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How to Get Rid of Stinky Smells From Your Boat

Your boat might look its snazzy and amazing, but unless it smells just as fresh, those good looks may go to waste. Nothing ruins a quality boating experience quite like foul odours. Even worse, it can be difficult to diagnose the cause of the odour in the first place. Here is a quick guide to getting rid of musty smells and rancid odours so your guests won’t have to pinch their noses once they board your Quintrex boat!

Check for Any Mould Growth

Mould is probably by far the most likely place where boat odours live. Mould is the quintessential boat smell you think of, that damp musty odour associated with most boats, especially older ones. Boats by nature are breeding grounds for mould. Why, you may ask? Because boat cabins are dimly lit, can have little ventilation, and become moist, forming the perfect concotion for mould to brew and spread rapidly anywhere in your boat! 

If your boat has that eww musty smell, it’s most likely you have mould growing inside your boat. If this is the case, no need to worry. Here are some ways how you can remove the mould from your boat:

Let the boat breathe. Open up the cabin door, any hatches and port holes, allowing some fresh air to permeate inside of your boat.

Take a bleach solution and clean the areas affected by mould.

Put measures in place to prevent mould from coming back by making sure no moisture will stay in your boat for a long time. You can do this by leaving the air conditioning on or leaving it on dehumidify or installing solar fans in the hatches for the cabin.

Bilges Can Store Stinky Odours

Bilges are probably the second biggest culprit when it comes to odours on boats. This is because most of the time they house standing water. The key is to inspect every bilge on your boat since chances are you don’t only have one but several of them, especially if your boat is big. Everything from grease, oil, and anything else you can imagine can wind up in the bilges. Because of this, the mixture of those different liquids can cause evil-smelling bilge water. You should make it a routine to inspect and clean every bilge as needed. These are the things you can do to keep your bilges clean and free from foul smells:

Spray your preferred degreaser/cleaner in the bilge and let it sit for several minutes to loosen up all dirt and odour particles.

Gently mist the bilge and wipe it completely clean.

Vacuum all remaining water and wipe dry.

Check Your Heads

We don’t mean you need to get your head checked, what we mean is your boat’s toilet, in case it isn’t too obvious. Boat heads are another source of notable stinky odours on a boat. The key to keeping them from smelling foul is to keep the head’s system lubricated and treated. Boats with saltwater heads are more prone to producing odours because of calcium deposits in the lines of the toilet system. If the head is smelly, here are some things you can do to eliminate them: 

Place your favourite head treatment product in each of the heads (if you have more than one) and let it work its magic. This will help to break up odour particles in both the lines to the head and the water tank itself. Make sure to get rid of its nasty contents when you get to the marina.  

Inspect for Leaks

When talking about this particular leak, it doesn’t mean a leak on your boat’s hull. This is more concerned with your window or hatches leaking that lets the moisture inside the boat leads to mould growing in your boat or hatch leaking. This will cause your boat to have a musty smell. Fix those leaks by doing the following:

Find exactly where the leak is coming from. If it’s a bad hatch, replace it. If it’s the caulking around the window, dig it out and recaulk or seal it.

If the wood trim surrounding a window was damaged or maybe waterlogged, replace it.

Once you’ve stopped the leak, be sure to clean the carpets, the upholstery, and the surrounding area to stop mould in its tracks.

Smell Your Upholstery and Carpets

Old and weathered cloth and leather upholstery can start to attract odours over time especially if you haven’t cleaned them out in a while. To get rid of the stuffy smell, make sure to inspect the foam inside the casing and see to it there is no mould in there. 

Cleaning upholstery is as easy as taking a simple foam cleaner. To clean the upholstery, mix water and vinegar together using a 1:1 ratio and thoroughly wipe down your piece of furniture, then allow it to air dry.

It’s important to keep carpets and headliners always clean to avoid building up any odours as well. Wash them with soap detergent and water when they start to look dirty. 

Take Care of Your Hoses

The hoses throughout your boat for both fresh water and black water can also be the culprits of some pretty bad odours onboard. Over time the hoses onboard can deteriorate and begin to hold nasty smells. A way to see if the hoses are bad is to perform a rag check. Wipe a damp rag over the hose and see if it smells bad afterwards. If it does it’s time to replace them. Another way is to physically examine any clear hoses and check to see if they are discoloured. If so, replace the hoses. You can buy new hoses in marine shops.

