A Sump-tuous Shower

You've cleaned the cabins and even devoted some elbow grease to the bilges, but there's still a musty odor permeating your boat's interior. Now might be the time to inspect and clean out the sump drains under the showers.

If your shower sump is black with mildew, musty fumes can travel up through the drain hose back through the shower drain into the head and cabin as well as throughout the bilge. Hydrogen peroxide is a simple yet effective way to remove mildew from sumps. The peroxide does not cover up the musty odor mildew causes, but instead kills the spores, which are the source of the odor.

To start, pour a pint of hydrogen peroxide down the drain and let it sit in the sump for at least an hour, preferably longer. Be sure the power to the pump is off so it does not cycle while the peroxide works. After giving the peroxide time to soak, turn on the hot water in the shower and flip the breaker. The pump will remove the mildew and leave the sump clean as it empties. Repeat as necessary. You might note that hydrogen peroxide will also eliminate musty smells that originate in the air conditioning evaporator pan.

To prevent other sources of mildew and odor, never allow shower water to drain into the bilge. The combination of fresh water, soap, body dirt, suntan lotion and other residue are a bad brew that over time will reek throughout the boat. Plus, hair could clog a bilge pump.