Time to "de-summerize" the boat--Drat! Mildew question.

[M. R. Bober]

This year, due to the amount of rain and cooler than normal temperatures, has brought a bumper crop of mildew to the cabin woodwork on RESPITE. Usually I wipe down the wood work once a year--if neccessary--in the spring.

I have attempted to prevent mildew, or at least delay it, by preparing a wide mouthed jar full of water/bleach solution. I think the chloride evaporates faster that the water, and the airborne chloride should act as a mildewcide.

Given the wide realm of knowledge available from the readers of this site, I am curious as to the opinion of the chemists, biologists, and/or good housekeepers regarding my practice. Give it to me straight, not sugar coated. Will this work?
Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330



thebobers@erols.com

[Neil Gordon]

Wipe the boat with the bleach solution! All inside surfaces, including inside the lockers, etc. Then leave the boat as dry as possible.

What you want is stuff to suck humidity out of the air, not add to it.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[chuck yahrling]

This year, due to the amount of rain and cooler than normal temperatures, has brought a bumper crop of mildew to the cabin woodwork on RESPITE. Usually I wipe down the wood work once a year--if neccessary--in the spring.

I have attempted to prevent mildew, or at least delay it, by preparing a wide mouthed jar full of water/bleach solution. I think the chloride evaporates faster that the water, and the airborne chloride should act as a mildewcide.

I've read that wiping down the insides (especially the wood) with lemon oil will control mildew growth.

Given the wide realm of knowledge available from the readers of this site, I am curious as to the opinion of the chemists, biologists, and/or good housekeepers regarding my practice. Give it to me straight, not sugar coated. Will this work?
Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330

cyahrlin@cisco.com

[Larry DeMers]

Mitch,

Nope, don't think so. As Neil said, you are providing moisture for the mildew to grow with. That said, here is what we have done for 10 years, successfully (that is no mildew in the spring at all):

We cleaned and wiped down all of the woodwork with a bleach/water solution, then rinsed with a damp rag, and then allowed it to dry thoroughly. Then we used a satin varnish made for interior use..Varathane was the brand we used, but any would do the same thing. We applied two coats of satin varnish to all interior surfaces, sealing the wood grain,smoothing the surface of the wood which makes it harder for spores to find a place to congregate. They simply fall to the ground rather than lodging in the wood grain. We installed two solar fans (self-recharging battery assisted for night use) in the V-Berth and salon hatches. Lastly, we hang Mildew Gas bags (4) from strategic locations low in the boat, where the air flow is worst, and mildew potential highest.

In 10 years, that has worked well. We feel that it is critical that the grain of the wood be sealed and smoothed out. This eliminates millions of tiny valleys and ridges that hold the spores and allow them to proliferate. Comparing our progress to another CD30 50 ft. away, who has done the same thing..both boats have no mildew problem..now. But the other boat did have the problems during their first year, until they varnished the interior wood, and added the solar vents.

Good Luck..

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 on Lake Superior

This year, due to the amount of rain and cooler than normal temperatures, has brought a bumper crop of mildew to the cabin woodwork on RESPITE. Usually I wipe down the wood work once a year--if neccessary--in the spring.

I have attempted to prevent mildew, or at least delay it, by preparing a wide mouthed jar full of water/bleach solution. I think the chloride evaporates faster that the water, and the airborne chloride should act as a mildewcide.

Given the wide realm of knowledge available from the readers of this site, I am curious as to the opinion of the chemists, biologists, and/or good housekeepers regarding my practice. Give it to me straight, not sugar coated. Will this work?
Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330

demers@sgi.com

[Michael Stephano]

Like Larry I also use these bags of noxious powder. They work great. When I use the boat I simply put them in a ziplock bag for storage and hang them up again when I am done. There was a point this summer when I forgot to put the bags out and I had an instant bloom of mildew. After the clean up I put the bags around and have had no problem since.



mundo@visi.net

[Brian]

For years my wife and I have used mothballs to control mildew over the winter. After the boat is covered, we fill old margerine tubs or disposable platic cups and put them throughout the boat. 2 in the bilge, 2 in the V, in every locker and some randomly. Just don't tip them over. Also remove everything from the boat. Cushions, books, charts, lines, PFDs. (the lines and PFDs I remove from the lockers and spread out on deck) Mothballs also keep critters away.

[Catherine Monaghan]

A couple more suggestions to add to this great one:

I place a container of Damp-Rid in the bilge as well.

Also, if you have a shower sump -- make sure that you use a hand pump to remove any water that the sump's pump doesn't remove and keep the sump area clean (spray this area with a bleach solution too) otherwise your boat will be a real stinker.

catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

Like Larry I also use these bags of noxious powder. They work great. When I use the boat I simply put them in a ziplock bag for storage and hang them up again when I am done. There was a point this summer when I forgot to put the bags out and I had an instant bloom of mildew. After the clean up I put the bags around and have had no problem since.

catherine_monaghan@merck.com

[Margrit Keyes]

Wipe the boat with the bleach solution! All inside surfaces, including inside the lockers, etc. Then leave the boat as dry as possible.

What you want is stuff to suck humidity out of the air, not add to it.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY

Where are you located? I have CD28 In San Francisco.

Cape Dory 28 #167

margrit@earthlink.net

[Neil Gordon]

I'm in Massachusetts, at Marina Bay (Quincy) on Boston Harbor.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com