Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-06-2018, 04:18 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Dave_E's Avatar
 
City: La Conner, WA
Vessel Name: Agnus Dei
Vessel Model: 36' Shin Shing
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 276
That Old Boat Smell

Hey All,

I've talked briefly about this before... but after replacing all the floorboards down below (which were diesel soaked), scrubbing the entire inside of the boat with everything from vinegar to disinfectants, new heads, ALL new plumbing, our clothes and stuff have "boat smell" when we get home from a day on the boat. Don't smell a thing while there, no foul oders etc.. A buddy of mine who had a CHB for 16 years, said "yep". That's all he said. Granted we're talking 40 years old. Walk into a 40 year old house or church, first thing you smell sometimes is "old", depending on construction. Anyone else experience this?

Dave
__________________
GOD, Family, career
Dave_E is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2018, 04:37 PM   #2
Veteran Member
 
Cold-smoked's Avatar
 
City: Tromso
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 83
Hi, a friend of mine who had worked on various trawlers and supply vessels came to have a look at my recently acquired boat last spring. I told him that the front cabin smells of mold and rot, but after a quick tour he said: 'No, this is just boat-smell'
Cold-smoked is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2018, 04:56 PM   #3
Guru
 
DHeckrotte's Avatar
 
City: Philadelphia, PA
Vessel Name: Revel
Vessel Model: 1984 Fu Hwa 39
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,024
Get the bilge clean. And, good luck with that; lots of bilge is beyond normal reach in most boats. Almost nothing better than taking the boat out on rougher water and bouncing it around with clean soapy water in the bilge.
Lots of ventilation.
Keep the bilge as dry as practicable. Many boats simply do not drain to the bilge sump. Add pumps as necessary.
Make sure that nothing awful is going on with the black water components: hoses, vents, tank, fittings.
Make sure the topsides are not leaking. Or plumbing.

We've now had three largish boats. They all smelled when new to us and we got them all under control and were able to keep them that way. Residual fetor on bedding and clothing was much reduced after much effort.

Happily, human noses quickly quit reacting to background smells.
DHeckrotte is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2018, 05:16 PM   #4
Guru
 
Lepke's Avatar
 
City: Between Oregon and Alaska
Vessel Name: Charlie Harper
Vessel Model: Wheeler Shipyard 83'
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,023
I have an old wood boat. The way to beat the boat smell is to vent the bilges. I use plastic pipe and a bilge blower with and electronic controller to slow the motors down. A rheostat also works to slow dc motors. I have 5 wt bulkheads and 6 bilge areas. Some share a vent. By running the bilge blowers slowly the air is changed and replaced with cabin air. Cabin air is replaced with outside air. It also keeps the bilge dry. Clothes, cushions, curtains and other air absorbing items will have to be washed or replaced, but the boat smell will be gone. Also keeping an open bar of some smelly soap in clothing drawers or closets will help.
Fix any diesel leaks, clean up any spills and wash the engines. Diesel only smells if it's present.
I live aboard and don't find venting the bilges costly in the winter.
Lepke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2018, 06:00 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Doug's Avatar
 
City: Victoria, BC
Vessel Name: Timeless
Vessel Model: CHB 34
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 262
In her book on getting rid of boat orders Peggy Hall recommends PureAyre.
http://www/pureayre.com It’s found in pet stores. Tried it, it worked well for us.
You do have to address the source of the odors first though.
Doug is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2018, 06:24 PM   #6
Guru
 
kthoennes's Avatar
 
City: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Vessel Name: Xanadu
Vessel Model: Mainship 37 Motor Yacht
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,472
Ha, I wish all I was fighting was generic boat smell. Generic boat smell is perfume compared to whatever crawled up the water line and died in the water heater. Cold water taps are fine, but turn on the hot water valves on the galley or head faucets and yeow, it'll knock you over. Has an evil smell like sulfur and warthog flatulence and gas from the deepest volcano. I think it's a nasty corroded anode in the water heater but that's just a guess, can't think of anything else. The six-gallon water heater is original to the boat (1996). Tried flushing, tried bleach in the tanks, ran the hot water heater itself, flushed it with the super-hot water from the engine when we're underway, left the hot water heater off -- makes no difference. We're replacing the water heater in the spring when we launch.
kthoennes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2018, 06:33 PM   #7
Guru
 
swampu's Avatar


 
City: Biloxi, MS
Vessel Name: Cajun Rose
Vessel Model: Biloxi Lugger
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,384
I second the ventilation, my boat was built in the 50’s, I don’t have “old” Boat smell. I have a more open type of bilge though, any ventilation will help
swampu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2018, 07:11 PM   #8
Guru
 
