Hello, I have some questions about marine heads. Don't wanna ask questions that have already been answered but they are very general. I am considering buying an ericson 30+ 1980. It has a marine head with 15gal holding tank. The head looks clean/neat but I do notice an odor in the head, don't notice it at all in the cabin when the head door is shut. Questions are: Assuming the holding tank has some "stuff" in it, will the odor go away if the head is pumped? or is the smell in the tank and hosing? I am unsure when/if these things have ever been replaced/changed. Is it reasonable for one of the stipulation upon buying the boat that they have the holding tank pumped? What is involved with pumping the holding tank, done only at a marina? How much does it cost? Flush with a bunch of fresh water I assume at the same time to flush it out as best possible? Generally is it a huge deal/not much of a deal to replace the hoses and holding tank if I wanna tackle this myself if the odor isn't gone after a pumpout has been done? I will be mostly daysailing with the boat and will try to not even use the toilet, and just mostly want a "fresh" start with the boat. Any help would be appreciated and I'm sorry if these questions are silly or if they've been often asked. Doug
head questions
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Head maintanance
I am new to sailing, but I keep hearing that vinegar is good for cleaning heads/holding tanks. Pumping out is easy, and many marinas have pumpout stations which are free to use. I have also seen mobile pumpout boats that come to you, for a fee of course. Good luck with your boat!
I am new to sailing, but I keep hearing that vinegar is good for cleaning heads/holding tanks. Pumping out is easy, and many marinas have pumpout stations which are free to use. I have also seen mobile pumpout boats that come to you, for a fee of course. Good luck with your boat!
If the odor is only in the head....
And if the boat has been sitting, there may not be any problem at all...the odor may only be due to stagnant sea water trapped in the head intake and will go away after the toilet has been flushed a couple of times. Otoh, if the tank has anything in it AND the joker valve in the toilet discharge hasn't been replaced in the last year, the odor could very well be escaping from the tank into the head. Or, if there's a shower sump that hasn't been cleaned recently--if ever--THAT could be the source of the odor, 'cuz wet dirty sumps and bilges are "primordial soups" that can emit odor into the head via the shower drain that can indeed smell like a sewer. "Is it reasonable for one of the stipulation upon buying the boat that they have the holding tank pumped?" It is VERY reasonable to expect that. Pumping out and rinsing out the tank is simple and inexpensive, so no big deal for the seller to do. It's also reasonable to make replacement of permeated sanitation hoses a condition of sale. However, if the odor is ONLY in the head, it's unlikely that the hoses are permeated, or that any other part of the system needs to be replaced. However, I would want to know the make/model/age of the toilet and when--if ever--it was serviced last. In fact, if I were you, I'd ask that question about every piece of equipment on the boat...'cuz a lack of preventive maintenance is a good indicator of how many repairs YOU can expect to have to make. And then I'd make any offer subject to survey and sea trial. You wouldn't buy a house or condo without a home inspection...you shouldn't buy a boat without one either. The link below should be helpful in finding and eliminating the odor, and also in operating and maintaining the system on this boat or any other you end up buying.
And if the boat has been sitting, there may not be any problem at all...the odor may only be due to stagnant sea water trapped in the head intake and will go away after the toilet has been flushed a couple of times. Otoh, if the tank has anything in it AND the joker valve in the toilet discharge hasn't been replaced in the last year, the odor could very well be escaping from the tank into the head. Or, if there's a shower sump that hasn't been cleaned recently--if ever--THAT could be the source of the odor, 'cuz wet dirty sumps and bilges are "primordial soups" that can emit odor into the head via the shower drain that can indeed smell like a sewer. "Is it reasonable for one of the stipulation upon buying the boat that they have the holding tank pumped?" It is VERY reasonable to expect that. Pumping out and rinsing out the tank is simple and inexpensive, so no big deal for the seller to do. It's also reasonable to make replacement of permeated sanitation hoses a condition of sale. However, if the odor is ONLY in the head, it's unlikely that the hoses are permeated, or that any other part of the system needs to be replaced. However, I would want to know the make/model/age of the toilet and when--if ever--it was serviced last. In fact, if I were you, I'd ask that question about every piece of equipment on the boat...'cuz a lack of preventive maintenance is a good indicator of how many repairs YOU can expect to have to make. And then I'd make any offer subject to survey and sea trial. You wouldn't buy a house or condo without a home inspection...you shouldn't buy a boat without one either. The link below should be helpful in finding and eliminating the odor, and also in operating and maintaining the system on this boat or any other you end up buying.
Don't feel bad, 95.73% of the questions have
been asked before. Chances are the sanitary hoses on the boat are permeated and the solution to the "augh!"problem would be to replace them. Replacing the hoses is a nasty job but no big deal; replacing the holding tank could be a hughe deal. I would yield on this problem to Peggie, the head mistress, our resident expert.
been asked before. Chances are the sanitary hoses on the boat are permeated and the solution to the "augh!"problem would be to replace them. Replacing the hoses is a nasty job but no big deal; replacing the holding tank could be a hughe deal. I would yield on this problem to Peggie, the head mistress, our resident expert.
head strong
Thank you very much for the reply. I looked at the boat once, it is in general very clean, appears to be very well maintained for it's vintage. I'll ask about the make/model/when serviced/replaced when I see it again in 2 days. I am having a survey and sea trial and the sale is based on this. I will ask them to pumpout and flush the holding tank. Yes the odor is only in the head, noticed no smell in the cabin at all, neither old boat musty or sewage, only sewage smell in the head when the head door was opened. Thank you very much for the response and I hope to be asking more questions as the owner of the boat soon. Doug
Thank you very much for the reply. I looked at the boat once, it is in general very clean, appears to be very well maintained for it's vintage. I'll ask about the make/model/when serviced/replaced when I see it again in 2 days. I am having a survey and sea trial and the sale is based on this. I will ask them to pumpout and flush the holding tank. Yes the odor is only in the head, noticed no smell in the cabin at all, neither old boat musty or sewage, only sewage smell in the head when the head door was opened. Thank you very much for the response and I hope to be asking more questions as the owner of the boat soon. Doug
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