Your boat might look snazzy and amazing, but unless it smells just as fresh, those good looks may go to waste. Nothing ruins a quality boating experience quite like foul odours. Even worse, it can be difficult to diagnose the cause of the odour in the first place. Here is a quick guide to getting rid of musty smells and rancid odours so your guests won’t have to pinch their noses once they board your Quintrex fishing boat!

Check for Any Mould Growth

Mould is probably by far the most likely place where boat odours live. Mould is the quintessential boat smell you think of, that damp musty odour associated with most boats, especially older ones. Boats by nature, are breeding grounds for mould. Why, you may ask? Because boat cabins are dimly lit, can have little ventilation, and become moist which will then form the perfect concoction for mould to brew and spread rapidly anywhere in your boat!

If your boat has that musty smell, it’s most likely you have mould growing inside your boat. If this is the case, no need to worry! Here are some ways on how you can remove the mould from your boat:

• Let the boat breathe. Open the hatches and allow some fresh air to permeate inside your boat.
• Take a bleach solution and clean the areas affected by mould.
• Put measures in place to prevent mould from coming back by making sure no moisture will stay in your boat for a long time. You can do this by leaving the air conditioning on or leaving it on dehumidify or installing solar fans in the hatches.

Smell Your Upholstery and Carpets

Old and weather cloth and leather upholstery can start to attract odours over time especially if you haven’t cleaned them out in a while. To get rid of the stuffy smell, make sure to inspect the foam inside the casing and check if there is mould there.

Cleaning upholstery is as easy as taking a simple foam cleaner. To clean the upholstery, mix water, and vinegar together using a 1:1 ratio and thoroughly wipe down your piece of furniture, then allow it to air dry.

It’s important to keep carpets and headliners always clean to avoid building up any odours. Wash them with soap detergent and water when they start to look dirty.

Take Care of Your Hoses

The hoses throughout your boat for both fresh water and black water can also be the culprits of some pretty bad odours onboard. Over time, the hoses onboard can deteriorate and begin to hold nasty smells. A good way to see if the hoses are bad is to perform a rag check. Wipe a damp rag over the hose and see if it smells bad afterwards. If it does, then it’s time to replace them. Another way is to physically examine any clear hoses and check to see if they are discoloured. If so, then replace the hoses. You can buy them in your local marine shops.