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How to Properly Use a Boat Fender

Most boaters know they need to protect one of their costly investments: their beloved boats! Boats are vulnerable to damage, especially since the boat’s hull (the exterior body of the boat) is susceptible to getting hit and damaged by moorings, pilings, and other boats. This is especially true for rougher water conditions. Since all these instances are unavoidable, a protective item should be placed to prevent the hull from getting destroyed. That’s when a boat fender comes in to give protection to their boats from any damage. 

What Exactly Is a Boat Fender?

A boat fender is a buffer zone between your boat and other objects while your boat is docked, rafted, or anchored. It absorbs the shock from an object that would otherwise come into contact with your boat and possibly damaged it. Fenders also decelerate a boat in docked rolls and surges. 

A lot of boat fenders are made to be inflated similar to a basketball. Most models are inflated using any standard needle air pump. Some boat fenders come with a simple design with round or cylindrical shapes while some can be painted and customised according to one’s taste in design. Some boat fenders are shaped to fit the part of a boat where it’s most likely to get hit. Many of these have flat or unusual designs that are efficient in protecting the boat’s hull.   

Using Boat Fenders

There is actually no enforced rule on how to use a boat fender. It’s really up to you how you are going to use them. However, if you’re not sure how to make use of these useful boat accessories, here are some recommendations on how to use them: 

Choose the right size for your fenders. Inspect your boat closely and calculate if small or big fenders are appropriate for your boat. A good reminder is to know that the bigger the boat, the bigger the fenders you should use. However, you should avoid using fenders that are bigger in size, especially if your boat is small for two reasons: you may not have enough space inside your boat to store them and they can also influence the maneuverability of the boat.

The strength and size of the fenders that you may get will totally depend on the weather conditions in the dock. 

Consider getting fender covers to protect them from the sun. Along with salt water, the sun destroys everything. If you park your boat for a long period in a sunny location, think of sun protection to extend the life of the fenders. However, this is not necessary if you are okay to change them after a few years. Fenders are made to last a long time so you don’t have to purchase one every few months. If you take care of them, they can last a lifetime.

You can purchase boat fenders in your local marine boat stores available in all shapes, types, and sizes. 

Where To Tie Fenders Along The Boat?

The placement of the fenders is very important. In general, you place the fenders in the upper end of the hull that is just next to the deck level, but if you’re docking in a marina with different types of boats docked there as well, you need to adjust the placement of your fenders accordingly. For example, if you have a yacht and you’re docking next to a Quintrex Fishabout, place your fender on the level of their deck. If the marina has a low pier and there is a chance that the waterline level of your boat will also get hit when it comes into contact with the dock, place the fenders in those areas. 

You can also place your fenders at the widest part of your boat, called the beam. Put fenders on both sides. Don’t forget to place fenders closer to the bow and to the stern and any other places of the boat where you think it would bump into other objects. Potential contact and damage are what you must have in mind when placing those fenders.

When to Put Fenders On Your Boat?

You prepare and rig out fenders before you enter the marina or a dock and you take them away when you are out at sea. If you feel a bit lazy and find rigging and taking the fenders away while you travel in the water burdensome, you can just keep the fenders rigged all the time you’re in the boat. However, if the weather is not looking great and there is a strong gust of wind or if it’s raining heavily, then you might have to stow away the fenders to prevent them from getting blown away by the wind.

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The Different Types of Life Jackets

Regardless if you’ve been boating for some time or for a long time, you know that life jackets are the most essential boat accessories to have. And you also know that not all boats are made the same. Some are more suitable in certain bodies of water and some are not wearable. It’s essential to know which life jackets are appropriate to use in offshore or inshore waters and their functions.

Type I: Offshore Life Jackets

These vests are designed for open, rough, or remote waters where rescue may take some time. They provide the most buoyancy out of all the different types of life jackets out there, they are excellent for flotation and will turn most unconscious persons face-up in the water. These life jackets offer the best protection even though they are quite bulky and uncomfortable. These also help retain body heat as well.

Type II: Near-Shore Vests

These jackets are suitable for inland water near shores where immediate rescue is swift. These are best to wear for activities such as day cruising, fishing and sailing. However, these are not suitable for extended survival in rough water. They don’t necessarily keep the wearer’s head above water.  