Woodland Hills's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: Alzero
Vessel Model: Hatteras 63' CPMY
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,548
Sometimes the smell is the adhesives in the plywood used in the interior gassing off. I have heard of those who have had good results sealing the backsides of all cabinet doors and any hidden surface that does not already have paint or varnish. This is also an issue is many RVs for the same reason and might be a health issue. Google Lumber Liqudators and formaldehyde for a worst case scenario!
Woodland Hills is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2018, 07:14 PM   #9
TF Site Team
 
Larry M's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,683
Ventalation is good. We on the boat 24/7s so the big smells are pretty much what we cooked last night.

If you have salt water head and leave the boat, dump a gallon of fresh water in the head before you leave and flush, maybe add another. I think a lot of boat smell is stale salt water and the critters that live in it gone bad.
Larry M is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2018, 07:15 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Dave_E's Avatar
 
City: La Conner, WA
Vessel Name: Agnus Dei
Vessel Model: 36' Shin Shing
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 276
Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodland Hills View Post
Sometimes the smell is the adhesives in the plywood used in the interior gassing off. I have heard of those who have had good results sealing the backsides of all cabinet doors and any hidden surface that does not already have paint or varnish. This is also an issue is many RVs for the same reason and might be a health issue. Google Lumber Liqudators and formaldehyde for a worst case scenario!
There is an owner of a boat just like ours in Anacortes Washington, and he told me while they were sanding the insides and painting, they became very ill. Might be something to your words. Thanks.
__________________
GOD, Family, career
Dave_E is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2018, 07:20 PM   #11
Guru
 
tiltrider1's Avatar
 
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: AZZURRA
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 54
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,309
In my experiences there are only 3 boat oders, fuel, poop, and mold. First you have to stop the supply, then you have to clean, then you vent. Venting usually means fans moving air into the hidden spaces with open doors, hatches, and windows.
tiltrider1 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2018, 10:02 PM   #12
Scraping Paint
 
City: CT
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 963
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug View Post
In her book on getting rid of boat orders Peggy Hall recommends PureAyre.
http://www/pureayre.com It’s found in pet stores. Tried it, it worked well for us.
You do have to address the source of the orders first though.
Can even use in bulk with a fogger
john61ct is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2018, 10:46 PM   #13
Guru
 
BruceK's Avatar
 
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,333
Consider trying an ozone generator. Run too long I believe it has deleterious affect on plastics etc. Simple to use,worked for us, though that was at home.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
BruceK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2018, 06:14 AM   #14
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
The "old boat smell" is usually a chunk of wood someplace that is rotten.

Usually impossible to locate as occasional wetting , like fridge condensation will continue to feed the rot.
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2018, 07:17 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Westiculo's Avatar
 
City: Boston
Vessel Name: Rose Mary
Vessel Model: 42 Grand Banks Motoryacht - 1985
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 271
I agree with vent the bilge. We were able to get rid of the smell by making sure the new air was coming into the salon and old air was exiting from the engine room. We covered all engine room vents except one, where we installed a continuous-running exhaust fan blowing out. This means the air going into the engine room must come from the cabin. Look around and figure out where all holes between the cabin and engine room are - make sure there are holes between your smelliest rooms and the engine room (we have ours from one of the heads and the v-berth). We then put a vent in the flybridge over the helm in the salon for air intake. This way fresh air flows through the salon, down into the cabins, through the heads, into the engine room, and out of the boat. Obviously when we cruise we remove the engine room vent covers and kill the fan.
Westiculo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2018, 07:48 AM   #16
Guru
 
