Reduce boat odor?
All boats have boat odor, to a greater or lesser extent. How do you remove it, and what causes it? If you find the cause, it may be easier to do something about it.
The short answer is that you need to keep the boat clean and dry. We'll help you further!
What causes boat odor?
There can be several reasons. Here are some examples:
- Septic odor, which comes from leaks or old equipment
- Diesel odor, due to spills
- Oil, from the engine
- Food odor from the galley/cabin
- Mildew odor because the humidity is too high
We often see that it is due to a combination of these reasons. So you can have both mildew odor from humidity and diesel spills and a little burnt oil on the engine. Together, this becomes the characteristic boat odor. Solve one challenge at a time, and the result will surely be good in the end.
Reduce septic odor
Another important source of boat odor, however, is the septic tank. Here, several things should be checked. First, it is of course especially important to clean the toilet compartment itself. In turn, you can consider the condition of your septic hoses. Most hoses are guaranteed odor-free for 5 years, and if it has been more than 5 years since you replaced them, odors may start to seep out of them. Our experience is that they usually work well for about ten years, but after that, they cannot keep all odors in.
You should also go over the entire system and check for leaks. Even the smallest leaks can create a lot of odor. It is also important to ensure good ventilation in the septic tank. The air hose is often undersized and can become clogged.
It can also be good to use sanitation fluid in the toilet and septic tank.
In short: Thorough cleaning and keeping the system in order.
Odor from oil, diesel and other spills
If you spill a little diesel, it will quickly smell. If you have a small oil leak on the engine, this quickly evaporates and turns into foul-smelling gases when the engine gets hot. Do you add oil and spill a small drop in the bottom of the boat? All these are small sources that can give a lot of odor if they are allowed to settle. Cleanliness is also important here. Use vinegar or dish soap to dissolve.
Cleaning agents to reduce boat odor
As we understand, it is mainly about keeping clean. Effective cleaning agents can be ordinary dish soap or red vinegar. This is very effective, especially on oils, fats, and the like. For the toilet and septic system, it can be a good idea to use chlorine. But remember that this should not be mixed with red vinegar or anything else!
Once it is clean, you can gradually use vinegar to reduce the last residues. A dehumidifier with ionization will also reduce odor.
What about ozone?
Ozone can be effective in removing odors in boats, but you should still not use it. First, it only removes the odor, and usually not the cause of the odor. The gas is so aggressive that it can damage plastic, rubber, seals, and other things in your boat. In the end, it becomes more expensive! It is also dangerous and it is now forbidden to sell ozone generators to private individuals.
Anticimex writes about how humidity smells differently:
Read more about different odors here
We can summarize measures to remove boat odor:
- Thorough cleaning
- Keep things in order (no leaks)
- Keep the boat dry
Reduce boat odor
Often the cause of boat odor is mold. This is because the humidity has become too high. Temperature differences, condensation, small leaks, and spills cause you to have water in various places in the boat. In this way, mold spores spread in your boat. Not only does it smell bad, but it can be dangerous to breathe in.
Keep the boat dry with a good dehumidifier, and much of the problem will be solved.
