I Did it, I bought a boat

[sailorjack]

After a six month search of dozens of vessels from 39 to 50 ft, from Florida to Virginia, through wet decks and shoddy wiring. I purchased a Gulfstar 41 and moved aboard this weekend. Lots of work to do cleaning and learning. She is old, and dirty but she is mine! She and I just moved to Charleston.

my first questions is how to get the desiel fumes out of everything? is it possible?

[capn_billl]

Congrats on your new purchase. In time the smell of diesel will be like a sweet purfume.

[limejucer]

Congratulations on the first of the best days of boat ownership.
lots of ventilation can help as time will also.

[STG]

Congrat's. I remember how excited I was for tyhe first couple months living aboard my boat.

I am still fighting smells after over a year. They no longer bother me, but any clothing I haven't washed recently smells when I put it on, etc. so I am always trying to find more ways to get rid of smells.

Do a search. There are a lot of threads on removing deisel smells (from cushions, bilges, etc.) as well as other smells from standing water, holding tanks & pipes, etc.

Something I read recently (I think on one of these CF threads) suggested activated charcoal in an old pair nylons or similar. I intend to test.

[cas206]

Gratz. I'm also a new (to me) boat owner, a 1980 Aquarius Pilot Cutter 24, as of two months ago. I found that giving the gunky oily bilge a good cleaning helped reduce the smell quite a bit. I also put one of those biosocks down there to eat up any new diesel that might accumulate until I can give the old MD7A a good once over. It is either helping with the smell or I'm just getting used to it.

[courageous cat]

Thats great, You must be really excited. Gulfstar is one of my favorite. Now the fun begins. Congrats

[welshdiver]

Congrats on your new Boat, we got our PDQ Cat. 2 months ago in Florida the only smells we had was from "new paint". We have 2 out boards. so no inside Diesel smells that can make you sick. open all hatches /windows etc & get cleaning that helps

[Amapola]

Congratulations! You're one step closer to your dream!

[SkiprJohn]

Great! Congratulations on the new to you boat.
kind regards,

[Bash]

Congrats on the new boat; always nice to welcome a new boat owner to the forum!

The first thing you do to get rid of the diesel smell is make ABSOLUTELY SURE that whatever leak caused it is fixed. I know this may sound patronizing, but the odor is only the symptom. First you've got to cure the problem.

First step if you have a strong odor of diesel: find out where it's coming from. Your tanks shouldn't stink, by the way. Make certain that there's not a small puddle of diesel under the fuel tank(s).

[Bob on OTTER]

BRAVO ZULU! Welcome Aboard!