Help, terrible smelling boat
- Thread starter fred1diver
- Start date
I meant to use the rag on every part that you suspect might be a source... the bladder, bulkheads, etc
I would replace the foam/fabric liner, perhaps smooth out fiberglass with a total boat epoxy fairing compound, sand & paint., I did this in my aft cabin, and in the forward cabin and then added wood slats (forward)
I'm unfamiliar with bladder, composting toilet or custom made tank sounds right. Good luck.
I'm unfamiliar with bladder, composting toilet or custom made tank sounds right. Good luck.
Flush and empty the bladder and remove it. Make sure the hoses are capped tight. See if the smell goes away after a couple of days.
While Pure Arye might work, it can't get into places you can't spray, and doesn't permeate fabrics and cushions very well. It is also expensive.
Another way to remove odors is to use chlorine dioxide. This is a gas that does permeate fabrics and cushions, and finds its way into all nooks and crannies. It is an oxidizer that destroys odor molecules. You can make it yourself with sodium chlorite (cheap on Amazon) and an acid like muratic or citric that you probably have on hand, or can get cheaply at the hardware store. Put 5-10 Tbs of sodium chlorite in a bucket, add a cup or two of water, pour in 1/4 cup of acid and leave the boat sealed for 24hrs. In your case, probably just seal up the compartment with the stink with it. The mix will react to form a fog of chlorine dioxide that fills the volume of the area. If you have mold, it also will be killed. After, open up the boat for a while to let it all air out before going in.
What remains in the bucket is just table salt and water (possibly slightly acidic depending on the ratios added), so that can go overboard or disposed of on land without concern.
Mark
While Pure Arye might work, it can't get into places you can't spray, and doesn't permeate fabrics and cushions very well. It is also expensive.
Another way to remove odors is to use chlorine dioxide. This is a gas that does permeate fabrics and cushions, and finds its way into all nooks and crannies. It is an oxidizer that destroys odor molecules. You can make it yourself with sodium chlorite (cheap on Amazon) and an acid like muratic or citric that you probably have on hand, or can get cheaply at the hardware store. Put 5-10 Tbs of sodium chlorite in a bucket, add a cup or two of water, pour in 1/4 cup of acid and leave the boat sealed for 24hrs. In your case, probably just seal up the compartment with the stink with it. The mix will react to form a fog of chlorine dioxide that fills the volume of the area. If you have mold, it also will be killed. After, open up the boat for a while to let it all air out before going in.
What remains in the bucket is just table salt and water (possibly slightly acidic depending on the ratios added), so that can go overboard or disposed of on land without concern.
Mark
Interesting,
I am looking at Amazon.ca for the tabs and cannot seem to find them unless I pay over 100$ for them, will keep looking
Thank you
I am looking at Amazon.ca for the tabs and cannot seem to find them unless I pay over 100$ for them, will keep looking
Thank you
This will last you and several other boats for a lifetime: https://www.amazon.com/Stellar-Chem...912489&sprefix=sodium+chlorite,aps,119&sr=8-3
Smaller amount, has citric acid built into tablets so only need to add water: https://www.amazon.com/Chlorine-Dio...12735&sprefix=chlorine+dioxide,aps,128&sr=8-9
Single use for smaller spaces: https://www.amazon.com/Biocide-Syst...sprefix=chlorine+dioxide,aps,128&sr=8-18&th=1
Mark
Smaller amount, has citric acid built into tablets so only need to add water: https://www.amazon.com/Chlorine-Dio...12735&sprefix=chlorine+dioxide,aps,128&sr=8-9
Single use for smaller spaces: https://www.amazon.com/Biocide-Syst...sprefix=chlorine+dioxide,aps,128&sr=8-18&th=1
Mark
Ronco doesn't make custom tanks, but with 400+ shapes and sizes in their catalog it's hard to believe they don't have one that'll work for you. You can find their marine tank catalog online and also a catalog of all their tank drawings. People who don't think they have anything that'll work may not realize that they aren't limited to the orientation shown in the catalog. There is no top or bottom until the fittings go in --and you decide sizes and locations--so when you see a drawing that looks like a shape that might work in a different orientation, rotating it, flipping it end for end etc might be the answer. There's no reason why the "pointy" end can't be the bottom of a triangular tank to go in a settee. You're not limited to a specific location either, especially if you're replacing a tank installed by the boat builder...they're the worst sanitation system plumbers on the planet!
--Peggie
--Peggie
Since you can't identify a source of the smell, it's likely that the smell permeates just about everything. Hard surfaces like fiberglass and wood will be easy to clean and paint (the wood) to eliminate smell from those surfaces. Your cushions and the fabric covering the cushions will be the most difficult to resolve and it takes time if you don't want to simply replace them. A single wash of the fabric isn't going to do it in my opinion and the foam is pretty much impossible to cure from odor.
One component nobody has mentioned is the smell that lingers even in a seemingly pristine toilet. I've replaced the toilet from both boats that I've owned and replacing the toilet was necessary to eliminate odor. I know that the toilets alone stink ... while in the boat I could not tell if the toilets smelled. Carrying the toilets to the dumpster was a different story. Once outside, the smell was overpowering. I'm sure everyone will say that the ceramic can be kept clean and odor free. That may be but there must be something in the internal plumbing that simply stinks to high heaven. Anyway, that's been my experience. I'm convinced that when it's time to replace the hoses, it's time to replace the toilet, too.
One component nobody has mentioned is the smell that lingers even in a seemingly pristine toilet. I've replaced the toilet from both boats that I've owned and replacing the toilet was necessary to eliminate odor. I know that the toilets alone stink ... while in the boat I could not tell if the toilets smelled. Carrying the toilets to the dumpster was a different story. Once outside, the smell was overpowering. I'm sure everyone will say that the ceramic can be kept clean and odor free. That may be but there must be something in the internal plumbing that simply stinks to high heaven. Anyway, that's been my experience. I'm convinced that when it's time to replace the hoses, it's time to replace the toilet, too.
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My buddy replaced his head with a composting toilet and said it's the single best thing he's ever done on his boat hands down. He says there is zero smell. I'm thinking about doing it as soon as I can afford one. Anybody else have experience with composting toilets?
Sure - I've been using composting heads now for several years. Don't know if it's the single best thing I've done on my boat, but it's certainly up in the top tier of upgrades.
Zero smell - easy care - I can stay on my boat as easily when it's on the hard and in the water - takes so much less space - I'll never go back ....
dj
The only time you smell the liquids is when you are dumping the urine container. While the system is in the boat, you don't get any smells. Like, NO smells... It's frankly amazing. I have two urine containers. One sits next to the head and when I go to take out the head container, I take the lid off the container next to the head. Put that cover on the full one. Pull the full head container out, put the second container in and then go dump the full container. Full really means about 3/4's full. That's actually the least pleasant part of the composting head. Dumping the solids container is a total non- issue.
It is so much less of a hassle, no head smell in the boat, easy to run and take care of - there is a bit of a learning curve - there is frankly nothing about a composting head that I've found challenging and has so many benefits I'll never go back to a standard marine head.
dj
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