Last june I bought a 87-31,the old owner did not pump out the holding tank at the end of the season,so by july when I launched the oder was pretty bad.I pumped out the system and flushed a couple of times and it seamed to be ok last year,not so easy when I opened the boat up this year the smell is back,what should I do to start the season of right.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
J
Jim Quibell
R
Russell
Winter Freezing
We also bought a used Hunter that had not been pumped out before the winter lay-up, however we bought it from a large well known Hunter dealer. We have also had an odor problem, just changed out the entire system and found a cracked hose. Was it from being let over the winter without being pumped out? I don't know, but it didn't help. Russell
We also bought a used Hunter that had not been pumped out before the winter lay-up, however we bought it from a large well known Hunter dealer. We have also had an odor problem, just changed out the entire system and found a cracked hose. Was it from being let over the winter without being pumped out? I don't know, but it didn't help. Russell
P
Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
The tank isn't the culprit
Why does everyone automatically assume that the holding tank has to be the source of any "sewer" odor inside the boat? 'Cuz unless the tank is leaking, odor from inside the tank has only one place to go--out the tank vent line. So--unless the tank is leaking--it CAN'T be the source of odor INSIDE the boat...the odor has to have a source INside the boat. Permeated hoses are one source...the only cure: new hoses. A wet dirty bilge is a dark stagnant swamp where micro-organisms in sea water die and decay, and where the same molds, fungi and bacteria that grow in all swamps grow...and STINK. A wet dirty bilge can smell just like a sewer. The cure: clean the bilges...really CLEAN 'em and flush all the dirty water out, don't just throw in some bilge cleaner. Dirty sumps are another source. The cure is the same as for bilges. The chain locker is another source...it's another dark wet breeding ground for critters that stink. The cure: pull the whole anchor rode out and lay it on the dock...hose it off with plenty of clean fresh water and leave it in the sun to dry while you clean the chain locker. Seawater left to sit and stagnate in the head intake while the boat is closed up is another source of odor. Flushing the toilet a few times to clear the stagnant water out cures it...my book describes a simple and inexpensive way to prevent it...along with instructions and tips for maintaining the sanitation system, replacing hoses, choosing a new toilet, and preventing odors.
Why does everyone automatically assume that the holding tank has to be the source of any "sewer" odor inside the boat? 'Cuz unless the tank is leaking, odor from inside the tank has only one place to go--out the tank vent line. So--unless the tank is leaking--it CAN'T be the source of odor INSIDE the boat...the odor has to have a source INside the boat. Permeated hoses are one source...the only cure: new hoses. A wet dirty bilge is a dark stagnant swamp where micro-organisms in sea water die and decay, and where the same molds, fungi and bacteria that grow in all swamps grow...and STINK. A wet dirty bilge can smell just like a sewer. The cure: clean the bilges...really CLEAN 'em and flush all the dirty water out, don't just throw in some bilge cleaner. Dirty sumps are another source. The cure is the same as for bilges. The chain locker is another source...it's another dark wet breeding ground for critters that stink. The cure: pull the whole anchor rode out and lay it on the dock...hose it off with plenty of clean fresh water and leave it in the sun to dry while you clean the chain locker. Seawater left to sit and stagnate in the head intake while the boat is closed up is another source of odor. Flushing the toilet a few times to clear the stagnant water out cures it...my book describes a simple and inexpensive way to prevent it...along with instructions and tips for maintaining the sanitation system, replacing hoses, choosing a new toilet, and preventing odors.
