I have recently purchased a 1987 28.5. It has some serious holding tank odor. It is strongest in the aft cabin. I have treated it will little results. I am ready to start replacing all the hoses. Has anyone solved the same problem on a 28.5? If so, how?
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Tammy
It's probably time to replace those hoses anyway
We have a 79 H30 & while there wasn't really an odor problem the hoses were obviously past their prime. I don't think they were the original hoses with the exception of the pump-out hose which smelled pretty bad once we started the removal. Buy the Sealand Odor free hose, expensive but the best there is. Good luck
We have a 79 H30 & while there wasn't really an odor problem the hoses were obviously past their prime. I don't think they were the original hoses with the exception of the pump-out hose which smelled pretty bad once we started the removal. Buy the Sealand Odor free hose, expensive but the best there is. Good luck
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
First make sure the hoses need replacing
If they don't stink, they're not the culprit. Nor is your holding tank likely to be unless it's leaking--which is possible if the tank is aluminum, but not if it's plastic. Otherwise, it's just about impossible for the holding tank to be source of odor INSIDE a boat, 'cuz odor from inside the tank has only one place to go: out the tank vent. Odors are always strongest at their source...yours is strongest in the aft cabin...so what's in that area? Y-valve? Macerator? Both could be leaking slightly. Or, it could have nothing to do with the sanitation system...a wet bilge in major need of a real cleaning, a dirty sump, or trapped water below the cabin sole can smell like a sewer. So before you start pulling things apart and replacing 'em, you need to find the source of the odor...otherwise you can spend a lot of money you didn't need to spend and do a lot work you didn't need to do. The link below may give you some help.
If they don't stink, they're not the culprit. Nor is your holding tank likely to be unless it's leaking--which is possible if the tank is aluminum, but not if it's plastic. Otherwise, it's just about impossible for the holding tank to be source of odor INSIDE a boat, 'cuz odor from inside the tank has only one place to go: out the tank vent. Odors are always strongest at their source...yours is strongest in the aft cabin...so what's in that area? Y-valve? Macerator? Both could be leaking slightly. Or, it could have nothing to do with the sanitation system...a wet bilge in major need of a real cleaning, a dirty sump, or trapped water below the cabin sole can smell like a sewer. So before you start pulling things apart and replacing 'em, you need to find the source of the odor...otherwise you can spend a lot of money you didn't need to spend and do a lot work you didn't need to do. The link below may give you some help.
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Stu Sauer
28.5 Holding Tank Culprit
The holding tank is built into the boat and has a separate fiberglas / gelcoat lid attached with multiple stainless steel screws and the cover lip sealed with sealant. The adhesion of that sealant may be suspect. If you can run a freshwater hose into the pump out fitting, put your finger over the vent hole; check for leaks or bubbles around that seal and around the hose clamps and fittings.
The holding tank is built into the boat and has a separate fiberglas / gelcoat lid attached with multiple stainless steel screws and the cover lip sealed with sealant. The adhesion of that sealant may be suspect. If you can run a freshwater hose into the pump out fitting, put your finger over the vent hole; check for leaks or bubbles around that seal and around the hose clamps and fittings.
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Good point, Stu...
Sealant and caulk around fittings, inspection ports, and under the lids of fiberglass tanks has a finite lifespan, and can often leak on older boats. It's also a good idea to inspect the inside of older fiberglass tanks for blisters, hairline cracks and other problems that have allowed moisture to seep into the tank walls and resulted in rot. A bit of a PITA in any tank wall...a serious problem in any integal tank wall that's also structural.
Sealant and caulk around fittings, inspection ports, and under the lids of fiberglass tanks has a finite lifespan, and can often leak on older boats. It's also a good idea to inspect the inside of older fiberglass tanks for blisters, hairline cracks and other problems that have allowed moisture to seep into the tank walls and resulted in rot. A bit of a PITA in any tank wall...a serious problem in any integal tank wall that's also structural.
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Debbie
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Andrew Bird
Might be as simple as the vent??
Debbie, I had a similar odor problem on my 1999 340 last year. I spent an unhappy morning trying to find the cause - only to find that through hull vent fitting was blocked by "an insect gunky, rusty type of stuff. I found this out the very hard way - I removed the batteries, then hanging near upside down through the hatch, removed the vent pipe from the tank and simple blew down it - couldn't it was blocked. Straightened a coat hanger, pushed it up the vent pipe expected to relieve the blockage - no luck. Then removed the vent pipe from the inside of the through hull fitting - blew down the pipe - it was clear - must be the through hull fitting. Soluton simple - took the same piece of coat hanger and worked it inside the fitting from the inside and eventually from the outside. It was only when I worked it from the outside that the big lump of "stuff" dropped out. Once this was clear - I flushed the tank several time - putting the hose straight down the pump out hole. AND the smell was gone. Moral of the story - check the outside fitting first - some flying or crawling thing could have got into the fitting over winter made mess and bunged it up. I wish I had looked at this first, it would have saved me a long morning, and a lot of pain. Good Luck
Debbie, I had a similar odor problem on my 1999 340 last year. I spent an unhappy morning trying to find the cause - only to find that through hull vent fitting was blocked by "an insect gunky, rusty type of stuff. I found this out the very hard way - I removed the batteries, then hanging near upside down through the hatch, removed the vent pipe from the tank and simple blew down it - couldn't it was blocked. Straightened a coat hanger, pushed it up the vent pipe expected to relieve the blockage - no luck. Then removed the vent pipe from the inside of the through hull fitting - blew down the pipe - it was clear - must be the through hull fitting. Soluton simple - took the same piece of coat hanger and worked it inside the fitting from the inside and eventually from the outside. It was only when I worked it from the outside that the big lump of "stuff" dropped out. Once this was clear - I flushed the tank several time - putting the hose straight down the pump out hole. AND the smell was gone. Moral of the story - check the outside fitting first - some flying or crawling thing could have got into the fitting over winter made mess and bunged it up. I wish I had looked at this first, it would have saved me a long morning, and a lot of pain. Good Luck
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Stewart MacChesney
I bet it is the hoses !
I have a 1987 and replaced the hose from the head to the tank end of that stinkey problem.
I have a 1987 and replaced the hose from the head to the tank end of that stinkey problem.
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