Our boat, 1987 31 Hunter, has a heavy odor from the holding tank area. I planned to replace several hoses and found out the holding tank had not been pumped as it was supposed too. Fun job. Now we have strong odore coming from under the sole. Anybody have any ideas how to clean up this mess?
Boat Smells
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Holding tank is prob'ly NOT the culprit
Ok...yes, it would be a good idea to pumpout and rinse out the tank...but unless it's leaking around a fitting or there's a crack in it, holding tanks are rarely if ever the source of odor inside a boat...'cuz the only place that odor from inside a tank has to go is out the tank vent. So it's a good bet that permeated sanitation hoses are at least one of the sources of your odor. If replacing 'em (the best hose on the planet is AVS96 (http://www.aussieglobe.com/avs96.htm) doesn't completely eliminate all the odor inside the boat, the source has to be trapped stagnant water under the cabin sole. Curing that isn't easy, but can be done: Step 1.if the icebox, shower, ac condensate or anything else drains into the bilge, install a sump and reroute the drains into it. Step 2. Clean the bilges--really CLEAN 'em for a change instead of just dumping in more bilge cleaner and or bleach, and then flush out ALL the dirty water. Use a power washer to get to areas you can't reach by hand. If you don't own one or know anyone who'll lend you one, buy one. I wouldn't be without one 'cuz they're so useful for so many jobs at home AND on the boat...in fact, I just replaced the 1,000 psi I've owned for 10 years...paid $127 for a 1600 psi at Sams). You might also want to check out the link below.
Ok...yes, it would be a good idea to pumpout and rinse out the tank...but unless it's leaking around a fitting or there's a crack in it, holding tanks are rarely if ever the source of odor inside a boat...'cuz the only place that odor from inside a tank has to go is out the tank vent. So it's a good bet that permeated sanitation hoses are at least one of the sources of your odor. If replacing 'em (the best hose on the planet is AVS96 (http://www.aussieglobe.com/avs96.htm) doesn't completely eliminate all the odor inside the boat, the source has to be trapped stagnant water under the cabin sole. Curing that isn't easy, but can be done: Step 1.if the icebox, shower, ac condensate or anything else drains into the bilge, install a sump and reroute the drains into it. Step 2. Clean the bilges--really CLEAN 'em for a change instead of just dumping in more bilge cleaner and or bleach, and then flush out ALL the dirty water. Use a power washer to get to areas you can't reach by hand. If you don't own one or know anyone who'll lend you one, buy one. I wouldn't be without one 'cuz they're so useful for so many jobs at home AND on the boat...in fact, I just replaced the 1,000 psi I've owned for 10 years...paid $127 for a 1600 psi at Sams). You might also want to check out the link below.
Its a problem but fixable
I have a 1987 H31 and when I bought it 4 years ago I had the same stinky problem. Got a lot of info from this site and I got rid of the smell. You will have to drill some holes if you don't have any. Here are some past articles on this topic. http://216.39.145.91/archive/archivepview.tpl?sku=2003256134509.9&forumabr=ms&fno=4&model=31&forum=none&andor=wo&keyword=bilge&pr=p&ssite=HOW&srt=pdate&start=4&max=100&db=2003&cart=111745209587775 http://216.39.145.91/archive/archivepview.tpl?sku=2003309103751.24&forumabr=ms&fno=4&model=31&forum=none&andor=wo&keyword=bilge&pr=p&ssite=HOW&srt=pdate&start=2&max=100&db=2003&cart=111745209587775 http://216.39.145.91/archive/archivepview.tpl?sku=2003349232124.71&forumabr=ms&fno=4&model=31&forum=none&andor=wo&keyword=bilge&pr=p&ssite=HOW&srt=pdate&start=1&max=100&db=2003&cart=111745209587775 http://archive.sailboatowners.com/archive/archivepview.tpl?sku=2004069073523.86&forumabr=ms&fno=4&model=31&forum=none&andor=wo&keyword=bilge&pr=p&ssite=HOW&srt=pdate&start=7&max=100&db=2004&cart=111745453488185
I have a 1987 H31 and when I bought it 4 years ago I had the same stinky problem. Got a lot of info from this site and I got rid of the smell. You will have to drill some holes if you don't have any. Here are some past articles on this topic. http://216.39.145.91/archive/archivepview.tpl?sku=2003256134509.9&forumabr=ms&fno=4&model=31&forum=none&andor=wo&keyword=bilge&pr=p&ssite=HOW&srt=pdate&start=4&max=100&db=2003&cart=111745209587775 http://216.39.145.91/archive/archivepview.tpl?sku=2003309103751.24&forumabr=ms&fno=4&model=31&forum=none&andor=wo&keyword=bilge&pr=p&ssite=HOW&srt=pdate&start=2&max=100&db=2003&cart=111745209587775 http://216.39.145.91/archive/archivepview.tpl?sku=2003349232124.71&forumabr=ms&fno=4&model=31&forum=none&andor=wo&keyword=bilge&pr=p&ssite=HOW&srt=pdate&start=1&max=100&db=2003&cart=111745209587775 http://archive.sailboatowners.com/archive/archivepview.tpl?sku=2004069073523.86&forumabr=ms&fno=4&model=31&forum=none&andor=wo&keyword=bilge&pr=p&ssite=HOW&srt=pdate&start=7&max=100&db=2004&cart=111745453488185
I must chime in here