J
joe phibbs
...and furthermore
Our Hunter 31 (1986) has the shower stall draining into the bilge. Soapy water and saltwater and debris wash right into the bilge. The icebox drains into the bilge as well. Glue from cans & bottles & boxes decomposes as well. We refrain from keeping stuff like that in the icebox for long periods of time. We never, ever let a cleaner we use to clean the icebox wash/slosh into the bilge. Soap stinks too. There is an area under the boards (in the bilge) where table sits that is tough to get at: I use a hose to blast the crud from there. However, boats smell like boats. Folks who buy convertibles expect them not to leak too, but they all do, eventually. One final note, does anyone have a better solution to odors permeating the fabrics onboard, other that Febreeze? Thanks, Joe
Our Hunter 31 (1986) has the shower stall draining into the bilge. Soapy water and saltwater and debris wash right into the bilge. The icebox drains into the bilge as well. Glue from cans & bottles & boxes decomposes as well. We refrain from keeping stuff like that in the icebox for long periods of time. We never, ever let a cleaner we use to clean the icebox wash/slosh into the bilge. Soap stinks too. There is an area under the boards (in the bilge) where table sits that is tough to get at: I use a hose to blast the crud from there. However, boats smell like boats. Folks who buy convertibles expect them not to leak too, but they all do, eventually. One final note, does anyone have a better solution to odors permeating the fabrics onboard, other that Febreeze? Thanks, Joe
P
Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Install a sump & reroute drains into it
Boats don't have to "smell like boats"...and convertables don't have to leak either. I only owned one boat that did--and that was only until I learned how to prevent it...and none of the 5 convertables I owned ever leaked (I did have one leaky moonroof, though). A better solution than Fabreeze: make the necessary modifications (add sumps and keep 'em clean, replace permeated sanitation hoses etc, keep the bilge clean) to prevent odors in the first place...put the cushions outside in the sunshine for a day to get rid of the odors you didn't prevent.
Boats don't have to "smell like boats"...and convertables don't have to leak either. I only owned one boat that did--and that was only until I learned how to prevent it...and none of the 5 convertables I owned ever leaked (I did have one leaky moonroof, though). A better solution than Fabreeze: make the necessary modifications (add sumps and keep 'em clean, replace permeated sanitation hoses etc, keep the bilge clean) to prevent odors in the first place...put the cushions outside in the sunshine for a day to get rid of the odors you didn't prevent.
are you sure it is sewage?
David: Are you sure that it is sewage odor? I would suggest that you scrub out all of the area under the v-berth, bilges (there are a few of them) under the head grate, the companionway grate, engine bilge etc. Then I suggest that you mix up some bleach and water (cup of bleach to each gallon of water) and pour it under the v-berth, the area forward of the stuffing box and also down the ice box drain. This will kill the mold/mildew that grows in the areas that you cannot scrub out (between the grid and the hull). Once this has been done you will pretty much know that if you have any additional odor problems that you head/hoses need attention. You holding tank is made of fiberglass and molded into the area under your v-berth. You may want to inspect it caulking around the lid to be sure that it is intact too. We replumbed our H'31 over 10 years ago and we have not had any problem since. I flush out the grid about once every two years with the bleach mixture after scrubbing it down and the boat stay pretty fresh. We have also started using Damp-rid in those self contained bags. They have a fragrance in them too. As the Damp-rid collect moisture it also puts a fresh scent in the air.
David: Are you sure that it is sewage odor? I would suggest that you scrub out all of the area under the v-berth, bilges (there are a few of them) under the head grate, the companionway grate, engine bilge etc. Then I suggest that you mix up some bleach and water (cup of bleach to each gallon of water) and pour it under the v-berth, the area forward of the stuffing box and also down the ice box drain. This will kill the mold/mildew that grows in the areas that you cannot scrub out (between the grid and the hull). Once this has been done you will pretty much know that if you have any additional odor problems that you head/hoses need attention. You holding tank is made of fiberglass and molded into the area under your v-berth. You may want to inspect it caulking around the lid to be sure that it is intact too. We replumbed our H'31 over 10 years ago and we have not had any problem since. I flush out the grid about once every two years with the bleach mixture after scrubbing it down and the boat stay pretty fresh. We have also started using Damp-rid in those self contained bags. They have a fragrance in them too. As the Damp-rid collect moisture it also puts a fresh scent in the air.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.