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Clothes and fabric having fume smell

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by catch yaself, Mar 8, 2014.

  1. catch yaself, Mar 8, 2014
    #1
    catch yaself

    catch yaself New Member

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    I have a 2002 48 ocean SS just purchased a few months ago and I am noticing that our clothes and sheets have a significant smell of fumes
    It's not a noticeable smell in the salon or cabins as your living on the boat but the clothes are quite strong if you smell them when you leave the boat for a few days and go back on
    Has anyone experienced this and any solutions to this problem?
  2. Capt J, Mar 8, 2014
    #2
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Yeah many boats. What kind of Fume smell? Is it raw diesel? Is it exhaust smell? Is it bilgey? Sewage?
  3. catch yaself, Mar 8, 2014
    #3
    catch yaself

    catch yaself New Member

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    Its more exhaust smell on the clothes and sheets. When you board the boat and enter salon area it smells fresh and clean but the smell on the fabric is very noticeable. I have blowers on when running the boat but the smell seems to seep into the living areas.
    Again you would never notice the smell just entering the boat.
    The bilge areas are very clean and I clean them regularly . If I open any hatch throughout the bat I dont get a diesel smell at all.
    thanks
  4. Beau, Mar 8, 2014
    #4
    Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    Check carefully for an exhaust leak at the engines and generator
  5. catch yaself, Mar 8, 2014
    #5
    catch yaself

    catch yaself New Member

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    Primarily the exhaust hoses ? Is that what your referring to?
  6. Beau, Mar 8, 2014
    #6
    Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    Yes, but thoroughly check the whole system from the manifolds to the exhaust outlet. An exhaust leak can be fatal as you know.
  7. catch yaself, Mar 8, 2014
    #7
    catch yaself

    catch yaself New Member

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    Will do
    Thanks
  8. AlfredZ, Mar 8, 2014
    #8
    AlfredZ

    AlfredZ Senior Member

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    Do check the whole system and if you don't have CO detectors, it would be a good addition to all confined spaces; If you have a leak, what you smell is your least worry!

    Some boats, are not well ventilated in the living areas and might have only an aft opening with no other opening to any of the sides or so. If your boat is not well ventilated and you tend run the engine(s)/generator(s) while stationary, like when docked, or have a neighbor that does so, fumes will enter your vessel from the exhaust by external air drafts, this is why they would settle on fabrics because it is not intense enough to pollute the whole air in the area (A sign that the exhaust system and engines are running clean with undetectable black smoke or heavy soot!) . Just a thought!

    You can always change the kind of cigarettes you smoke! ;) :p

    Cheers,
  9. catch yaself, Mar 8, 2014
    #9
    catch yaself

    catch yaself New Member

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    We do rub fever stir for 48-72 regularly when anchored off
    We also have detectors.
    Please clarify what you mens when you say engines may be running clean.
    And exhaust is undetectable?
  10. AlfredZ, Mar 8, 2014
    #10
    AlfredZ

    AlfredZ Senior Member

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    Just like in your car, if your engine is running clean, good filters, sparks, timing, etc. and you are standing behind your car while it is running, it takes long time for you to be irritated by the exhaust. Unlike if you had black smoke, you'll be coughing like a spanked chicken in less than a minute. I meant it as a good sign of a clean running engine not more.
  11. Capt Ralph, Mar 8, 2014
    #11
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Is CO from a diesel engine tall enough to measure? I know a gas engine exhaust will kill you quickly.

    Finally found an exhaust leak on a customers 6-71; the head/exhaust manifold gasket failed under the manifold & out of sight. The owner did have a similar odor problem. We had dry bilges so I figured to look over the system before the dump cans real well. Took a couple of looks still then but found it.