Axis Wake Research A20 - Page 106

Even if you do not have or use canvas covers, read the previous material about canvas care as there
is informaon that is applicable to upholstery use as well.
 NOTE:Topicalcleanersmustbewipedowithcleanwateranddriedwithacleanclothaerapplicaon.
Ifnotrinsedaerdirectcontact,thecleanerresidueonthesurfacecancauseaslightcolorchange.
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.
Mold and Mildew: As noted in the Canvasinformaonabove,moldandmildewproblemsinthe
marineupholsteryindustryhavebeenwell-documented.Theobjecveofthisoverviewistoreviewthe
causesandcuresoftheunsightlyandodoriferousproblems,andtosuggestaconstoreducetheirimpact
on the quality of goods as perceived by the consumers.
The Cause–Micro-organisms: Thetwoprincipalcausesofoensiveodorsandunsightlystainsand
growthsarebacteriaandfungi,commonlycalledmicro-organisms.Bacteriaaresimple,single-celled
organisms.Fungi,referredtoasmoldandmildew,aresignicantlymorecomplex.
 Asubsetoffungalorganismsisatypethatproducescoloredby-productsaspartofitsdigesve
process.Theseby-products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,essenalmineralsandwater.
Organisms causing problems in the marine, industrial, health care, hospitality and home environments are
frequentlyveryself-sucientinsynthesizingrequiredbio-chemicalsfromthemostbasicmolecules.Micro-organisms
areubiquitous.Theyareeverywhere,andthus,microbialcontaminaonistherule.Thetotalabsenceofmicrobes–
sterility–istheexcepon.
Current Reality:Tohaveamildewproblem,fourelementsarerequired.Inorderformildewto
proliferate,spores,food,warmthandmoisturearenecessary.Eliminaon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.Inactuality,thisisverydicult.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suddenshowerwillcarrythesporesorseedstobegintheprocess,
inoculangthesurface.Surfacedebriscaneasilybewashedo,butwhathappenstothecontaminaon
thatgetsintoaseamorstchholes?
 Acloserexaminaonrevealsthatamarineseatisaverycomplexconstrucon.Thevinylthatyoulook
atorsitonisaminutepartofthetotalconstrucon.Thevinylisusuallyaached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plasc.
 Ifcontaminateddirtcarriedbyrainwater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plascizer(aningredientinexiblePVC)andwilldiuse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perceponoftheboat’squalityhasbeenseriouslyaected.
The Soluons:Asinmostcomplexproblems,thereareavarietyofaconsoncecantaketoprevent
microbialproblems.Theseaconsmustbedirectedtothecomponentsoftheproductandthetotal
construcon.Workingtogether,theywillassurethehighestprobabilityofsuccessineliminangquality
problemsassociatedwithmildewcontaminaon.
 Thesoluonconsistsoffourcomponents:
1. Keepseatsclean.
2. Remove or kill any surface growth.
3. Usematerialsthataretreatedtoinhibitfungalgrowths.
4. Keep surfaces covered, if possible, when not in use.
UPHOLSTERY
2016 Axis Wake Research Owner’s Manual . . . Page 4-5