk/UniBond-Ae...ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=2

It is both a dehumidifier and air freshener. It is passive which suits me as I don't like the idea of leaving the electric on when I am not there

I will report back on how it does

Dennis

We have used a couple of the Unibond units for a couple of winters on Naughty-Cal now and it is surprising how much moisture they collect over a winter. Ours is a dry boat but they still collect a fair amount.

Now that we have a mutt onboard also we will be keeping them onboard all year.

 

[CX54WEK]

went to the boat again today the smell was a lot better. I think it might have been the water from the riven her indoors left in the toilet. We now use the shower as a flush instead. I have put the little passive dehumidifier in place and cleaned the boat thoroughly so will see when we are next their.

As others have said ventilation is key....................... Will be nice when in the UK we get some weather where you can ventilate

In the meantime I just switched my heating back on

Dennis

Had our heating on onboard almost all day yesterday. Wasn't the wamest for the end of May!

Still had the windows and hatch cracked open though to move some air around.

We switched to flushing the loo with fresh water years ago. Stops any smells from the loo.