Peggy: I've read many of your articles on holding tank odors and I will try using some of your suggestions. I have a Hunter 31', 1987. The smell is the strongest right under the v-berth in the access way just under the v-berth. There aren't any leaks that I can find and I would assume there aren't any leaks since there is no fluid that needs to be soaked up. We just bought the boat and didn't notice the odor when we had it surveyed. The odor now that it is in the water and warming up outside is quite stron. We are ven unable to sleep in the v-berth because of the odor. I am new to sailing (and boating as well) and don't understand many of the terms used but I am learning. In the access by the v-berth there are some hoses. Should I replace them? I will try pumping the system out and also making sure I pump the head more then just a few times. There is a black handle in the access by the holding tank. Do I need to move that or change things around? Thanks for your reply.
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
My best guess: permeated hoses
There's a test for it in the article "Head Related Odors..." in the HM forum library...if the test is postive, you need to re-hose. Or...if you don't want to right now--hey, it's a new boat...you want to enjoy it, not work on it--buy some Saran Wrap (has to be Saran, no other brand) and wrap the hoses in it. It works! I did that when my hoses permeated in less than two months after I replaced my whole system...my tank was also under my v-berth. It was only supposed to be a "band aid" till winter...it lasted two years! Secure the ends of the Saran with duct tap or electrical tape, and make sure you cover the fittings too.
There's a test for it in the article "Head Related Odors..." in the HM forum library...if the test is postive, you need to re-hose. Or...if you don't want to right now--hey, it's a new boat...you want to enjoy it, not work on it--buy some Saran Wrap (has to be Saran, no other brand) and wrap the hoses in it. It works! I did that when my hoses permeated in less than two months after I replaced my whole system...my tank was also under my v-berth. It was only supposed to be a "band aid" till winter...it lasted two years! Secure the ends of the Saran with duct tap or electrical tape, and make sure you cover the fittings too.
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Chip Ehrlich
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John K Kudera
Odor control
Hi Chip, Three things to make this more pleasant, follow Peggy's advise for the hoses, by all means, use the Peal Products Holding tank deodorant, flush the last flush of the weekend with fresh water and the white vinegar, and you will have no more problems. I am in the State Marina, We are there on weekends, stop over and see us. Slip 43 John, s/v Fifty/Fifty H34
Hi Chip, Three things to make this more pleasant, follow Peggy's advise for the hoses, by all means, use the Peal Products Holding tank deodorant, flush the last flush of the weekend with fresh water and the white vinegar, and you will have no more problems. I am in the State Marina, We are there on weekends, stop over and see us. Slip 43 John, s/v Fifty/Fifty H34
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Chip Ehrlich
Thanks John
I appreciate your reply. I won't be around this weekend but will be there after. I am at Tall Oaks, slip 30. Chip's Ahoy". I'll make sure I stop by. Chip
I appreciate your reply. I won't be around this weekend but will be there after. I am at Tall Oaks, slip 30. Chip's Ahoy". I'll make sure I stop by. Chip
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Jerry
31' has been there&done that!!!
By all means, CHANGE "ALL" OF THE WASTE HOSES!! I tried everything, cleaners, KO, BC, Spray-9, bleach, flushing with water until the level of the marina went up! I had changed all of the vent and pump out lines, although I left "one" rubber hose (from the head to the tank) the previous owner had changed the year before I purchased the boat. That hose almost forced me to sell the boat! We could not stand the ordor any longer. On the dock you could smell the removed rubber hose 30' away! I can still smell the thing! Really! Get prepared, mask, gloves, Tyvek's, a little Vicks under the noise and a good fan. Change them all! It will go quick. I should have listened to Peggie from the start of this problem. Good luck.
By all means, CHANGE "ALL" OF THE WASTE HOSES!! I tried everything, cleaners, KO, BC, Spray-9, bleach, flushing with water until the level of the marina went up! I had changed all of the vent and pump out lines, although I left "one" rubber hose (from the head to the tank) the previous owner had changed the year before I purchased the boat. That hose almost forced me to sell the boat! We could not stand the ordor any longer. On the dock you could smell the removed rubber hose 30' away! I can still smell the thing! Really! Get prepared, mask, gloves, Tyvek's, a little Vicks under the noise and a good fan. Change them all! It will go quick. I should have listened to Peggie from the start of this problem. Good luck.
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Paul Nordquist
Head Oder
I experienced the same odor problems with my 31 foot Hunter, vintage 1985. My solution was to replace all of the hoses associated with the head and holding tank. In researching the odor problem, I brought one of the hoses (located under the V berth) home and for the night, left it on my garage floor. I could smell it in the house the next day!! I guess that after some years, the "fluid" penetrates the hose (not leaking) and the odor ecsapes. Since replacing the hoses, and keeking liberal amounts of disinfectant in the tank, and by pumping it out often, we really have NO odors. My wife and I live on the boat from late June until early Sept and there are no odors. To replace the hoses, you need an industrial "hair dryer" type heat gun to heat the new hoses so they bend when needed. It'd a knuckle-busting operation, but its worth it.
I experienced the same odor problems with my 31 foot Hunter, vintage 1985. My solution was to replace all of the hoses associated with the head and holding tank. In researching the odor problem, I brought one of the hoses (located under the V berth) home and for the night, left it on my garage floor. I could smell it in the house the next day!! I guess that after some years, the "fluid" penetrates the hose (not leaking) and the odor ecsapes. Since replacing the hoses, and keeking liberal amounts of disinfectant in the tank, and by pumping it out often, we really have NO odors. My wife and I live on the boat from late June until early Sept and there are no odors. To replace the hoses, you need an industrial "hair dryer" type heat gun to heat the new hoses so they bend when needed. It'd a knuckle-busting operation, but its worth it.
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Hoses can permeate with odor in as little as
a few weeks...a few months...years...or never. Using a heat to force a hose around a tighter bend than it wants to make is not a good idea...it weakens the hose and can cause it to collapse and kink in time. Instead, Break the hose and insert an inline radius fitting. There are a number of articles in the Head Mistress forum Reference Library (on the forum homepage) that deal with the various sources of odor and their cures--and how to prevent many of them so you won't ever have to cure them.
a few weeks...a few months...years...or never. Using a heat to force a hose around a tighter bend than it wants to make is not a good idea...it weakens the hose and can cause it to collapse and kink in time. Instead, Break the hose and insert an inline radius fitting. There are a number of articles in the Head Mistress forum Reference Library (on the forum homepage) that deal with the various sources of odor and their cures--and how to prevent many of them so you won't ever have to cure them.
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