First I must say that Peggy is most assuredly correct, and I did have odors comming from the bilge and resolved them as suggested on this site. But as it regards the holding tank on a Hunter 31 I have found a couple of issues that those not familiar with this particular boat may not be aware of. The holding tank is molded into the V-berth. It is topped off with a fiberglass lid that is screwed on and sealed using sealant. In addition the waste in and out fittings are simple tubes that are glassed onto the tank from the outside. The result for me was that the sealant around the lid permeated and smell would build up under the V-berth cushions. I temporarily isolated that source by using gaffers tape over the seam. The second source of problems turned out to be the waste in port. It was placed so close to the top of the tank that they were not able to glass completely around it. As a result the tank would vent into the area under the V-berth through a very small hole in the glass. I was not happy with the lid and would find myself removing it in the future to resolve the same issue if I just resealed it. I thought about glassing it over. I could not however resolved the waste in fitting without removing it, glassing the area and then placing a new fitting. I decided to cut the entire tank out, leaving only a lip for a new cover to fit on. I am now looking for a bow shaped tank that will fit throught that opening to place in the bow just under where the old tank was hanging. I know this may have been a radical fix but I was not comfortable with glassing the old waste in hole and lid. (In hind site I probably should have tried it, finding a tank and glassing in new supports for it is not that easy either). The current result is that the pervasive smell is now gone. I have the ends of the hoses (which were new before I started this) plugged while I look for a tank. There is still a slight residual smell on the surfaces of the area and I will use Peggy's suggestions for cleaning that area. So in the case of the H31 I would follow all of the suggestions given so far first but if that does not resolve the issue you can evaluate the issues with the tank that I have found with mine.
First I must say that Peggy is most assuredly correct, and I did have odors comming from the bilge and resolved them as suggested on this site. But as it regards the holding tank on a Hunter 31 I have found a couple of issues that those not familiar with this particular boat may not be aware of. The holding tank is molded into the V-berth. It is topped off with a fiberglass lid that is screwed on and sealed using sealant. In addition the waste in and out fittings are simple tubes that are glassed onto the tank from the outside. The result for me was that the sealant around the lid permeated and smell would build up under the V-berth cushions. I temporarily isolated that source by using gaffers tape over the seam. The second source of problems turned out to be the waste in port. It was placed so close to the top of the tank that they were not able to glass completely around it. As a result the tank would vent into the area under the V-berth through a very small hole in the glass. I was not happy with the lid and would find myself removing it in the future to resolve the same issue if I just resealed it. I thought about glassing it over. I could not however resolved the waste in fitting without removing it, glassing the area and then placing a new fitting. I decided to cut the entire tank out, leaving only a lip for a new cover to fit on. I am now looking for a bow shaped tank that will fit throught that opening to place in the bow just under where the old tank was hanging. I know this may have been a radical fix but I was not comfortable with glassing the old waste in hole and lid. (In hind site I probably should have tried it, finding a tank and glassing in new supports for it is not that easy either). The current result is that the pervasive smell is now gone. I have the ends of the hoses (which were new before I started this) plugged while I look for a tank. There is still a slight residual smell on the surfaces of the area and I will use Peggy's suggestions for cleaning that area. So in the case of the H31 I would follow all of the suggestions given so far first but if that does not resolve the issue you can evaluate the issues with the tank that I have found with mine.
Good thinking, Brett...
I wasn't aware that the H31 holding tank is integral with only lid sealed over it. When the sealant fails---as all sealants eventually do--the tank WILL leak...odor, if not waste too...especially when you're heeled, causing the contents to slosh around. You've provided an excellent example of one of the reasons (there are more) why I don't like integral tanks. Using integral tank as a "well" in which to put a molded plastic tank isn't a radical solution, it's the smart way to go.
I wasn't aware that the H31 holding tank is integral with only lid sealed over it. When the sealant fails---as all sealants eventually do--the tank WILL leak...odor, if not waste too...especially when you're heeled, causing the contents to slosh around. You've provided an excellent example of one of the reasons (there are more) why I don't like integral tanks. Using integral tank as a "well" in which to put a molded plastic tank isn't a radical solution, it's the smart way to go.
How about that sole?
Peggy, do you have any suggestions for cleaning under the sole where there is little access? I have an 85 - 28.5 which I believe is constructed in a similar fashion to the 31 mentioned is this post. I think that this is where most of my odour problem is coming from. Thanks.
Peggy, do you have any suggestions for cleaning under the sole where there is little access? I have an 85 - 28.5 which I believe is constructed in a similar fashion to the 31 mentioned is this post. I think that this is where most of my odour problem is coming from. Thanks.
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