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12-13-2020, 10:22 AM
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#1
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Guru
City: Bainbridge Island/Petersburg Alaska
Vessel Name: Oz
Vessel Model: Bluewater 40' RPH 1979
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 514
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Mold on V-berth mattress covers
We are replacing the foam in our V-berth mattresses and we're wondering if there are any suggestions for getting rid of mold spores on the covers. The material is a Sunbrella-like material. The covers and foam are about 15 years old.
Over the years we have taken steps to help alleviate the moist air in the V-berth that causes the problem, especially in the rain soaked SE AK., including adding a computer fan to help vent moist air out and foil backed bubble type insulation under the mattresses.
Thanks, Tator
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12-13-2020, 10:41 AM
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#2
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Guru
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
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I think you want to raise the mattress on a venting material. Insulation will make it worse. You give off plenty of moisture when you're tucked in and you want it gone, vented away not holding it in. Like sleeping on a plastic sheet is uncomfortable.
__________________
Don't believe everything that you think.
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12-13-2020, 11:08 AM
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#3
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Guru
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,743
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There’s stuff made for this problem. Can’t remember the name.
It looks like scotch bright ... the pads on your sink. But it’s about 3/4” thick and made to single bed size otherwise. We put them on our boat 15 years ago and problem gone.
__________________
Eric
North Western Washington State USA
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12-13-2020, 11:13 AM
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#4
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Guru
City: Holladay, UT
Vessel Name: Dream Catcher
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 37-065
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 841
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Hypervent
__________________
Richard Cook
Dream Catcher (Nordic Tug 37-065) Poulsbo WA
Previously: New Moon (Bounty 257), Cindy Sea (C-Dory 22 Cruiser)
"Cruising in a Big Way"
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12-13-2020, 12:11 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Aventura FL
Vessel Name: Kinja
Vessel Model: American Tug 34 #116 2008
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 10,595
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__________________
Two days out the hospital after a week in the hospital because of a significant heart attack.
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12-13-2020, 01:25 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,191
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RCook
Hypervent
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That is what I would go with. Get air under the mattress. And a fan to help move the air under the mattress wouldn’t be a bad thing.
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
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12-14-2020, 07:39 AM
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#8
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Guru
City: Edgewater, MD
Vessel Name: Catalina Jack
Vessel Model: Defever 44
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,585
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Here is what worked for us under the mattress in the owner's cabin. First, we put down - cut to size with a pizza cutter wheel - 1/2 inch rigid foam insulation. Cost is about $12 for a 4' x 8' sheet. Then we added one-foot squares of interlocking Dridek which provided the airspace.
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12-14-2020, 10:13 AM
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#9
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Guru
City: Gibsons, B.C., Canada
Vessel Name: Island Pride
Vessel Model: Palmer 32'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,414
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Are you using the Vberth during the cold season such as a live aboard?
For my v berth in a winterized boat I do the following:
-- raise the cushions on reused, cleaned plastic planters so they are up about 6".
It's a motley collection.
--Have a 75W heater on the cabin sole below the v berth platform so the platform itself is slightly warmed. It is the typical stove pipe type except with a 300W/240V circular heater band mounted on an aluminum tube, 1.5" diam., mounted so the tube base is about 1" up off the platform.
Rough sketch if you wish.
On the 120 V it produces about 75 W. It is surrounded by an old juice can which can be made with stove duct. I like this FAR better than the ubiquitous light bulb. It never gets hot enough to fry anything, the life is measured in years [it is over 15 yrs now],
--the cabin has several fans to force circulation in the cabin including one to blow air out into the salon. They are 120V , 10 or 11 watts each. BALL BEARING type muffin or computer type fans.
When I used to work in a different job, upholstery supplier, I sold what is called Horsehair that was used to lay cushions on to promote air circulation beneath cushions. It was about 3/4" thick but something similar may help.
One could arrange a fan to force some circulation through the horsehair.
Look up Practical Sailor for their reviews of anti mildew sprays OR their DIY mix which I use which will prevent the stuff from forming , at least usually.
Although where I live is maybe not as rainy as your location it is more than rainy enough to cause trouble if precautions are not taken.
B.C. Sunshine Coast, formerly it was the Raincoast.
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12-14-2020, 12:55 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Gibsons, B.C., Canada
Vessel Name: Island Pride
Vessel Model: Palmer 32'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,414
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To late I found the DIY mix I took from Practical Sailor. Post below.
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12-14-2020, 08:24 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
City: NE Florida
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 273
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I've had some luck using a product called Mold Armor
https://www.moldarmor.com/home/produ...-mold-blocker/
there's a similar product called Concrobium but in my trials it seems like it might not work quite as well.
and lately I tried a chlorine dioxide product in my motohome. Hasn't been long enough to know if it works but it sure does smell clean
https://vitaloxide.com/
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