I am writing this from onboard our retirement home, a 42 foot trawler. We are presently en route through the Great Lakes, with a goal of circumnavigating Lake Superior. Oh, how wonderful it is to be retired on a trawler!

I have some important input to your June article on boat odors. When we bought our boat used in 1998, there was a certain smell in the V-berth, galley, and dining areas.

Down in the bilge are two black water tanks (135 gallons), two gray water tanks (80 gallons), at least a half-mile of hose, dozens of T-connectors, and five Y-valves.

For two years, we tried everything to get rid of the smell - which was at worst, disgusting, and at best, just bearable.

We scrubbed and cleaned but never could reach all areas. Then we spent $2,000, in parts and labor, replacing hoses, connectors, valves, vent odor filters, and everything else that we thought money could buy.The smell was still there!

Then I gave the friendly people at Quantum Pure Aire a call.

They advertise in PMM. Even though I have no interest in this company, I just have to praise their products. After consulting with them, I installed their BilgeBuster in our boat.

Within 10 hours, our odor nightmare of more than two years was gone completely. The odor has never come back.

This little ozone machine draws one amp and sits quietly in the bilge, doing its job. It was easy to install and works 100 percent to eliminate odors of any kind.

I highly recommend this product for any owner with an odor issue on a boat. It really works.We love PMM, and keep all of the issues on a book shelf for frequent reference. You folks should be proud of a job well done. Thank you very much!

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In the past, I've read some positive letters in PMM about the BilgeBuster from Quantum Pure Aire. Here is another.

I bought not only the BilgeBuster but the Roommate. They both work.

The BilgeBuster does exactly what it says. Leave it on and presto, bilge odors are gone!

The Roommate unit, when first left on a week while I was away, killed all the odors on my 43-foot trawler. Even the sliding cabinet doors now work better. Mildew is a thing of the past. Diesel odor still occasionally prevails, but musty, dank odors are all gone, even cat odor.

Ozone has a life span of 30 minutes. As I'm bothered by ozone (I was exposed to high concentrations of it during my professional career), I turn the unit off when I arrive at the boat, then I wait outside for it to dissipate.

Quantum's Barry Newman suggested I install a timer, as I usually board at noon on weekends. I recommend that if you leave your boat shut tight for any length of time, an ozone generator really works. Opening cabinets, drawers, and lifting up mattresses is a must, however.

PMM is terrific, and the increase in advertisers, especially those we don't see elsewhere, is a good thing.

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Quantum receives many letters in the mail similar to this one, praising Quantum's products. Their products have solved problems on pleasure craft, yachts, commercial boats, cruise ships, offices, homes, RVs, businesses, etc. etc.

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PassageMaker Chat

By Bill Parlatore (Editor PassageMaker) :

I totally recommend buying an ozone generator, like the ones from Quantum (see add in latest PassageMaker.)

I've used one in several boats, and we even use it in the house. It will completely eliminate your odor problems...mildew, diesel fuel, whatever. They have recently introduced a smaller full-time unit that actually sits in your bilge, called the BilgeBuster. I haven't used it, but it sure sounds like a good idea.

('m not pushing the product other than it really works.)

By Steve M (responding to question on boat odors in PassageMaker online) 

First find out where the odor is coming from. This is a lot like a science project. Take a moist cloth and wipe the surface of the suspect location, mark that cloth labeling the location, let dry and then smell that cloth. If it has the odor, that was the location. Then clean that with a strong clorox and water, paint if possible, and hope for the best.

Have also talked to people that have bought an inexpensive ($200) ozone generator and swear by them. The only question is a possibility they attack rubber. This is as yet unconfirmed, but owners swear they remove the odors.

Good Luck

By Steven W (responding to question on boat odors in PassageMaker online)

We installed two Quantum Pure Aire "Bilge Buster" units on our Pilgrim 40. One next to the engine and a second next to the waste tank. Chose two since we have two separate below deck compartments (engine space and a separate water/waste tanks/genset compartment).

I wired them into the same circuit used by our below deck blower. Have the units on when at the dock or on anchor, turned off when underway.

By  Bill Parlatore (Editor PassageMaker) 

I've used one for years and it has proven to be very effective. So much so that I bought a second one for our home. Just make sure you buy the proper size unit.
I definitely recommend this device. It does work.

The above comments can be viewed at PassageMaker's website, http://www.passagemaker.com

John, Posted at http://www.trawlerworld.com/

When I purchased my boat, it had a strong diesel odor -- I purchased the
CabinAire from Quantum Pure Aire. It completely eliminated the odor
in about 3 days. I still occasionally use it. The unit does a great job.

Al, Posted at http://www.trawlerworld.com/