Malibu Boats M240 2021, Руководство пользователя

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136 Care & Maintenance | 2021 OWNER’S MANUAL
Upholstery
Even if you do not have or use canvas covers, read the
previous material about canvas care as there is information that
is applicable to upholstery use as well.
NOTE: Topical cleaners must be wiped off with clean water
and dried with a clean cloth after application. If not rinsed after
direct contact, the cleaner residue on the surface can cause
product failure.
Mold and Mildew
As noted in the Canvas information above, mold, and mildew
problems in the marine upholstery industry have been well
documented. The objective of this overview is to review the
causes and cures of the unsightly and odoriferous problems,
and to suggest actions to reduce their impact on the quality of
goods as perceived by the consumers.
The Cause-Micro-organisms
The two principal causes of offensive odors and unsightly
stains and growths are bacteria and fungi, commonly called
microorganisms. Bacteria are simple, single celled organisms.
Fungi, referred to as mold and mildew, are significantly more
complex.
A subset of fungal organisms is a type that produces colored
byproducts as part of its digestive process. These byproducts
are recognized as stains and are typically pink, yellow, purple, or
black.
All micro-organisms require a source of energy, carbon for cell
structure, nitrogen for amino acid synthesis, essential minerals,
and water.
Organisms causing problems in the marine, industrial, health
care, hospitality, and home environments are frequently very
self-sufficient in synthesizing required bio-chemicals from the
most basic molecules. Microorganisms are ubiquitous. They are
everywhere, and thus, microbial contamination is the rule. The
total absence of microbes—sterility—is the exception.
Current Reality
To have a mildew problem, four elements are required. For
mildew to proliferate, spores, food, warmth, and moisture are
necessary. Elimination of one of these elements would break the
cycle, and the mildew problem would be eliminated.
The most likely element to control is moisture. Keep surfaces
dry and the ambient air dry, and you can break the link. This is
very difficult. Marine upholstery may be dry when one sits on
it, but it is constantly exposed to rain, splashes, and wet bathing
suits.
Dirt carried by the wind or a sudden shower will carry the
spores or seeds to begin the process, inoculating the surface.
Surface debris can easily be washed off, but what happens to the
contamination that gets into a seam or stich holes?
A closer examination reveals that a marine seat is a very
complex construction. The vinyl that you look at or sit on is
a minute part of the total construction. The vinyl is usually
attached to a fabric to give it dimensional stability and physical
strength. Urethane foam of various thicknesses provides a
cushion, and the whole seat is usually built on a piece of plastic.
If contaminated dirt carried by rainwater gets inside the
cushion, the biological growth cycle can begin. It is quite
common for soil organisms growing in the foam cushion to
produce colored by-products, the most notable of which is a
pink compound.
This dye is soluble in plasticizer (an ingredient in flexible PVC)
and will diffuse and migrate to the vinyl surface. Even though the
vinyl compound is adequately protected against mildew growth,
pink staining can occur if contact is made with components of a
seat which support mildew growth. This stain cannot be removed
by washing. In any case, the owner’s perception of the boat’s
quality has been seriously affected.
The Solutions
As in most complex problems, there are a variety of actions
once can take to prevent microbial problems. These actions
must be directed to the components of the product and the
total construction. Working together, they will assure the highest
probability of success in eliminating quality problems associated
with mildew contamination. The solution consists of four
components:
• Keep seats clean.
• Remove or kill any surface growth.
• Use materials that are treated to inhibit fungal growths.
• Keep surfaces covered, if possible, when not in use.
NOTICE
The performance results shown in this information are not guaranteed
for all upholstery products. The evaluations are indicators after
laboratory tests and may not be indicative of field performance.