Type III: Flotation Aids

These life jackets are great for calm waters where a rescue if needed would be quick. These jackets are more comfortable compared to Type I and Type II although they provide far less floatation than Type I. These are not recommended for rough waters since they will not turn most unconscious people face up. These are most commonly used for water sports activities such as sailing, water skiing, game fishing, kayaking, and operating personal watercraft boats.

Type IV: Throwable Device

Type IV is not designed to be worn but it is used for anyone to hold on to it. Because it’s not a wearable device, these jackets are not suitable for rough waters. This is used to throw an overboard victim to help them float and prevent them from drowning. A Type IV throwable device can be a square style, a ring buoy or a horseshoe buoy mounted on deck. A Type IV is not for unconscious persons, non-swimmers or children. This should be placed in the top deck where it is visible and easily accessible.

Type V: Special Use Life Jackets

These are often developed and customized specifically for specific sports such as kayaking, wakeboarding, or windsurfing. Restricted to the special use for which each is designed.  They can come in belt packs, deck suits, and float coats. They are not suitable in offshore locations.

Now that you know which life jackets are suitable for different types of situations, you know what to purchase in marine boat stores and what to store in your boat.

-Once you select the proper type of PFD for your conditions and/or activity, make sure it is in good condition, with no holes or tears, and fits properly. A jacket that is too large can slip off the wearer. One that is too small might not offer sufficient buoyancy to keep the wearer afloat.

-Look for the manufacturer’s labelling that details the size and weight the jacket is intended to fit.

-Once you have the proper size, put on the jacket, fasten any closures (buckles, zippers, etc.), then lift your arms up straight over your head and ask a friend to grab the top of the jacket above the arm openings and pull upward.

-Ideally, the jacket should not rise any higher than the wearer’s chin. If it rides up as high as the ears, it’s too large and could slip off in the water; size down to get the proper fit.

-Don’t overlook the crotch strap found on life jackets designed for young children. This additional strap runs between the legs from the back of the jacket to the front and offers added assurance the jacket will not ride up or slip over a child’s head.

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The Advantages of Having an Aluminium Boat

When looking to purchase a professional boat there are a few issues that a boat has to consider. What engine to choose? What type of boat to buy? And most important, what is the best material to build a boat’s hull?

Choosing what is right for you depends on what you are using the boat for, whether it’s for angling, patrol, workboat, or leisure activities and what factors are important to you.

An aluminium boat is still viable if you want an easy-to-repair, lightweight, and sturdy vessel.

Durability

An aluminium boat is significantly more robust compared to its fibreglass counterparts. Aluminium is the way to go if you need a boat that can withstand harsh conditions. Aluminium has great toughness. It will resist impacts that no fibreglass will survive. In such circumstances, fibreglass will break, while aluminium will merely mark or dent.

The tinnie boat requires less to zero maintenance, reducing both the cost and the effort to be spent. The material’s ductility minimizes the risk of rupture during a high-impact collision, thereby cutting down the repair fee. It also boasts a longer life span since it has high corrosion resistance.

The marine-grade alloy adds to its appeal, and often these boats are handed over from father to son and last 30 to 40 years with no need for significant renovations or repair.

Weight

The biggest advantage of aluminium boats is the reduced weight. Aluminium boats are 30-40% lighter than fibreglass boats of similar size. This lower weight makes aluminium boats more economical. They require smaller and lighter engines, are faster and can carry more weight. Lighter boats are also easier to trailer everywhere; you can easily carry them once you purchased them from a marine boat shop or you want to load them on the water.

Customization

Another crucial advantage of having an aluminium boat is its ability to customize it as per your needs. The fibreglass boat hulls are made from moulds leaving little space for customization, as they come in predetermined or standard sizes.

However, aluminium is much more elastic than the others and therefore has a wide variety of options and configurations. You can build aluminium for all professional uses such as patrol boats, pilots, fireboats, search and rescue boats, and passenger catamarans.

Safety

An aluminium boat is constructed in such a way that it is strong and light. The lightweight nature of the vessel makes it easier to maneuver. The tinnie boat is lighter than fibreglass or steel boats, leading to reduced fuel consumption and increased efficiency.

