T&T: Bilge Cleaners

[rbrun360 at aol.com]

"I have become frustrated with the 'old boat smell' in my relatively? 
new-to-me 1984 trawler."

Something you made need to investigate is an open shower sump. If the water from your shower and sinks empty into a open sump the soap, hair, and skin will create a sweet offensive smell. Most boats today enclosed the sump and a good gray water treatment on a regular basis is helpful. Several companies like Thetford make good gray water and bilge cleaners that leave no residual petroleum based odor. You should also investigate any house or deck leaks that would allow wood rot to form in a small area which has a different smell. Find a friend with a good nose to help. I have used a product called Pureayre, available at?Fisheries Supply, to knock down odors and then trace the source. This enzyme product will remove all odors and as the culprit starts emitting?the odor again it is easier to trace. Happy hunting.

Richard Brunson
Cruiseahome 40
Seattle