Storing Boat - Getting rid of Musty Smell

[jharris]

Getting ready to put the boat away for the winter. Unfortunately, sitting in my garage getting ready for storage I noticed it has a musty smell. Never noticed the musty smell when out on the lake or on the lift all summer. I have had everything open making sure it was nice a dry before putting into storage for the winter. (indoor rack storage) Wondering if anyone had any good ideas to clean up the musty smell. Maybe something to leave or hang in the boat during storage.

[TxJole]

If you have removable carpet take it out. If not power wash your carpet and let it dry before u store it. Them put no damp in the boat and as many dryer sheets as you can find.

[swankster]

Having the boat confined in the garage, probably help id the problem. Due to the low lake levels and hot summer in Texas this year, we had a lot of problems with foul water smells in the boat and vests. During the season, I completely emptied, cleaned and dried the boat monthly and every other month I use 3m Mildew Block. I think the 3m Mildew Block helped. I used it last year during storage and will do the same this year. I also use a desiccant like Damp Check.

[DanielC]

I pressure wash the carpet, first a rinse to get it wet, then use simple green, rinse that out, and then go back and use a fabric softener, and rinse that out. Clean up under the gunnels. Remove every seat you can and clean behind them. Any removable floorboards, remove them, and pressure wash both top and bottom.
Pressure wash the bilge.

The musty smell is basically mold growing. It need a food source, and moisture. Any food you take into the boat is also food for mold. Any organic material that falls into the boat is food for mold. That includes dead skin cells all people shed. Clean the boat really well, and you can remove a lot of the food source.

To dry the carpet of the boat, lay clean towels on it. Do not use fabric softener on the towels, it makes them repel water, you want towels to soak up water.

[Bonez]

I hang two packs of Damp Rid in my boat when I store it for the winter, it can be purchased at most hardware stores. Be sure to block ski lockers open to get as much air flow through your boat. Adding dryer sheets will also help with the smell.

[Super_sport]

When I store the boat over the winter it goes into a shed at a friends house... there are rodents I am sure, but I use pure Peppermint oil in small cup and I put those in the cup holders under the cover.... Along with some moth balls (separately in another cup)... to keep the rodents out... but in the Spring when I remove the cover, the peppermint oil does help with the smell (still smells minty fresh). but that doesnt get it at the source, in the carpets and seat cushion creases. there are mildew removers for that.