Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

Had the boat sitting in the drive way for about 2 weeks,, mold and mildew already started in the v-berth,, Getting ready to winterize and don't want my upholstery getting destroyed for the next 5 months. We found some spray at walmart in the boating section that says it will help prevent mold/mildew,, I will try it, but was wondering if anyone else has any tricks to preventing it ??..


I was thinking of running an extension cord out to the drive way and put a small fan in the cabin on a timer to keep the air moving,, Any suggestions.. Thanks Chris...

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

Chris, I had this problem also. I use bleach and water solution to kill the bacteria and clean the staining. Then I used a product that removes the dampness from the cabin. I cant think of the name of the product for the life of me right now, but I got it at Home Depot and they come in little buckets. Its something like Damp X. Ill post the name of the product when it comes back to me.


Bob

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

I always use charcoal. take some and put it in a coffee can with no lid and just set it in the cabin and put one in the cockpit.the charcoal soaks up the moisture.

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

Chris, you need to do two things.

(1) Remove the visible mildew growths. This is the easy part.

(2) Kill the airborne and dormant mildew. You can't see it, but you can smell it. it's hiding in every crevise and little areas that you can't reach. You have to completely dehumidify the boat(they need moisture to survive).

Another very effective way to destroy it is to use ozone. There are many devices out there that will help you here. Check out:
http://www.zontec.net/home.html

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

This is a part of what I do for a living, you need to find a product that has an antimicrobial in the ingediants.

The best thing to us is called MICROBAN, it is sold at most restoration companys. You can spray it on anything and it will kill the mold you see and even absorb into places you cant get to.

DONT us bleach, bleach is made up of 90 water and mold need water to grow.

Look in the yellow Pages under Carpet and Rug Cleaning suppplies
the best company to get this stuff from is call JON DON, hopefully you have one in your larger surrounding city, They are based in chicago

Randy Wild

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

We use charcoal also to dry the interior for winterizing but we use a large bag cut wide open. Lay it on a trash bag, then just throw it out in the spring. I believe in overkill.

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys...

Question,,,,,,,, The v-berth is mostly vinyl, but on the sides it has a padded material, sort of like mole skin, this is what is getting ruined,, whats the best way of killing/cleaning this type of material..

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

Mr P we didn't throw it out, I gave it to the neighbor for their grill, and then we ate the pork roast they cooked on it :D waste not want not

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

Nick, Thanks for the link, will look into these....

Does anyone run anything off an extension cord that works well ??

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

DON'T USE OZONE

Again this is my business and what i do for a living.

Ozone will deteriorate Rubber gaskets and wiring covers

Randy Wild

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

I've always used the stuff that they sell in the marine stores to keep the mildew out......As Otis said, i think it's called Damp X or something. One in the Cabin V berth, and one in the Cockpit. I also leave the cabin door 1/4 of the way open so there is some air flow. You can tell the product works because when new, the bucket is filled with small white, free moving pellets, and after the winter the pellets are all stuck together full of moisture. Sometimes there is even water that sits on top of them (all pellets must have been used).....So i usually check sometime in mid winter, and will replace it with a new one if the container if full of water.

As for the mildew that is already set in the "fur" area, that is a pain to get out. I used a scrub brush and some mildew remover that starbrite sells. Had to scrub the sh!t out of it. Make sure you have a fan and alot alot of venalation when using any mildew remover product....the stuff is stong and it makes breathing a bit tough.

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

We've been using it for years, in boats, in aircraft, in automobiles. It's bad for tire rubber, but that's about it. If you look at all the rubbers used in boats, per the ABYC(American Boat and Yacht Council), which are in accordance with ASTM D 2000 and other industry specs, they are 99% Ozone resistant.

Detailers and cleaners hate it, because it cuts down on their business.

Fact: Ozone works.

Don't be afraid of it. Most auto detailers use it, most of the largest hotel chains use it, airports, Hospitals, Hertz Rent-A-Car, Avis, etc., etc.
(I have the customer lists and their testimonials, I also reverse engineer many rubber products. You'd be hard pressed to find any rubber products nowadays that are notwithstanding of ozone.)

Nothing is as effective as a germicidal, fungicidal, antimicrobial, disinfectant as Ozone is. ;)

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

Great info here guys.... My wife bought two of those pellet buckets,, from boaters world,, I looked at them and laughed,, didn't think they would do squat,, aparently I was wrong......

So maybe a 20 lb bag of charcoal, starbrite mold/mildew spray preventer, a couple of pellet buckets, a fan, an ozone plug in, some moth balls, and I should be all set... LOL... :eek: :D

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

"My wife bought two of those pellet buckets"

You mean like a "damp-rid" or something of the sort. Those things work amazing. On a humid night those things will fill up in a few hours. :D

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

a lot of good thats gonna do me for the next 5 months !!! You Floriduhians have a lot more humidity than we do... :D

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

Kitty litter will keep a boat dry in the offseason too! No joke!:D

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

where do you buy ozone?

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

Dont forget to open all the closets & lockers.

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

I use the thin Clorox pads to wipe down the entire vinyl/fiberglass interior of the boat. Has worked great for several years.

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

That last time I worried about mold inside I just put a dehumidifier I own inside the boat with the cover on... let it run for a couple of days... then put out some dessicant... charcoal will work the same way.. no problems......... :D

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

"damp rid" is plain old calcium clohride. AKA ice melt. Sold at a fraction of the cost in a 50lb bag. It is also used during the cold months added to concrete as a fast drying agent.
I usually take out the cabin interion cushions and store them inside warm and dry. Never have a problem.

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

Unless a cat gets in there. :D

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

I sen't an e-mail to zontec asking what they reccomend for a boat with approx. 200 cubic foot of space.

I'm thinking the calcium cloride in some quart containers in the lockers, the spray and a tin foil pan of CC on the floor in the v-berth..

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

Chris288, sounds like a lot of good advise in the above posts; do's and don'ts, etc.

However, if you have not already done so, you should also check for water underneath the v-berth in the stringers for water that has not made its way back to the bilge. It will add to the problem if present. JMHO :rolleyes:

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

Thanks,, yes thats what started it,,, my driveway slopes forward and there is no way to pull the boat in,, so it gets backed in, and water was in the bilge for a week or so,, now I put on the cock pit cover AND the full cover, so no possibility of water getting in there.. I may pull the drive this year so I can jack the tounge up as high as possible for the winter..

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

I used a single heater/fan unit (the aluminum round one) from West marine. Plug it in an let it run all winter. One unit was enough to keep the massive cabin of the Formula dry. The water absorbent things work, but it the water solution gets on anything it will corrode it, had to replace the stainless sink from draining the excess water from the damp tub into it once.


-Greg

Re: Mold / Mildew in V-berth...
 

Cascade or any stuff you use in your dishwasher for cleaning up the mold.Friend just went to a seminar about the mold in homes.