Just thought I would get in on the "Head Odor Issue." We have just purchased an 87 Hunter 31 and the previous owner has replaced all the hoses on the holding tank and the head. But we still have a very bad odor in the head area and holding tank area. I am not real impressed with Hunters' better idea of making the holding tank part of the liner of the boat. So if I wanted to replace with the Lectr/Scan, it will be a project, I don't know. Not sure when the previous owner replaced all the hoses, but he did use the "Good White Stuff." Only thing I can see that can be replaced is the vent hose. It is the regular vinyl clear hose stuff, very soft and old. So am going to replace the hose and try some new chemicals. If anyone has had similar problems please speak up. Thanks Holding Nose in St. Louis
Head Odor Still There *o
- Thread starter Len7182
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The hoses are new, but test 'em for odor anyway
if they're anything but SeaLand "OdorSafe" or AVS96. Any other hose can permeate in no time or never, or any time in between. The same hose that had been totally odor free for 7 years on one of my boats permeated on the next boat within 3 months. If the new hoses test ok, I think you have two separate issues--one in the head area, a different issue in the head. If replacing the tank vent line doesn't at least drastically reduce the odor in the tank compartment, buy some Raritan K.O. (holding tank treatment)...put a trigger sprayer on it and liberally spray every surface in that compartment. Don't rinse...just let it dry, leaving that compartment open for a day. If THAT plus replacing the vent line doesn't get rid of all the odor, it most likely means that the lid on the tank is allowing it to escape. Re-caulk it or better yet make a rubber gasket to go under it. The odor in your head is mostly from one of two sources: your shower sump or the head intake. A wet dirty shower sump can easily smell like a sewer. So can animal or vegetable sea life trapped in the head intake or the channel in the rim of the bowl as it dies and decays.
if they're anything but SeaLand "OdorSafe" or AVS96. Any other hose can permeate in no time or never, or any time in between. The same hose that had been totally odor free for 7 years on one of my boats permeated on the next boat within 3 months. If the new hoses test ok, I think you have two separate issues--one in the head area, a different issue in the head. If replacing the tank vent line doesn't at least drastically reduce the odor in the tank compartment, buy some Raritan K.O. (holding tank treatment)...put a trigger sprayer on it and liberally spray every surface in that compartment. Don't rinse...just let it dry, leaving that compartment open for a day. If THAT plus replacing the vent line doesn't get rid of all the odor, it most likely means that the lid on the tank is allowing it to escape. Re-caulk it or better yet make a rubber gasket to go under it. The odor in your head is mostly from one of two sources: your shower sump or the head intake. A wet dirty shower sump can easily smell like a sewer. So can animal or vegetable sea life trapped in the head intake or the channel in the rim of the bowl as it dies and decays.
I use fresh water only to flush.
One thing to add along with peggie's advice is to use only fresh water when flushing the toilet.. I had all my white hoses replace and pulled my plastic holding tank which needed new teflon taping at the hose seals.. The sea water with all it's cridders that die in the hoses creates alot of odor. Not that there is no smell at all but since using only fresh water to flush the toilet it's ALOT better. And one less thru hull to open and close. I use the shower sprayer to fill the toilet..Replace that vent hose and keep the water in the toilet high enought so that odor can't come up from the toilet itself. Happy smells to you.
One thing to add along with peggie's advice is to use only fresh water when flushing the toilet.. I had all my white hoses replace and pulled my plastic holding tank which needed new teflon taping at the hose seals.. The sea water with all it's cridders that die in the hoses creates alot of odor. Not that there is no smell at all but since using only fresh water to flush the toilet it's ALOT better. And one less thru hull to open and close. I use the shower sprayer to fill the toilet..Replace that vent hose and keep the water in the toilet high enought so that odor can't come up from the toilet itself. Happy smells to you.
bilge odor
Being a H-31 owner myself have you investigated the possiblity of the odor coming from the area between the liner and the hull there are many posts discussing this issue. If your hoses have been replaced you may consider this as a possible source of the odor. Jim
Being a H-31 owner myself have you investigated the possiblity of the odor coming from the area between the liner and the hull there are many posts discussing this issue. If your hoses have been replaced you may consider this as a possible source of the odor. Jim
H 31 Liner Problems
Great point, Jim. Check to see where the shower sump drains and try and follow the flow of liquid to the bilge. If you put water in the sump and it doesn't flow out to the bilge in short order, then you've probably got a blockage somewhere (with some nice stinky liquid trapped behind it). My 1985 31 came with all kinds of holes drilled throgh the liner and bilge. I've since drilled two more (in the bilge) to allow trapped water to get out faster.
Great point, Jim. Check to see where the shower sump drains and try and follow the flow of liquid to the bilge. If you put water in the sump and it doesn't flow out to the bilge in short order, then you've probably got a blockage somewhere (with some nice stinky liquid trapped behind it). My 1985 31 came with all kinds of holes drilled throgh the liner and bilge. I've since drilled two more (in the bilge) to allow trapped water to get out faster.
Need two more holes
If you look into the sump or bilge area you will see hoses that drain there. You will also see a hole on each side of the sump wall. These two holes are about a half inch above the bottom of the boat. I have taken a Dremmel and have elongated these holes so that the bottom of the hole is on the bottom of the hull. This will allow all of the water to drain into the bilge. Also the drain from the grate below the companion way is lower than the exit line coming into the bilge, thus water from the bilge can run back to the grate area. I have calked this line shut on both ends. I also dump dry holding tank deoderizer directly into the holding tank once a week. You should not put it threw the head. It is the type that is used in recirculating systems. This has made a big difference on my H31.
If you look into the sump or bilge area you will see hoses that drain there. You will also see a hole on each side of the sump wall. These two holes are about a half inch above the bottom of the boat. I have taken a Dremmel and have elongated these holes so that the bottom of the hole is on the bottom of the hull. This will allow all of the water to drain into the bilge. Also the drain from the grate below the companion way is lower than the exit line coming into the bilge, thus water from the bilge can run back to the grate area. I have calked this line shut on both ends. I also dump dry holding tank deoderizer directly into the holding tank once a week. You should not put it threw the head. It is the type that is used in recirculating systems. This has made a big difference on my H31.
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