Laying up in the Caribbean

[Highland Fling]

We are going to lay up the boat on the hard in Sint Maarten this year from June to November/December and are a little worried about finding the boat full of mildew and musty smells when we return

We will wash down the interior with a white vinegar water mixture and launder the cushion covers and we have vacuum bags for other stuff like bedding and clothes (with fabreeze sheets in the bags too).

Thinking of lining the hanging lockers with thin Cedar slats as a long term fix for loose PCV linings and to keep these spaces smelling 'nice'

Thoughts and advice about how to minimise these - boat will be closed up so ventilation is going to be an issue.

Was thinking of running 4/5 big (2" or so) 12V computer muffin fans but would prefer to have the electrics fully closed down even though the 200W of solar will be active to keep the batteries happy - I am not sure if running the fans would be a worthwhile experiment . I could have two underneath the cowl vents one on exhaust and one on intake with the two / three others just stirring things up a bit

thanks in anticipation

[downunder]

Wipe down with solution of clove oil in water rather than vinegar.

Clove oil kills and prevents the spores developing.

[ozskipper]

perhaps you could buy a small solar panel just to run the computer fans so they are running when ever the sun it out regardless of what the main power is doing.

Or you could buy a couple of solar vents and duct them into the boat via a hatch or companionway vent. To me this is the simplest solution. There is no wiring and if you duct them, they can be housed anywhere out side tarps or boat covers.

It might be worthwhile investing in a few Damp Rid products also. DampRid

Make sure you leave all lockers and doors open obviously. Good luck :-D

[Ram]

Originally Posted by downunder

Wipe down with solution of clove oil in water rather than vinegar.

Clove oil kills and prevents the spores developing.

Never heard of this, Have you done this and it really works? I just found this--Clove oil is a natural antiseptic which kills mold and can be used as an alternative to cleaning with harsh chemicals. Clove oil can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies---where it is often sold to treat toothaches---or in the aromatherapy section of a natural food or health store. When used with other common alternative cleaning products, it makes an effective cleaner for bathrooms and other spaces where mold can be found

Read more: How to Clean With Clove Oil | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6945763_clea...#ixzz1uR7pBhtq

Mix 1 tbsp. baking soda with 1/2 cup white vinegar and 4 cups of hot water. Using a sponge, scrub the problem area to get an initial cleansing started.

2
Mix 1 tsp. of clove oil with 4 cups of water. Pour solution into a spray bottle and lightly spray the area where mold is growing. Scrub away mold with a sponge or toothbrush---and rinse with water.

3
Spray the area with a light coating of clove oil mix and leave on surface to inhibit further mold growth.



Read more: How to Clean With Clove Oil | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6945763_clea...#ixzz1uR8KkQgH

[downunder]

Originally Posted by Ram

Never heard of this, Have you done this and it really works? I just found this--Clove oil is a natural antiseptic which kills mold and can be used as an alternative to cleaning with harsh chemicals. Clove oil can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies---where it is often sold to treat toothaches---or in the aromatherapy section of a natural food or health store. When used with other common alternative cleaning products, it makes an effective cleaner for bathrooms and other spaces where mold can be found

Read more: How to Clean With Clove Oil | eHow.com How to Clean With Clove Oil | eHow.com

Mix 1 tbsp. baking soda with 1/2 cup white vinegar and 4 cups of hot water. Using a sponge, scrub the problem area to get an initial cleansing started.

2
Mix 1 tsp. of clove oil with 4 cups of water. Pour solution into a spray bottle and lightly spray the area where mold is growing. Scrub away mold with a sponge or toothbrush---and rinse with water.

3
Spray the area with a light coating of clove oil mix and leave on surface to inhibit further mold growth.



Read more: How to Clean With Clove Oil | eHow.com How to Clean With Clove Oil | eHow.com

Lots of references on web. Considered best way to prevent mindew/mold in tropics

Cleaning Mould with Clove Oil - YouTube

► 1:00► 1:00

Cleaning Mould with Clove Oil - YouTube

7 Apr 2010 - 1 min - Uploaded by AromaFizz
How to clean mould using Oil of Cloves, Presented by ... The secret to killing mold in your home.by ...





More videos for household cleaning tips clove oil »
<LI class=g>Top 40 best ever cleaning tips




www.homelife.com.au › Homes › BathroomsCached
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Click here for the best-ever household and cleaning hints and tips. ... Clove oil (sold in chemists for toothaches) kills mould spores. Mix three drops in one litre of ...


<LI class=g>Tuesday tips: Clove oil = mold-be-gone! - Heldin im Chaos




heldinimchaos.typepad.com/.../tuesday-tips-clove-oil-mold-be-gone....Cached
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18 Oct 2010 – Just mist the clove oil-water solution on non-porous surfaces (tile, ... in our house along with Bicard and vinegar which is great for cleaning the ...


<LI class=g>5 tips for Clove Oil use « Cityhippyfarmgirl




cityhippyfarmgirl.com/2010/10/01/5-tips-for-clove-oil-use/Cached
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1 Oct 2010 – Tags: bathroom cleaning, clove oil uses, eco friendly cleaning, environmentally friendly household tips, removing mould, removing mould from ...


<LI class=g>Cleaning mould with Clove Oil | Healthy Households




www.healthyhouseholds.com.au/2011/.../cleaning-mould-with-clove-...Cached
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16 Oct 2011 – Healthy Households Natural, eco friendly lifestyle choices for your home & family ... For the purpose of mould cleaning, the Clove Leaf Oil is stronger. ... and also Stainless are a great reference for some natural cleaning tips.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by Ram

Never heard of this, Have you done this and it really works? I just found this--Clove oil is a natural antiseptic which kills mold and can be used as an alternative to cleaning with harsh chemicals. Clove oil can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies---where it is often sold to treat toothaches---or in the aromatherapy section of a natural food or health store. When used with other common alternative cleaning products, it makes an effective cleaner for bathrooms and other spaces where mold can be found

Read more: How to Clean With Clove Oil | eHow.com How to Clean With Clove Oil | eHow.com

Mix 1 tbsp. baking soda with 1/2 cup white vinegar and 4 cups of hot water. Using a sponge, scrub the problem area to get an initial cleansing started.

