fishing rod holders questions

[Wave34]

On my boat I have 2 fishing rod holders at the back.
They let smell from the bilge come up to the deck near the table when we eat and let the boat with an unpleasant odor.
I tried to clean the bilge, but there is still an odor (can't reach everywhere).

Is there a plastic cap made to block them while not in use that exists?


Also, I would like to use those holder to make a post to hold solar panels.
Anyone know the dimension of the tube that goes in there including the notch at the bottom?

Thanks.

 

[dingbat]

There is no standard. They vary considerably by make and model.

Gimbal pins are typically 3/16 to 1/4” diameter. I’ve seen holders with caps but know nothing about them.

Pour a quart of bilge cleaner in the bilge along with 5-10 gallons of water in the bilge and go fro a ride or two. You’ll come back smelling like an organ or a pine tree.

 

[mr 88]

Bleach works great for unwanted smells, just let it slosh around for the day,better if you can disarm the auto bilge pump by pulling a fuse. Hard to believe that those two holders are allowing that much smelly air into the back deck. Just go to a hardware store and buy a couple tapered rubber plugs and push them in from the top. A ruler will tell you what diameter plugs you need. I might try putting some rags in there first to see if that is where all the smell is coming from.

 

[JimS123]

Some of the higher quality holders come with covers. If you don't want to replace them, simply buy a couple rubber corks. You can get them as big as 3 1/2".

 

[Chris1956]

I use Crutch tips to seal my scuppers. They might fit.

There should not be a smell in the bilge. Did you lose some bait there?

 

[Wave34]

There is no standard. They vary considerably by make and model.

Gimbal pins are typically 3/16 to 1/4” diameter. I’ve seen holders with caps but know nothing about them.

Pour a quart of bilge cleaner in the bilge along with 5-10 gallons of water in the bilge and go fro a ride or two. You’ll come back smelling like an organ or a pine tree.

Ok I will try to measure them.

I already did the bilge cleaner + riding the boat routine. It helped for the time it was there but the smell came back.

I washed with a brush and bleach all places I could reach, even in between the inside and outside hull walls.

I think I have water intrusion. Either from the windows, or my drinking water tank is leaking a bit and water stays there and rot, I don't know. I don't think it is the waste tank because the smell is not that bad, the smell is more like humidity in an old basement.

 

[Wave34]

Bleach works great for unwanted smells, just let it slosh around for the day,better if you can disarm the auto bilge pump by pulling a fuse. Hard to believe that those two holders are allowing that much smelly air into the back deck. Just go to a hardware store and buy a couple tapered rubber plugs and push them in from the top. A ruler will tell you what diameter plugs you need. I might try putting some rags in there first to see if that is where all the smell is coming from.

Good idea for the plugs, I will take a look.
The smell is not that bad, but it's there, and I don't smell it on my friend's boats.
Anywhere where there is a channel or an air path to the bilge (rod holders, bilge hatch, access panel in the aft bed, hole in the wardrobe to the inside of the hull), that smell is there.
So yes, it comes from the bilge.

 

[Wave34]

I use Crutch tips to seal my scuppers. They might fit.

There should not be a smell in the bilge. Did you lose some bait there?

Crutch tips, I will take a look at that also, good idea.

I am not a fisherman, the rod holders where there from at least two owners before me.
So if there was a bait, I don't think it is still in rotting stage??

 

[Wave34]

Is bleach armful for plastic?

I see some black stuff and humidity behind and underneath my fresh water tank (made of plastic).
I was thinking of putting bleach in a spray bottle and spray as much as I can behind and underneath the tank.

Will this arm the plastic? What about aluminum? the waste tank is just beside and is made of aluminum

 

[dingbat]

If your smelling mildew after rinsing the bilge with cleaner the chances are pretty good that the under side of the floor is the culprit. Pretty common problem when unprotected plywood is used as a sub-flooring.

Do do you have deck hatches you can leave open to air things out? Mold and mildew don’t smell when dry

 

[Wave34]

If your smelling mildew after rinsing the bilge with cleaner the chances are pretty good that the under side of the floor is the culprit. Pretty common problem when unprotected plywood is used as a sub-flooring.

Do do you have deck hatches you can leave open to air things out? Mold and mildew don’t smell when dry

Is it possible to clean this plywood with a product if it is not accessible?

I tried to open the engine hatch and cabin door + windows on a sunny day with tarp removed. The smell is still there.

 

[dingbat]

Is it possible to clean this plywood with a product if it is not accessible?

I tried to open the engine hatch and cabin door + windows on a sunny day with tarp removed. The smell is still there.

Once I figured out what the problem it took the better part of the summer to dry to the point it didn't smell.

Need to get air circulation under the deck. Remove any and all hatches in the floor to get as much air flow as possible. Use fans if need be.

 

[Wave34]

Once I figured out what the problem it took the better part of the summer to dry to the point it didn't smell.

Need to get air circulation under the deck. Remove any and all hatches in the floor to get as much air flow as possible. Use fans if need be.

Ok thanks, I will try that.