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Conference unifix::sailing

Title:	SAILING
Notice:	Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:	UNIFIX::BERENS

Created:	Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:	Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2299
Total number of notes:	20724

1659.0. "Ozone remedy for mildew & odors?" by MEMORY::PARE () Sun Jan 27 1991 22:57

	I read an article in Practical Sailor describing a new product which
produces ozone. This ozone machine, produced by a small Rhode Island company, 
is claimed to be unique in the fact that it produces the ozone without the 
unwanted by-product (nitrous oxide).
	The article explains how ozone is a poisonous gas which is deadly
to fungus, viruses and bacteria. "It attacks the shells of such critters and
destroys them." The article goes on to explain that the machine would prove
to be very useful to boat owners in the fight against mildew.
	The manufacturer claims that their smaller unit, easily will sterilize
the air aboard any pleasure boat. Or, at lay-up time, the unit could be put
aboard and run for two to three hours to kill off any mildew or rot fungus.
	"One other tremendous bonus," claims the manufacturer, "is that ozone
absolutely and quickly eliminates odors of any and all kinds."
	The power requirement is 40 watts at 110V AC. They are also developing
a 12V DC model.
	The bad news is that most of us would suffer from "sticker shock".
The smaller unit sells for $445.
	P.S. reports that they tested the unit aboard a much-neglected C&C
sloop. "The interior of the boat, jammed with gear and sail bags, was a
slimy, malodorous nightmare." "After the cabin was unloaded and thoroughly
washed down, the unit was put aboard and run for two hours with the cabin
closed." "When reopened, the cabin odors had vanished." "Two months later,
the boat was still odor free." "No mildew had reappeared."
	One of the P.S. employees claimed that it removed all odors in his 
large basement that normally was "dank and musty" smelling. 
	I'm sure that most of us with older boats would find such a machine
to be very desirable if all of the above claims were fully founded.
Are there any chemists or biologists out there who would like to comment,
yea or nay, on the above claims?

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1659.1	Good stuff	AKOCOA::DOUGAN		`Thu Jan 31 1991 16:20`	10
	I'm no specialist on ozone - but my 2c worth: Ozone is a very efficient disinfecting agent, it's used in some medical equipment to sterilise instruments and bandages. I've also seen ozone units in small indoor swimming pools. The problem with ozone is the same as with chlorine, it attacks us as well as the bugs. Ozone, in anything but very small quantities is poisonous and irritates any mucous lining - lungs, eyes etc. I guess that's not really a problem, just don't run the unit while you're on board. I don't buy the bit about no mold re-appearing, as soon as the ozone disperses, and if temperature and moisture conditions are right, it will grow back.
1659.2	Any other opinions?	MEMORY::PARE		`Thu Jan 31 1991 17:08`	22
	Re: .1 >>I don't buy the bit about no mold re-appearing, as soon as the ozone >>disperses, and if temperature and moisture conditions are right, it >>will grow back. Doesn't it stand to reason, though, if you could wipe out the mildew in all of the little nooks and crannies with ozone, that it would be less likely to reappear as quickly? I presently use a light bulb built into a piece of stove pipe to keep my boat dry during layup. The hot bulb sets up a convection which tends to dryout the air throughout the cabin. The slightly elevated temperature inside the boat keeps condensation from forming. It works pretty well, but is dry mildew really dead or is it just waiting for a bit of moisture to propagate? That is why I believe the ozone remedy would be so effective. You could load all of your cushions and other items that tend to collect mildew. Then, seal up the boat and turn the unit on. Ideally everything aboard would get sanitized. I wonder how long it would take for the gas to disperse after shutting the unit off? John
1659.3		ROYALT::FGZ	Federico Genoese-Zerbi	`Thu Jan 31 1991 19:17`	12
	I thought mildew reproduced by spores, which would not be affected by ozone. > I wonder how long it would take for the gas to disperse after shutting the > unit off? I would think that the thing that would happen before dispersion, would be a simple 2O3->3O2 reaction (O3 is very unstable), but I'm not a chemist. F.
1659.4	ozone verses rubber??	HPSPWR::HOWARTH		`Fri Feb 01 1991 11:55`	6
	I would be careful using ozone. I have worked with high voltages where ozone was produced (not intentionally) and it attacks rubber products. I'm not a chemist but you may want to raise the question with one. Joe
1659.5	I think it is corrosive (as well as an oxidant)	MSCSSE::FRENCH	Bill French ZKO3-3/X8 381-1859	`Fri Feb 01 1991 15:48`	6
	I don't have a specific refernce handy, but I seem to remember it as being pretty corrosive to a lot of things. I'll try to remember to look it up this weekend. Bill
1659.6		BTOVT::JPETERS	John Peters, DTN 266-4391	`Tue Feb 05 1991 16:01`	2
	It eats some electrical insulations, probably affects vinyl, and certainly your mucous membranes. Be cautious.