They are not affected by ultraviolet rays and do not burn or catch on fire easily. A collision would leave the boat with a few dents that could be just hammered out later, whereas a collision on a fibreglass boat might end up sinking it.

Eco-Friendly

Aluminium is one of the most attractive metals for recycling in both energy and economic terms. This material recycling requires just 5% of the original energy needed to produce the metal. Aluminium recycling is profitable because aluminium waste is a valuable resource.

Due to its high resale value and environmentally friendly nature, investing in an aluminium boat is a big win for you. These boats are suitable for both freshwater and saltwater expeditions making them one of the most flexible vessels. If this convinced you to buy a tinnie boat, you can visit your local boat dealerships or aluminium boat manufacturers if you have one in your area. Aluminium boats are common so you can easily find and purchase them at a great price.

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Boat Seller Tips - Build Client Relationship with These Questions

Australia has plenty of water bodies in its marine natural resources. Every state is blessed with an abundance of healthy and lively aquatic spots such as coastlines, beaches, lakes, and rivers. People who regularly venture into the water for their hobbies or getaways will find no shortage of choices on where to go. For this reason, the country is home to many avid boat enthusiasts, passionate adventurers, and lovers of the water. 

 An abundance of new boats for sale and rental services for aquatic vessels in the country people to enjoy the aquatic environments the country has to offer. For instance, a family can get a used boat for sale and venture out into the deep sea, where they can enjoy watersports in the vast, endless offshore space. They can engage in wild and dynamic activities such as paragliding, wakeboarding, and skiing. These thrilling activities are sure to provide them with the opportunity to quench their thirst for excitement, and to satisfy their daredevil urges with high-speed physical feats. Family members who love fishing can also exercise their angling prowess on the boat. They could bring their fishing tackles and cast their fishing lines into the water. With the vast number of species that live underwater, anglers will never know what’s on the end of their line once they feel that bite. The mystery adds to the excitement.

 If boaters prefer calm and peaceful environments, they can take their boats to inland waters where the settings are usually gentler, and the shores are closer in case passengers need to return to land. Lovers of the water can get a new boat for sale and cruise through the gentle waves of rivers and lakes, and relax while they connect with their friends and families.

 Cruising out on a boat is a fun activity for many people in the country. The boating community of Australia is a lively and wholesome family, adding to the popularity of boating in many states. The popularity of cruising on a boat is also amplified by boat brands that manufacture new boats for sale, and independent boat sellers who offer used boats for sale at affordable prices.

 Boat sellers are the backbones of the boating community, as they offer new vessels and accessories for sale that encourage people to keep boating. However, aspiring boat sellers may have difficulties in starting their business, as a business in the boating community can be a competitive environment. Fortunately, a business can be made easier by having the right customer relationship tactics, and that includes engaging customers with the proper questions. 

 Here are some of the best questions you can ask boaters who may become your clients in the future.

 “How are you?”

These days, simple greetings such as “How’s it going?” and “How are you?” can be met with vague, “Fine,” or “Not bad.” However, customers in a boating centre have knowingly entered the store with a need for something. It’s up to boat sellers to take the initiative and ask them what they need. 

 “What Can I Do to Make Your Day Better?”

This question is a good follow-up to the “How are you?” opener. These words allow boat sellers to receive an insight into their customer's issues. As an added bonus, it also makes the boat seller sound as though they care about their clients’ problems.

 Is this the First Shop or Service You’ve Visited? 

This is an effective question that gives insight into the client. The first shop the client visits has the opportunity to make the first impression. If the client has visited other stores, it means that they may not have been satisfied with the service they received and has chosen to look for other stores.

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Life of a Doting Boat Owner

Boat owners adore their boats just as much as they love cruising through their favourite ponds, beaches, or lakes. After all, their boats are the only thing helping them get close to the water and nature. Boating is the key to various hobbies such as fishing, swimming, and watersports. Without their beloved fishing boats, there’s be no more cruises. They’d no longer hear the rev of their outboard motor as they speed through the water. They could no longer cruise into the deep offshore, and there would be no more adrenaline-inducing watersports.

