Cleaning mold off seats

[boatman37]

So we have a 2006 250CR with the white seats. We have the boat stored in an underground salt mine for the winter but it is very damp inside. We stored our Sea Ray there for 3 winters and no problems. I put a few buckets of Humid Dry in the cabin and cockpit and sprayed Lysol everywhere. Well went down last week to check on it and the seats are pretty bad. Pretty sure it's mold although the back seat looks like wet dust. When I was there last week I didn't have anything to clean them with but it was damp and smeared when I tried to wipe it off. Going back down tomorrow with cleaning supplies to try to get it all cleaned up.


They have a climate controlled section but we are on the waiting list there (we were 60th in line last fall). I'm thinking this might be the last year we store there until we can get climate controlled.



If we were to shrink wrap and store in our yard will we still have these issues?

[Dave McCalley]

I would not shrink wrap. That traps moisture. Do you have vents in your cover?
I had mold a couple years ago(my fault).
I used "Marine 31" mold cleaner, then used their vinyl treatment. Worked very well. Most mold cleaners will have bleach in them. Rinse well and use a treatment or vinyl will dry out.
There are many brands out there.

[boatman37]

I would not shrink wrap. That traps moisture. Do you have vents in your cover?
I had mold a couple years ago(my fault).
I used "Marine 31" mold cleaner, then used their vinyl treatment. Worked very well. Most mold cleaners will have bleach in them. Rinse well and use a treatment or vinyl will dry out.
There are many brands out there.

No vents in this cover but my Sea Ray did have vents. Would that make a difference being in an underground cave with no airflow? We are planning on having a new cover made this spring and was planning to have the vents installed in it.


Going tomorrow to get a few cleaning supplies before I head down. Doubt they will have Marine 31 but will find something to clean it and treat them and will look to order some Marine 31 for next time.

[Dave McCalley]

No vents in this cover but my Sea Ray did have vents. Would that make a difference being in an underground cave with no airflow? We are planning on having a new cover made this spring and was planning to have the vents installed in it.


Going tomorrow to get a few cleaning supplies before I head down. Doubt they will have Marine 31 but will find something to clean it and treat them and will look to order some Marine 31 for next time.

There will always be some airflow even in underground. You can buy a couple vents and install yourself. Very easy. they basically snap together. cut a small slit in cover and snap together. Put at least one near the front and one 1/2 way back behind the captains seat. Center as best you can, My 266 has three vents. Buy the ones that you can put a pole in. Keeps the vent elevated for better flow. Or you could leave the cover loose and use a couple poles.

[~Chad~]

Your local hardware store will have options. Good advise Dave!

[Todd157k]

This forum needs a "like" button.

Thanks guys.. as I am going through the same thing as the OP.

[boatman37]

Just got back from cleaning the seats. Got about 90% of it off. Used Simple Green then sprayed and wiped with water then Armor All then wiped everything again with a dry towel. I also dried the floor. The day we stored it it was raining and the cover was wet. Talked to the lady at the mines today and she said if it was damp at all when it went in then it won't dry. So that might have been why. The cover was pretty soaked when we took it there.


Our old boat had those vents that were 2 piece and screwed together from the top and bottom. I installed those same ones on my mothers pontoon. But our cover is pretty bad so plan to get a new one this spring. It is slightly shrunk and leaks like crazy. I sprayed it with 303 but that hasn't helped. Definitely getting vents in the new cover.


Thanks for the info on those cleaning supplies. There are a couple of spots that didn't come clean so will try that stuff next time I'm done there.

[205ccrCrownie]

Be careful with the Simple green. It is very harsh and can prematurely "rot" the threads sewing the vinyl.

I store my boat outside with a home made tent. I use damp-rid in the past. Last year, I rigged up a cheap bathroom fan with a vent hose outside the "tent" On dry days, I plug the fan in.

Good luck
Joe

[boatman37]

Good to know about Simple Green. I sprayed down with soapy water after that and also Armor All so should have got it all off. Lighting is pretty bad where it is so hard to tell how clean I got the seats but using the light on my phone they looked pretty good. I'll go back down in a few weeks and check it again.

[dpapagolos]

Best Stuff I have ever used is Starbright Mildew Stain Remover Its awesome

[boatman37]

Ended up buying a bottle of Marine 31 and it worked great. Wife cleaned them all the other day and they look like new

[Bretz]

Glad you got them clean!

[twocell]

Didn't have mold on my seats but had some on my vinyl siding. Saw good reviews on this stuff called RMR, so I ordered a gallon for $30. Put it in my pump sprayer and sprayed it on the siding mold. Within 10 minutes it was gone. Rinsed it off with a garden hose and it was shiny bright. The only problem is that when I opened the jug, it just smelled like strong bleach to me. Bottom line is that I think I just spent $30 for a gallon of strong bleach.

[floppyhera]

For some time now, I don't cleaned mold on my own on any delicate surfaces. After a bad experience on my boat when bleach cracked the seats, or maybe it wasn't bleach. Fortunately, a friend told me to contact Sparkle Wash for professional help. To avoid the expense of replacing seat liners after improper use, it is better to contact a professional. They know exactly what kind of product and stain can be removed. I would not want to be slipped a gallon of bleach for $ 30. It's so easy to fall for crooks these days.

[Randy Andersen]

Yeah, be careful of products with bleach in them. The bleach can weaken the threads holding the vinyl together. Also, not a fan of Armour All. For marine vinyl, many prefer 303 Protectant.