boat mold help?

Jake B

New member
I have had my boat uncovered but using it weekly but every week the splash well and cabin top as well as the cabin sides gets this black mold growing on it that i have to scrub the whole thing down weekly, wondering if anyone has had this problem or found a solution? it is getting annoying to keep on top of
 
ZEP Mold and Mildew Stain Remover is likely the handiest cleaning product on my boat. It is pretty much the same stuff as Tilex but half the price. It really works great.

--The green slime that grows on the motor when it has to be left in the water during winter? I tip it up, use the hose to blast off the big stuff, wet it down with ZEP and let it almost dry, rinse it, and then wet it again with ZEP and tip it back down. Cleans it completely.

--The slime that stays on the bottom paint when I pull the boat? I don't like to scrub the bottom paint, but the ZEP lets me rinse it off clean.

--The mold that gets on the hoses for the head and in the nooks and crannies you can't really scrub? Spray the ZEP on and forget it. It's all clean and white the next time you look at it.

--The discoloring that gets on the non skid surfaces and the cockpit floor? ZEP and a hose rinse, no scrubbing.

--The crud that builds up along the edge of the rub rail and in the window tracks? Well, you get the picture.

If I sound like an advertisement for the stuff it is because it really is that good. I have a small pump up spray bottle always ready to go and a spare gallon in the boat. When I pull the boat out of the water for a cleaning, I use a weed sprayer and wet it all down with the stuff before I wash it. Works amazingly well. I don't know what it is doing to the environment but it works good.

Home Depot has it by the gallon.
 
I just discovered "Clorox Clean-up". Apparently it is just 1/4 cup bleach combined with one teaspoon of laundry detergent diluted in a 32 ounce spray bottle. I used it not only on the solid surfaces, but also on PDFs, the steering wheel, the sunbrella and, in the house, on the tile grout in the shower. It works very well, easy to apply, and, so far, hasn't hurt any fabric.
 
For mildew prevention, ventilation has made a big difference in our boat. I put a solar powered fan in the front hatch and leave the head door and window cracked open - this seems to keep the moisture level down. We also have an oil filled electric heater that I leave on at a low setting.
 
journey on":8nlh97l8 said:
I just read in the BoatUS magazine that bleach isn't good for gel coat. Just a comment.

Boris

That's why I use vinegar. My CD 16 cruiser had small, black mold spots on the inner berth wall. The vinegar removed it, and it did not grow back. At the start of each season, I would remove the berth cushions, spray every square inch I could reach with vinegar, wipe the area with a cloth rag, and then sponge it down with water. It smelled fresh and clean thereafter, albeit somewhat like pickles.

Rich
 
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