2
Mix 1 tsp. of clove oil with 4 cups of water. Pour solution into a spray bottle and lightly spray the area where mold is growing. Scrub away mold with a sponge or toothbrush---and rinse with water.

3
Spray the area with a light coating of clove oil mix and leave on surface to inhibit further mold growth.



Read more: How to Clean With Clove Oil | eHow.com How to Clean With Clove Oil | eHow.com

havn't tried on a boat but it certainly works in houses in tropical Queensland.

[TeddyDiver]

Have you ever heard of dorade vents?

[Hud3]

We laid our boat up ashore for the summer in the West Indies, once in Grenada and twice in Antigua. I installed a Nicro solar vent fan in the overhead hatch in the head, and put covers on the other hatches to block the sun. The Nicro seemed to do the trick. We had only a small amount of mold after four months on the hard, but not too bad at all, and no ugly odors.

[Highland Fling]

Originally Posted by ozskipper

perhaps you could buy a small solar panel just to run the computer fans so they are running when ever the sun it out regardless of what the main power is doing.

Or you could buy a couple of solar vents and duct them into the boat via a hatch or companionway vent. To me this is the simplest solution. There is no wiring and if you duct them, they can be housed anywhere out side tarps or boat covers.

It might be worthwhile investing in a few Damp Rid products also. DampRid

Make sure you leave all lockers and doors open obviously. Good luck :-D

Well like an idiot i just sold two 10W solar panels at the local boat jumble/flee market that would have been ideal for this job

[Highland Fling]

Originally Posted by downunder

Lots of references on web. Considered best way to prevent mindew/mold in tropics

Cleaning Mould with Clove Oil - YouTube

► 1:00► 1:00

7 Apr 2010 - 1 min - Uploaded by AromaFizz
How to clean mould using Oil of Cloves, Presented by ... The secret to killing mold in your home.by ...





More videos for household cleaning tips clove oil »
<LI class=g>Top 40 best ever cleaning tips




www.homelife.com.au › Homes › BathroomsCached
You +1'd this publicly. Undo
Click here for the best-ever household and cleaning hints and tips. ... Clove oil (sold in chemists for toothaches) kills mould spores. Mix three drops in one litre of ...


<LI class=g>Tuesday tips: Clove oil = mold-be-gone! - Heldin im Chaos




heldinimchaos.typepad.com/.../tuesday-tips-clove-oil-mold-be-gone....Cached
You +1'd this publicly. Undo
18 Oct 2010 – Just mist the clove oil-water solution on non-porous surfaces (tile, ... in our house along with Bicard and vinegar which is great for cleaning the ...


<LI class=g>5 tips for Clove Oil use « Cityhippyfarmgirl




cityhippyfarmgirl.com/2010/10/01/5-tips-for-clove-oil-use/Cached
You +1'd this publicly. Undo
1 Oct 2010 – Tags: bathroom cleaning, clove oil uses, eco friendly cleaning, environmentally friendly household tips, removing mould, removing mould from ...


<LI class=g>Cleaning mould with Clove Oil | Healthy Households




www.healthyhouseholds.com.au/2011/.../cleaning-mould-with-clove-...Cached
You +1'd this publicly. Undo
16 Oct 2011 – Healthy Households Natural, eco friendly lifestyle choices for your home & family ... For the purpose of mould cleaning, the Clove Leaf Oil is stronger. ... and also Stainless are a great reference for some natural cleaning tips.

VERY INTERESTING thanks

[Highland Fling]

I should have said that this is not our first time laying up the boat in the Caribbean. Over the last three years when we come back to the boat it is not totally mould free and certain areas are/have a decidedly musty smell. So what we are/were looking for was ways to reduce this as much as possible. Clothes in the hanging lockers do seem to develop a musty smell over the period of our six month cruise and need to be hung out in the sunlight for a day or so. As to why we bring so many clothes to the boat when we live in T-shirts shorts and swimming costumes is another question. This smell problem and the disintegrating foam backed vinyl linings to these areas (why do/did Beneteau do this) as 'most' of the rest of boat has nice wodden hull linings is why i am going to line the hanging lockers with Cedar strips to give these areas a nice natural smell.

[bob_77903]

These work great
SunPac kills mold and mildew spores

[rtbates]

whatever you do to prep the boat, I'd imagine that having air circulating would be very necessary to long term freshness...

[Jerry Woodward]

I think the clove oil stuff is bunk. You can kill mold with any number of cleaners, detergent, vinegar, chlorox--if it is on a smooth surface. The problem is that on a boat you have plenty of porous surfaces and crevaces you will never be able to get to. The key to preventing mold is ventillation and moisture reduction. The instruction about mixing baking soda and vinegar is particularly amusing. Baking soda is a base and vinegar is an acid. You mix them and you get salt and CO2 liberated, effectively neutralizing both. I don't have a boat, but I would look closely at these types of moisture absorbing products. They are cheap and can probably be found at the Ace Hardware on St Martin. Perhaps others on the forum have tried these.
Amazon.com: DampRid FG50T Hi-Capacity Moisture Absorber, 4-Pound Tub: Home Improvement

[Hannah on 'Rita T']

We leave the ports in both heads open and latch the doors to the heads open, never had a problem. Air circulates and a little rain water never hurts the head.