Here in the
Pacific Northwest (where they say people don't tan, they rust) I have a precise list that I need to stick to in order to keep smell and mildew at bay:
1. Start with a perfectly clean boat!
Bilge, lockers, carpet, etc. Over the summer I find that a surprising amount of salty
water makes its way below. Not from waves or
leaks per se, but just from your shoes and clothes. All that
salt, which has now rubbed off onto the carpet and
cushions, attracts moisture. If you want any hope of getting ahead of mildew, etc, those salty things need to be washed.
2. It isn't an option for everyone, but I always bring my
cushions home for the
winter season.
3. It's been said - but ventilate, ventilate, ventilate! Not just passive, but some sort of fan to keep things moving. If you don't have
power while away from the
boat, I suggest one of those low-energy fans that run off D-Cell
batteries or the
solar option already mentioned.
4. At the end of each
cruise, I always flush tapwater (ie chlorinated) through the
head to get rid of as much biology as possible in the pipes. There is an incredible difference when you return and make that first use of the
head. My buddy, who does not rinse his head out (exact same setup) stinks up the whole
DOCK when he does that first pump! And no, it isn't due to a #2!!
5. I used to spray all the
fabric items with the anti-bacterial Febreeze, but read an article about how these were not exactly healthy products for us. So now, I just wash the cushion covers each year with Tide free and Borax, giving them an extra rinse cycle.
Best of luck!