Boat owners who are passionate about their vessels will take extra steps in taking care of their prized possessions. The love they have toward their boat can be very active. Passionate boat owners will scrub and clean their vessel every night and day, making sure that it’s free from the smallest of stains or specs. They’ll take their boat to the marina and brag about it to their fellow boater friends. If they’re stuck on land because of harsh weather, they’ll keep their boat locked safe and sound in their garage while they plan for the next fishing trip.

Passionate boat owners usually stand out because their boats are clean and pristine as if they’d just bought them. If you visit a boating centre that offers boats for sale for fishing, you’ll know exactly what their boat looks like – free of spec, shiny, and polished. There won’t be a single scratch or barnacle on the hull. Whether they own a mighty aluminium Quintrex boat or a humble hull fitted with an outboard motor, their boats will always have the brightest gleam in the marina.

This level of cleanliness applies to their boat trailers as well. After all, the best boats deserve the best trailers to be mounted on. They’ve most likely bought their boat trailers from the best boating centres that offer boats for sale in Victoria. Boating owners prefer to have the most reliable boat trailers to fit their beloved vessels. The quality of these trailers is important to them. The last thing they want is their towed equipment breaking down on the highway, smashing their beloved tinnies into the asphalt.

Passionate boat owners also tend to decorate their boats according to their preferences. For instance, other seats would be personalized with decorations and decals. Their decks would be filled with colourful designs according to what they see fit, and there would be boating accessories such as fishing rod holders, or maybe even bobbleheads. Doting boat owners will always look for the next best accessories to buy for their boats.

If you’re looking for the best boat for sale for fishing trips, your best choice is the Quintrex boat. Quintrex is a brand of aluminium boats for sale in Victoria, Australia that features the latest developments in aluminium technology. You’re guaranteed to have the sturdiest and most reliable aluminium boat in the Australian market.

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Medical Kit Contents for Your Tinnie’s Safety Pack

Accidents can happen anywhere and anytime, and people who own tinnies must always stay safe whenever they’re in the water. Even if you take utmost precautions for your safety and that of your passengers, accidents and misfortune can still slip through your care.

Whether injuries are insignificant or severe, they need to be treated immediately. Even a small wound can lead to a bigger problem if it’s exposed to air and pathogens. Infection happens to even the smallest of injuries. The effect infections have on the rest of the injured individual’s body can be severe.

This is why medical cases and safety kits are necessary items for boaters. When sailing on your tinnie far away offshore or in a remote lake, river, or pond, one can’t get help as quickly as on land. It’s harder to find stranded boaters in the water than it is to find street addresses in the city. Boaters need to learn the basics of first aid to help themselves and their passengers stay safe during urgent times.

Medical cases and safety kits for your fishing boat do not need to contain many complex items. The first and foremost items that need to be packed inside medical and safety kits are those required to apply first aid. Here are some basic items that you need to pack for your fishing boat’s medical and safety kits.

Bandages

In first aid, this roll of medical cloth is used to wrap wounds and keep them safe from exposure. Bandages are crucial in treating injuries such as cuts, scrapes, and abrasions. These medical cloths are also strong enough to be used as tourniquets, medical items used to stop bleeding. Simply tie a bandage over a bleeding wound with enough pressure to slow blood flow.

Medical tapes or plasters are used to hold bandages in place so they don’t fall off from the wound they’re applied to cover.

Medical Cream

This is a broad term for ointments and oils applied on wounds to help stop the pain, improve the healing process, or protect it from infection. They’re potent and effective and can be used to remedy ailments such as burns, allergic reactions, insect bites, and wounds. Make sure that you have a medical cream for specific conditions. For instance, consider using burn creams only for injuries that come from heat. Lastly, once you’re finished treating injuries with medical creams, bandage the wound to keep them safe from exposure. This prevents the cream from drying, which helps it stay effective for a longer time.

Basic Medicine

Medical kits must always contain remedies for common illnesses when a passenger falls sick onboard. This includes paracetamol, painkillers, anti-seasickness pills, and diarrhea tablets. Packing these items in your medical kit ensures that your sick passengers are comfortable and stable as you drive your tinnie to shore.

          If you’re looking for the best tinnie for your fishing trip, visit your boating centres for Quintrex boats for sale. Quintrex is a brand of aluminium boats that features the latest development in aluminium and boating technology. Quintrex boats for sale are reliable, and can last you through many years of boating adventures.