help please---- we have resently purchased a 40 that was dry docked for 2years. no hoses were changed nor a much needed pump out done. we have sence taken care of this plus found a holding tank that had a broken seal. this too was taken care of we are still left with a stentch. in fact the smell seems to be emitting from the bottom and up the sides of our 40. we have cleaned and riped out the material on the sides of the hull, but stil not much improvement. so what do we do? any ideas or any one with simular problems???
1986 stench
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Bleach
AC: This is the same problem that occur on most of the older Hunters that have a liner. You need to pour large amounts of Hot Soapy water with a good dose of bleach into the areas that with disinfect the areas that you cannot get to. On many of these boats that may be under the v-berth, behind the engine pan, down the ice box drain etc. Then take her out of a good sail and let everything slosh around. When you get back you can let her sit for a couple of hours and then rinse out the area's that you treated. This should rinse out the area and everything will drain into the bilge. This may not happen in 5-10 minutes, but it will happen given enough time. I assume from your post that you have new hoses and tank seals. You may want to treat your tank and hose system with the same solution to be sure that everything is disinfected to start with and then check it for leaks again. Be sure to remove all of your cushions and clean the areas under them too. Leave the cushions in the sun to air out while you are cleaning the interior. It would also not hurt to use a little Frebreeze on the areas that may have any mold and mildew after they are cleaned too. With some elbow grease and time, she will be fresh and clean again. PS: Be sure that your bilge is clean too.
AC: This is the same problem that occur on most of the older Hunters that have a liner. You need to pour large amounts of Hot Soapy water with a good dose of bleach into the areas that with disinfect the areas that you cannot get to. On many of these boats that may be under the v-berth, behind the engine pan, down the ice box drain etc. Then take her out of a good sail and let everything slosh around. When you get back you can let her sit for a couple of hours and then rinse out the area's that you treated. This should rinse out the area and everything will drain into the bilge. This may not happen in 5-10 minutes, but it will happen given enough time. I assume from your post that you have new hoses and tank seals. You may want to treat your tank and hose system with the same solution to be sure that everything is disinfected to start with and then check it for leaks again. Be sure to remove all of your cushions and clean the areas under them too. Leave the cushions in the sun to air out while you are cleaning the interior. It would also not hurt to use a little Frebreeze on the areas that may have any mold and mildew after they are cleaned too. With some elbow grease and time, she will be fresh and clean again. PS: Be sure that your bilge is clean too.
If the tank is aluminum, it may be leaking
Average lifespan of any metal tank is only about 10 years. Best way to deal with odors is by process of elimination... start by THOROUGHLY cleaning the bilges and sumps, which also means flushing out ALL the dirty water. A power washer can be very valuable for bilge cleaning 'cuz it can clean and flush out areas you can't get to any other way. Pull your entire anchor line out, lay it on the dock and give it a good bath with plenty of detergent, followed by a VERY through rinse. Leave on the dock to dry. Clean the chain locker as you did the bilge while it's out. Test sanitation hoses to determine whether they're permeated with odor...which, btw, will be strongest in the areas hoses pass through. The only cure for stinky hoses is replacement. Spray all your cushions with Febreze and put them out the sun for a full day. That will take care of all the most common sources of boat odor, making it much easier to find the source(s) of any odor that remains...'cuz ALL odors are strongest at their source.
Average lifespan of any metal tank is only about 10 years. Best way to deal with odors is by process of elimination... start by THOROUGHLY cleaning the bilges and sumps, which also means flushing out ALL the dirty water. A power washer can be very valuable for bilge cleaning 'cuz it can clean and flush out areas you can't get to any other way. Pull your entire anchor line out, lay it on the dock and give it a good bath with plenty of detergent, followed by a VERY through rinse. Leave on the dock to dry. Clean the chain locker as you did the bilge while it's out. Test sanitation hoses to determine whether they're permeated with odor...which, btw, will be strongest in the areas hoses pass through. The only cure for stinky hoses is replacement. Spray all your cushions with Febreze and put them out the sun for a full day. That will take care of all the most common sources of boat odor, making it much easier to find the source(s) of any odor that remains...'cuz ALL odors are strongest at their source.
ATTACK ON 1986 STENCH
thank you so much for your help. much was done on the hoses will look and due other sugestions. did not know about it being a liner boat. WE also have leaks, will that sit in the liner causing yet more odors???? again thank you ac
thank you so much for your help. much was done on the hoses will look and due other sugestions. did not know about it being a liner boat. WE also have leaks, will that sit in the liner causing yet more odors???? again thank you ac
Leaks will definitely pool, stagnate and stink
They also cause much more serious problems...like, mold, stained headliners and fiberglass and wood rot. Finding and stopping leaks should be #1 on your jobs list.
They also cause much more serious problems...like, mold, stained headliners and fiberglass and wood rot. Finding and stopping leaks should be #1 on your jobs list.
Clean the life jackets!
I went through all of these procedures in my 1986 34.5 including running a hose into the bilge for 2-3 hours every week for six weeks. This all helped but still had extensive stink. Finally removed and washed all 9 of the life jackets that had been stowed for years in the front cabin bin. Almost all of the smell is now gone!
I went through all of these procedures in my 1986 34.5 including running a hose into the bilge for 2-3 hours every week for six weeks. This all helped but still had extensive stink. Finally removed and washed all 9 of the life jackets that had been stowed for years in the front cabin bin. Almost all of the smell is now gone!
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