I have a 1999 Hunter 310, there is some water in the bilge pump area and the keel bolt space! It smells like sewage! Any suggestions??!!
Black water in Bilge !I have a 1999 hunter 310.
- Thread starter FOLLOWING SEAS
- Start date
I hear from people all the time who've torn out their hair and most of their sanitation system plumbing, trying to get rid of what they think is "head" odor, when all they really needed to do was clean their bilges! 'Cuz a wet bilge is a dark stagnant swamp...and it behaves like one, growing a variety of molds, fungi and bacteria—some that thrive in dark stagnant water, others that just like damp dark places...and it generates the same gasses--hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide--that can make a whole boat smell like a swamp or even a sewer. The warmer the weather and water, the faster they grow. Add some dead and decaying sea water micro-organisms, dirt, food particles, rain water, wash water, hot weather and humidity, plus a little oil or diesel, and you have a real primordial soup…no wonder it stinks!
Most people’s approach to bilge cleaning consists only of throwing some bilge cleaner/and or bleach into that soup when it starts to stink, let it slosh around for a while, then turn on the bilge pump and call it done. I’ve never understood why they think that’s all there is to it. They wouldn’t just add some detergent and bleach to a bathtub full of dirty bath water, swish it around a bit, then just pull the plug and expect the bathtub to be clean. Or just pour some more dishwashing detergent into a sinkful of dirty greasy dishwater, swish it around a bit, then pull the plug and expect to have clean sink. So why do so many boat owners think they can have a clean bilge without any effort and especially without rinsing ALL the dirty water out of it? So if you really want to get rid of odor inside your boat, roll up your sleeves and get to work...you'll be glad you did!
And btw...if you don't have a power washer, get one..they aren't expensive and it'll make the job a lot easier 'cuz it can get water and detergent into areas that are impossible to reach with even the longest handle brushes and mops.
--Peggie
Most people’s approach to bilge cleaning consists only of throwing some bilge cleaner/and or bleach into that soup when it starts to stink, let it slosh around for a while, then turn on the bilge pump and call it done. I’ve never understood why they think that’s all there is to it. They wouldn’t just add some detergent and bleach to a bathtub full of dirty bath water, swish it around a bit, then just pull the plug and expect the bathtub to be clean. Or just pour some more dishwashing detergent into a sinkful of dirty greasy dishwater, swish it around a bit, then pull the plug and expect to have clean sink. So why do so many boat owners think they can have a clean bilge without any effort and especially without rinsing ALL the dirty water out of it? So if you really want to get rid of odor inside your boat, roll up your sleeves and get to work...you'll be glad you did!
And btw...if you don't have a power washer, get one..they aren't expensive and it'll make the job a lot easier 'cuz it can get water and detergent into areas that are impossible to reach with even the longest handle brushes and mops.
--Peggie
You might also take a look at the fittings on your holding tank, and make sure nothing us leaking…
I had some strange looking water in my normally dry bilge, had some strange film if sheen in it…
A fitting on my holding tank was loose…
Fixed the fitting and poured a lot of hot, soapy water Down the bilge to get things cleaned out.
Greg
I had some strange looking water in my normally dry bilge, had some strange film if sheen in it…
A fitting on my holding tank was loose…
Fixed the fitting and poured a lot of hot, soapy water Down the bilge to get things cleaned out.
Greg
If you didn't rinse all the dirty soapy water out, your bilge wasn't really clean, Greg.
--Peggie
If you have a macerator installed, there is a known problem with the pump head retaining bolts corroding off and allowing for leakage. I replace two pumps due to bad bolts. And I do not even use the pump.
I did clean the bilge…but used the hot soapy water to clean the path the waste water took from the tank leak to the bilge…then cleaned the bilge…
All is sweet smelling now ;-).
Cheers,
Greg