I believe I have some (bad ordor) water that has made its way into the area below the sump pit in my 1986, 31' Hunter. I was thinking of cutting a hole in the side of the sump and adding a sealed port cover to allow access for removing the liquid and to spray KO to kill the smell. Has anyone attempted this detail? Please advise.
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Structural Grid
The grid is a structural grid and one should be very careful about adding new holes. The location and size could impair the structural capability of the grid system. Even a small hole in the wrong place can induce a stress point which can later lead to failure, and usually when loads exceed it's new reduced structural strength. Naturally this would likely occur at the worst possible time. Recommend contacting Hunter about any hole location and size as I doubt that anyone in this forum would be able to give you an engineered answer. If the odor is from an outside source, as it must be, if one can find the source it should be possible to block future contamination and introduce some enzymes to the suspected trouble area to knock the odor down.
The grid is a structural grid and one should be very careful about adding new holes. The location and size could impair the structural capability of the grid system. Even a small hole in the wrong place can induce a stress point which can later lead to failure, and usually when loads exceed it's new reduced structural strength. Naturally this would likely occur at the worst possible time. Recommend contacting Hunter about any hole location and size as I doubt that anyone in this forum would be able to give you an engineered answer. If the odor is from an outside source, as it must be, if one can find the source it should be possible to block future contamination and introduce some enzymes to the suspected trouble area to knock the odor down.
Just spray and wash
I had the same problems on my '84 H31. I finally took the hose and went up under the forward berth, sprayed everything possible and dumped in lots of cleaners. Then took the boat out for a while. I repeated the process over several days until I got only clear water. All the water eventually makes it down into the bilge. It took a little faith to fill 'er up like that, but the results were amazing. I will do this again next spring both forward and in the aft lazerettes. Peggy can give you more information on this process. She was my primary encouragement. An inpsection hole really isn't necessary. Also note, that many people talk about taking up the receptacle for the table support. That hole would essentially give you the access you are speaking of. Good luck.
I had the same problems on my '84 H31. I finally took the hose and went up under the forward berth, sprayed everything possible and dumped in lots of cleaners. Then took the boat out for a while. I repeated the process over several days until I got only clear water. All the water eventually makes it down into the bilge. It took a little faith to fill 'er up like that, but the results were amazing. I will do this again next spring both forward and in the aft lazerettes. Peggy can give you more information on this process. She was my primary encouragement. An inpsection hole really isn't necessary. Also note, that many people talk about taking up the receptacle for the table support. That hole would essentially give you the access you are speaking of. Good luck.
The source may now be inside
John Nantz is right that the source had to come from the outside. For example, "that mouse was alive when it came from the outside, and then found its way inside the liner." That's small comfort now that the source of the odor is inside. Ah, well. Maybe the carcass will fully decay by the end of the season. There should be no spaces on a boat that are sealed off from inspection and cleaning. Builders who create such spaces should spend their remaining years cleaning those spaces and solving the problems they cause.
John Nantz is right that the source had to come from the outside. For example, "that mouse was alive when it came from the outside, and then found its way inside the liner." That's small comfort now that the source of the odor is inside. Ah, well. Maybe the carcass will fully decay by the end of the season. There should be no spaces on a boat that are sealed off from inspection and cleaning. Builders who create such spaces should spend their remaining years cleaning those spaces and solving the problems they cause.
Remove Odor
Hi Just remove the dining table, and leg, then remove the leg socket from the sole, you will find a hole in the floor where all the nasty stuff resides. Vaccum the water then treat with KO. If you do not replace all the screws, you can clean this area often as necessary. I put no screws back, and clean after each long trip under power, as that is where the water from the stuffing box ends up. Good Luck John sv Fifty/Fifty H34 Forked River NJ
Hi Just remove the dining table, and leg, then remove the leg socket from the sole, you will find a hole in the floor where all the nasty stuff resides. Vaccum the water then treat with KO. If you do not replace all the screws, you can clean this area often as necessary. I put no screws back, and clean after each long trip under power, as that is where the water from the stuffing box ends up. Good Luck John sv Fifty/Fifty H34 Forked River NJ
It works.
However, first remove the water, then clean with detergent and water--don't use bleach. Rinse very thoroughly, then mop up any remaining water. Spray liberally with K.O., and leave the locker open so that plenty of fresh air can circulate for at least 24 hours before closing up again. You can keep the sump clean by adding some C.P. to it. Do it just before you close up the boat (or if you're a live-aboard, after you've dumped it and it will be at least several hours before it's used again) to give it time to "eat" any hair, soap scum etc.
However, first remove the water, then clean with detergent and water--don't use bleach. Rinse very thoroughly, then mop up any remaining water. Spray liberally with K.O., and leave the locker open so that plenty of fresh air can circulate for at least 24 hours before closing up again. You can keep the sump clean by adding some C.P. to it. Do it just before you close up the boat (or if you're a live-aboard, after you've dumped it and it will be at least several hours before it's used again) to give it time to "eat" any hair, soap scum etc.
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