Mildew - Is there a Nuclear Option ?

[sailorboy1]

get the ozone generator, close up the boat and go away, open it up and air it out

ozone is going to a better job than spraying stuff, is going to get everywhere (rent an industrial unit), and it going to be a lot less labor to do

Yes it will cost a couple hundred dollars maybe, but it it is worth doing it's worth doing conpletely the first time.

[barnakiel]

If your senses are regular or on the over-sensitive side then never.

One solution is to start smoking.

b.

[ameardevil]

To keep the mould away add a few drops of oil of cloves to your cleaning water.
Smells for a little while but the mould stays away.
Helen

[four winds]

I must correct my earlier post. It wasn't the Shock Wave product that generated ozone on my dock mate's boat. He had a pro bring an ozone generator on board and do that process.

That guy told him to follow up with Shock Wave if he wanted to keep ahead of the problem. Must be careful with that product as well. It "explodes" the cells of the mold and can do the same to your hands.

[hummingway]

Having a lot of carpet on a boat seems like it would be a mould trap but I'm alergic to mildew so I'm pretty careful about it.

Having a pro do the ozone seems like a good idea to me.

[Don1500]

Originally Posted by sailingmonica

I got an email today from Bob Bitchin, they sell this gel

Kanberra Gel [563-567] - $10.00 : Seafaring Ship's Store, Latitudes & Attitudes

and it may help you somewhat.

Truth is, I had mold problems and emailed the CF for help at the time too (thanks, guys). Ripped all the carpet, removed all the glue after that..

I thought that the carpet should go first thing. It sounded like a VW bus from the sixties. (With the mold it probably smelled like one, too.)

[zeehag]

white vinegar is only thing i have found works any good at all...... nothing else rids boat of the mold. good luck..if ye has asthma, do NOT use an ozone generator, causes difficulty in breathing. sorry!!!

[David M]

Instead of using chemicals to kill it, do what is necessary to prevent it from growing in the first place. This is done by reducing the humidity. A dehumidifier is what you need which means more than a bag of desiccant.

Google "boat dehumidifier" and you will see a number of ideas.

[Juniper]

If you can close the boat up for a few days a big ozone generator will kill the mold, it will not clean the spots, just kill the mold,
And when it is running, do not!!! do not!! go inside,
Then if you can get a small O3 maker to keep up when not on the boat that would keep it from comimg back, just don't run it when you are there, if you smell ozone it's to much to be in for any time

[zeehag]

i have found as i leave my boat mostly open that mold doesnt grow inside at all. is only when boat is shut tight that that situation develops...i refuse to shut my boat tight. needs ventilation to be habitable. i use no dehumidifiers nor any other substance to remove water from air--i am fine. have been since 1990. and i do clean with vinegar, even when i dont see any molds growing.

[EllanVannin]

My vote goes to white vinegar. Have tried numerous expensive products to find that this cheap, readily available option is fantastic. i have about 4 litres of stuff on board to last me thru the Pacific Islands and will be wiping vigorously with it all over the white headlinings etc etc. If you have ready access to electricity a dehumidifier is a must!

[Alecadi]

Originally Posted by zeehag

white vinegar is only thing i have found works any good at all...... nothing else rids boat of the mold. good luck..if ye has asthma, do NOT use an ozone generator, causes difficulty in breathing. sorry!!!

TRUE !! and so simple and natural... and cheap

[billyehh]

Vinegar is great for wood and fabric, but if you boat is mainly glass then Bleach solution is even better. Just don't get it on anything else.

[Butler]

As others have said: Get rid of the carpet for sure. Ventilate ventilate ventilate and look into some way of getting dry heat into the boat. A simple incandesant light work light can make a difference in small spaces if you are able to safely put one on a timer while at the dock. Consider a small wood burning stove... the bulkhead hung COLE Stoves pop up occaisionally for cheap... found one in a marina dumpster once...
Drill holes through/into cabinet spaces, invest in those great solar powered vents where it might be practical to place one or more.
Big vinegar fan myself! Have cleaned up some big jobs with that stuff get a jug of it to keep around you will need some to regularly flush through the head with anyway and it cleans off fresh epoxy very nicely.

[Captain Bill]

I don't know about Nuclear, but a friend of mine had a mold issue in his cat about 5 years ago and started using a product called M1 Sure Cote. I haven't smelled any mold in his boat since.