How Do You Control The Diesel Smell In Your Cabin.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by DonZe

So far every boat I have been on has had an overwhelming stench of diesel fuel, working around diesel I know that it takes very little to stink, is there a common way of combating the smell on a boat?

None of my boats have ever had a diesel smell as part of the permanent charm.... If you're buying a boat and this is something you can't live with, don't buy the boat....

As mentioned... There are tons of ways to mitigate a diesel smell.... BUT...
Some boats cannot be made smell free without major $$$ and major work

[zeehag]

i find i only smell diesel when there is a leak in my fuel delivery system.
no leak=no smell..
start looking.
have fun.

[a64pilot]

I am sure some can just get used it like people that have a cat, they don't smell the cat odor, but be gone for awhile and you will smell the cat when you return, same I think with Diesel odor.
I have to leave the boat every week, and leave it closed up of course, when I get to the boat on Fri. evenings I do open it up and let it air out, but it's just usually a closed up smell, it used a head odor but I have just about gotten rid of that, but it's never been Diesel. If Diesel then you have a leak or at least spilled Diesel somewhere.
I put a couple of ounces of Pine-Sol in the bilge every now and again and go sailing, then when I get back stick a garden hose in the bilge, and disable the bilge pump, that checks the high water alarm and secondary bilge pump, and flushes out the salt water and Pine-Sol and leaves fresh water in the bilge, the Pine-Sol is a good air freshener too.

[zeehag]

a64--- some folks have allergic reactioons to pine sol.. i was almost intubated in a hospital i was working icu due to the cough instigated by the pine sol being used on the icu floors...
when i have a stale odor in my boat i use fabuloso, preferably lavendar scented, but lilac works also...
when i have a diesel smell, i repair the leak.

[colemj]

For cleaning up diesel to get rid of smells, start with a citrus engine degreaser, scrub with a brush, then start to wipe it up with a 3M oil absorbent sheet. Use just a little water for rinsing - the oils will go into the 3M sheet and water will be left behind.

Next, use Orange-Glo citrus floor cleaner. Several applications with light rinsing using 3M sheets for pickup.

Diesel and smell gone.

If you have fabric/foam/etc with diesel smell, wash them in Orange-Glo. If you have diesel-soaked wood, you will probably never totally get rid of the smell without replacement.

Mark

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

BUT...
Some boats cannot be made smell free without major $$$ and major work

Originally Posted by colemj

If you have diesel-soaked wood, you will probably never totally get rid of the smell without replacement.
Mark

[a64pilot]

Zee,
Good point, seems allergies are becoming more common place, I grew up with Pine-Sol, Mother used it to clean everything, to me it's a clean, pleasent smell if that makes sense, I associate it with cleanliness.
To some it may not be pleasant, but it is a smell that covers other odors well, it's a disinfectant I believe, has solvent properties in that it emulsifies oil and fuel and it's cheap.
Once the bilges are rinsed out, the smell goes with it.

Another trick is to toss a tablet or two of automatic dishwasher detergent in the bilge, the dishwasher detergent does not suds up, but it will slowly dissolve and keeps the bilges spotless. (old stinkpotter trick)

[Neo]

Pick your poison. The previous owner of our boat lived with a leak in the lift pump for many years. We did as many have suggested: fixed the leak, cleaned the bilge, washed cushion covers, aired out the cushions in a heated space over the winter, and cleaned up thoroughly after filter changes.

Almost no diesel smell, but now all I can smell is the head.

[FilBrown]

There is a product on the market called Bilgex which I've used and think works quite well.
I used it to wash out the bilges and then when it's dried out pour some neat into the bilge to help keep the diesel smell down.

[bsurvey]

we call that tug boat cologne

enjoy it

[ronrelyea]

totally agree with "eliminate the source" advice above .... after that I've found that this stuff works pretty well (I've no affiliation with the product or company) ... PureAyre Marine and Boat Odor Eliminator

[Prairie Chicken]

As mentioned earlier, smell, what smell?

[Cheechako]

Ahhh... I love the smell of diesel in the morning.....
But seriously, some people seem very sensitive to it. If the boat has had leaks etc in the past for a long time, it may take wiping everything and washing all the cushion covers... Putting some Pine Sol in the bilge water from time to time may help also.. If diesel was int he bilges and sloshed onto the dry floor supports etc.. it may take a long time to get rid of the diesel that absorbed into the dry wood...
If you are looking at boats and some have a strong diesel smell... be wary of the tanks....

[albatrosbis]

Originally Posted by DonZe

So far every boat I have been on has had an overwhelming stench of diesel fuel, working around diesel I know that it takes very little to stink, is there a common way of combating the smell on a boat?

Many years ago I disposed all mattresses and substituted them with closed cell compound. No odors, no humidity and, just in case, an extra floating reserve.
More difficult (and expensive) should be the soundproofing change.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by DonZe

is there a common way of combating the smell on a boat?

YES

Get rid of it. Not all boats smell like diesel.