I have replaced all of the hoses and head on my 83, including vent hose. Still get smell. Does the stink eventually seep through the factory original polyethylene plastic tank?
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Smell
Tank manufacturers will say of course not! I bought my boat at a good price largely because of its foul stench! I replaced all hoses, the tank, and, the WORST offender as I eventually figured out, the manual discharge diaphragm pump. I installed a larger diameter vent hose and a new vent fitting. I cleaned all wood and fiberglass surfaces I could reach surrounding the holding tank area (as surfaces retain odor),and with a little time and a lot of fresh air the smell vanished. Now, I just rinse my holding tank after emptying, use K.O. religiously, and I have forgotten about all about smell problems.
Tank manufacturers will say of course not! I bought my boat at a good price largely because of its foul stench! I replaced all hoses, the tank, and, the WORST offender as I eventually figured out, the manual discharge diaphragm pump. I installed a larger diameter vent hose and a new vent fitting. I cleaned all wood and fiberglass surfaces I could reach surrounding the holding tank area (as surfaces retain odor),and with a little time and a lot of fresh air the smell vanished. Now, I just rinse my holding tank after emptying, use K.O. religiously, and I have forgotten about all about smell problems.
Htank smellolding
When I pulled out my holding tank, not only were the fittings leaking, but I think the tank itself was leaking. The plywood floor it sits on was soaked, causing most of the smell in my boat. When I replaced the floor, the smell was gone. Make sure you check the bulkhead. If the floor soaked up water, it may have reached the bulkhead.If it has, bleach will neutralize the oder.I have now installed a bladder type tank, and so far it seems to be working.
When I pulled out my holding tank, not only were the fittings leaking, but I think the tank itself was leaking. The plywood floor it sits on was soaked, causing most of the smell in my boat. When I replaced the floor, the smell was gone. Make sure you check the bulkhead. If the floor soaked up water, it may have reached the bulkhead.If it has, bleach will neutralize the oder.I have now installed a bladder type tank, and so far it seems to be working.
Odor may not be "head" odor
The first step in getting rid of odor is: identify the source...and the odor is usually the strongest at the source. Replacing all the hoses won't accomplish a thing UNLESS you've determined that the hoses are the culprit...if they are, you'll have odor in every compartment they pass through. Same is true of the tank...if you only have odor in the head, it's highly doubtful that the tank or the hoses are the culprit. It's almost certain to be coming from one of two sources: stagnant sea water trapped in the rim of the bowl and the intake hose...or (if you have one) the shower sump. If you have an all pervasive odor that you can't find a source for, it's a good bet that the source is your bilge. So before you replace anything else, start looking for the place(s) in which the odor is the strongest. When you've found it, then we can discuss the cure for it.
The first step in getting rid of odor is: identify the source...and the odor is usually the strongest at the source. Replacing all the hoses won't accomplish a thing UNLESS you've determined that the hoses are the culprit...if they are, you'll have odor in every compartment they pass through. Same is true of the tank...if you only have odor in the head, it's highly doubtful that the tank or the hoses are the culprit. It's almost certain to be coming from one of two sources: stagnant sea water trapped in the rim of the bowl and the intake hose...or (if you have one) the shower sump. If you have an all pervasive odor that you can't find a source for, it's a good bet that the source is your bilge. So before you replace anything else, start looking for the place(s) in which the odor is the strongest. When you've found it, then we can discuss the cure for it.
Another thought
As in Peggy's post we found much of our problem was in stagnet sea water. I solved the problem by installing a "t" fitting in the cold water line that runs to the shower. One more step to flush but well worth it.
As in Peggy's post we found much of our problem was in stagnet sea water. I solved the problem by installing a "t" fitting in the cold water line that runs to the shower. One more step to flush but well worth it.
Source of smell
Stagnant raw water can definitely be a source of smell, and I have a tee above my seawater intake seacock which doubles as my sink drain outlet so I can flush with fresh water from the sink and force seawater out of the intake line. However, as I discovered, "head" odor can definitely come from the tank area itself. Like the previous post, I also found the plywood under the old tank to be wet, prompting replacement of the wood base, a thorough wipe of all surfaces with diluted Clorox, AND installing a new (thicker-walled) tank. Old tanks and fittings can indeed be the culprit! (While at it, as I mentioned before, I replaced the hand pump and the hoses as well, why not while you're in there...) As Peggie pointed out, follow you nose for the major source of odor, although all the other steps mentioned will certainly help in maintaining an odor-free environment. Two years later I am still odor-free.
Stagnant raw water can definitely be a source of smell, and I have a tee above my seawater intake seacock which doubles as my sink drain outlet so I can flush with fresh water from the sink and force seawater out of the intake line. However, as I discovered, "head" odor can definitely come from the tank area itself. Like the previous post, I also found the plywood under the old tank to be wet, prompting replacement of the wood base, a thorough wipe of all surfaces with diluted Clorox, AND installing a new (thicker-walled) tank. Old tanks and fittings can indeed be the culprit! (While at it, as I mentioned before, I replaced the hand pump and the hoses as well, why not while you're in there...) As Peggie pointed out, follow you nose for the major source of odor, although all the other steps mentioned will certainly help in maintaining an odor-free environment. Two years later I am still odor-free.
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