Wayfarer's Avatar
 
City: Beaufort, NC USA
Vessel Name: Sylphide
Vessel Model: Kingston Aluminum Yacht 44' Custom
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,228
Quote:
Originally Posted by kthoennes View Post
Ha, I wish all I was fighting was generic boat smell. Generic boat smell is perfume compared to whatever crawled up the water line and died in the water heater. Cold water taps are fine, but turn on the hot water valves on the galley or head faucets and yeow, it'll knock you over. Has an evil smell like sulfur and warthog flatulence and gas from the deepest volcano. I think it's a nasty corroded anode in the water heater but that's just a guess, can't think of anything else. The six-gallon water heater is original to the boat (1996). Tried flushing, tried bleach in the tanks, ran the hot water heater itself, flushed it with the super-hot water from the engine when we're underway, left the hot water heater off -- makes no difference. We're replacing the water heater in the spring when we launch.

I had the same issue on my boat. It wasn’t my water heater, because it wasn’t plumbed in. All the research I did led me to the conclusion that the tank was fine, and that my water lines were fouled. I was going to replace them with pex, but ended up selling the boat first.
__________________
Dave
Just be nice to each other, dammit.
The Adventures of Sylphide
Wayfarer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2018, 08:48 AM   #17
Guru
 
kthoennes's Avatar
 
City: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Vessel Name: Xanadu
Vessel Model: Mainship 37 Motor Yacht
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,472
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayfarer View Post

I had the same issue on my boat. It wasn’t my water heater, because it wasn’t plumbed in. All the research I did led me to the conclusion that the tank was fine, and that my water lines were fouled. I was going to replace them with pex, but ended up selling the boat first.
Thanks for that reply. I assume my tanks are fine too because running the cold side smells just fine (downright pleasant actually). It's a very odd problem. The water also foams on the hot side, fine bubbles, which never seems to go away no matter how long we flush water through that side. I hope it's just the water heater though. Replacing all the hot water supply lines to the galley, two heads, and the bar sink on the aft deck would be a major pain.
kthoennes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2018, 06:26 PM   #18
Guru
 
Datenight's Avatar
 
City: Groton, CT
Vessel Name: Datenight
Vessel Model: North Pacific 45
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,106
K,

We once had a foaming problem at home. Turned out the indirect water heater was leaking antifreeze from the heating system into the domestic water. Discovered it quickly but was scary. Maybe have the water tested for an antifreeze leak.

Rob
__________________
North Pacific 45
Datenight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2018, 07:57 PM   #19
Guru
 
kthoennes's Avatar
 
City: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Vessel Name: Xanadu
Vessel Model: Mainship 37 Motor Yacht
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,472
Quote:
Originally Posted by Datenight View Post
K,

We once had a foaming problem at home. Turned out the indirect water heater was leaking antifreeze from the heating system into the domestic water. Discovered it quickly but was scary. Maybe have the water tested for an antifreeze leak.

Rob
Thanks very, very much. Hadn't even considered that possibility but now that you mention it, the previous owner did mention there is a very slow leak in the starboard engine antifreeze. He was never able to find it and the loss is tiny, maybe one pint per season/year (the port engine never loses any) but maybe that's enough to make the water foam when it comes out of the tap. Luckily we never use the tank water for drinking, just washing. I still don't have a clear image in my head of how the running engines heat the house water, how that exchange is plumbed, but it sounds like it's time to learn. Thanks again.
kthoennes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2018, 10:54 PM   #20
Member
 
City: Portland
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 18
Quote:
Originally Posted by kthoennes View Post
Ha, I wish all I was fighting was generic boat smell. Generic boat smell is perfume compared to whatever crawled up the water line and died in the water heater. Cold water taps are fine, but turn on the hot water valves on the galley or head faucets and yeow, it'll knock you over. Has an evil smell like sulfur and warthog flatulence and gas from the deepest volcano. I think it's a nasty corroded anode in the water heater but that's just a guess, can't think of anything else. The six-gallon water heater is original to the boat (1996). Tried flushing, tried bleach in the tanks, ran the hot water heater itself, flushed it with the super-hot water from the engine when we're underway, left the hot water heater off -- makes no difference. We're replacing the water heater in the spring when we launch.
Try taking the anode out altogether. If the water has h2so4 it will release hydrogen sulfide ( rotten eggs). Worth a try
dennisspain is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012