Anchor locker smells

[hd002e]

Have been at anchor the good part of the last month. When I pulled up the chain I noticed some algea growing on it. Now the V berth smells like rotten shrimp.

I got bleach, vinegar, CLR, brushes etc. on board. Any recommendations on how to rid the boat off this terrible stench? Thank you!

[tkeithlu]

Consider this sequence. Get the chain back up on deck, and while it's out of the locker flush the locker with MILD bleach water.

The ideal tool for then cleaning the dried algae off the chain may be a pressure washer, hitting one side, flipping it, hitting the other. But washing chain can be tedious - there seem to be no end of places for the stuff to hide.

An alternative might be to soak the chain in 1:10 ammonia:water. I can't recommend bleach for this step, because bleach attacks galvanized steel.

A third approach might be to wait for stench removing advice from Peggy Hall, the Princess of Poop and the forum's specialist in everything that doesn't smell good.

[rslifkin]

Does your chain locker drain overboard or to the bilge? If it drains overboard, I'd add a gasket to the v berth door into the locker and if needed, add some outside ventilation. That'll help keep smells out of the boat.

Beyond that, rinse the chain off well when you bring it up (raw water rinse is fine) and that help a lot. Less mud and plants on the chain means less smell.

Next time you have a bunch of chain out, clean out the locker to get rid of any accumulated gunk in the bottom that could be breaking down and stinking.

[NYSail]

All about removing the living stuff and rancid mud off the chain before putting in back in the locker. I rinse as I pull in to get mud off and when I get back to slip I flood the locker with fresh water.