head smell

JoeWhite · Jun 7, 2014

I had smelly cushions aswell. I took the sponge out and washed in diluted clorox 3 times and rinsed them in ample water and hanged them to dry for a week. There is no more smell. That smell is due to moisture in your boat. I used 4 3.5" computer fans that run on 12 Volts and installed them on a starboard that fits in a port hole. It is on when when I am at the dock. I open a port hole at the opposite end of the boat and there is plenty of air circulation - there is no more moisture or smell.
If you removed the cushions and the odor went away - I guess you may think about new ones or wash them one more time.
You may also have a pin hole in the holding tank. There are powders that you add to the holding tank to cut down the smell.

Buck420 · Jun 8, 2014

1- If the he foam is original, it's almost 30 years old, throw it out, (after you take it to a foam shop and have new cut, using old as patterns). It won't cost that much.
2- Wrap a rag around the end of a 2-3ft "stick". Wet the rag with chlorox, and scrub/wipe down the interior of the "cupboard". Then leave it open to air out.
As Joe said, your holding tank may be leaking. Pump it out, fill and flush with fresh water. Repeat many times till the pumped out "water" is completely clean. Then fill tank & put some odorlous etc. in it. Ck "cupboard" after a few days to see if there are any leaks. Fix as necessary.
After all this, use fresh water to flush your head when you use it and don't leave it full of
"stuff" when you are not using boat.
This is all kind of common sense stuff, but hopefully it should help.

IH82BL8 · Jun 8, 2014

Then fill tank & put some odorlous etc. in it. Ck "cupboard" after a few days to see if there are any leaks.

What about adding a few drops of dye or food coloring to the holding tank to help locate leaks? (It should be added through the port in the top of the holding tank, not through the head as it would stain the bowl)

IH82BL8 · Jun 9, 2014

Get yourself a set of these:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-To...ard-Fish-Rod-Set-56312/204178241?N=5yc1vZbm6i

They are an indispensable tool. They are intended for fishing electric cable, but can used for other things. As the description says they are rigid yet flexible. You can attach a scrub brush to the end and reach places that are not otherwise accessible.

padetorejr · Jun 9, 2014

smelly head

gfroch said:
Hi All-

Our '86 Hunter 31 has some nasty head smell workin'. The hoses were replaced last year and don't smell. I have quite a few questions, broken down into to parts:

1) The cushions in the v-berth were terrible smelling. We took them out, removed the foam from the covers, washed the covers several times and the covers still smell bad. The foam also smells very bad. Are these cushions shot? Is there any way to clean them? When I removed the offending cushions from the boat, the overall small improved considerably, but not totally. I don't want to spend a bunch of money on new cushions and have them ruined. Can I put a piece of relatively inexpensive "sacrificial" foam down under the primary cushion to absorb any odor?

2) There is a "cupboard" door in the v-berth that opens up under the v-berth and the holding tank. The inside of that cupboard is foul. I cleaned it in the areas I can reach, but there is plenty more space in there above, behind, below and around, that I can't reach. I'm pretty sure this area is a major culprit. Any ideas how to get the areas I can't reach? Is it possible that the smell from this area under the v-berth fouled the v-berth cushions?

Thanks!

My 27 smelled too. found all the screws holding down storage tank cover could take half a turn or more. I noticed that the sealant on the raw waste storage tank was dark brown and the fresh water tank much less dis colored. I ordered all new cushions custom made and washed all the covers. I'm going to apply some gorilla brand duck tape to the cover plate screws.

mark porter · Jun 23, 2014

I had stinky bilge issues but not anymore. Try diluting white vinegar with tap water for about a 1:3 ratio. I did this to create about 40 liters of solution. Then I dumped it through the little hatch under the vee berth. I let the solution sit for a week, then pumped it away without rinsing. Stinky smell all gone! I plan to do this routinely now each spring and fall.

ingeanous · Nov 7, 2014

Teatree oil mixed with vodka, alcohol, or whatever in a spray bottle does wonders! You can also use plain gelatin and mix in teatree oil to make your own Kanberra gel knockoff.

thinwater · Nov 7, 2014

A proven approach that is not smelly (bleach, vinegar) and is longer lasting is borax/washing soda/baking soda blend with specific concentrations and doses. Do NOT rinse, as the residue provides the prevention.

http://www.practical-sailor.com/blog/-11249-1.html

Keith13315 · Nov 9, 2014

The problem is the space between the hull and the liner. A small amount of water remains in the space and grows all kinds of nasty stuff. Do what Mark Porter said that is what I did and flushed it with clean tap water. That cured the problem. However I went a step further I enlarged the weep hole in the front of the bilge I elongated it vertically so more of the trapped water runs out. The one thing I did differently was to dilute the vinegar 1:1 the boat smelled like salad dressing for awhile but it was better than that SH..T smell. Now once in awhile I just add some more cocktail to the bilge and the boat is good smelling.

Steve Dion · Nov 9, 2014

Have you considered using a power washer to clean out the area under the v-berth? You can add some soap (simple green may work) and clean that. A small deck brush may also help to scrub it out.

You can also try Febreze on the cushion and also in the v-berth area after it dries out. You should also use a fan to get some fresh air in that area.

Are you sure that you do not have a leak in the tank or hoses?

Allan12210 · Nov 9, 2014

Use Pureayre spray liberally in lockers, and between the liner and hull after cleaning. It eliminates odors, including diesel smell.

The cushions can be freshened, but it takes time and lots of ventilation. Spray with Pureayre also if replacement isn't in the cards. Leave them in the sun periodically. Leave lockers, and storage area access open when away.

Like Joe, I installed several computer fans (get them cheap at electronics surplus places). I have a small solar panel that is on deck and two fans are inside the dorade box. I have another in the engine compartment with a piece of dryer duct directed outside. Its hooked directly to the battery. That helps a lot. We also keep the small hatch above the head cracked open about 2 inches all the time: winter and summer. Once you can get that air in constant motion the odors will go away. Our boat used to really stink. Now its good again.