I bought a 1983 H34 this past summer. The boat had the odor problem which I ignored so I could sail. Now I'm trying to get rid of the problem, but I need help. 1) I cleaned the bildges at the shower, the large one by the setees, the small one just foward of the companionway steps where the keel bolt is, and in the engine area. The large one by the setees has three or four large holes that lead to the outer hull (I think). When I stick my finger in those holes there's still water in there. I got a small hand pump and got as much water out of those holes as I could but it's still wet in there. How do I get all the water out of the boat? 2) I decided to change all the hoses and began by measuring them. To do this I needed to get to the holding tank itself. When I took apart the setee to be able to get at it I discovered it had a large patch on it. The patch ran along the seam that meets between the top and one of the sides. It appeared to be made of fiberglass and was loose to the touch. With very little effort it came off revealing that the seam had come apart where previously indicated. Is a new tank in order here? 3) I also noticed that even though I fully pumped out the tank just before hauling there is about an inch or two of waste in the bottom. From reading other posts in this forum I know that this is not unusual because the fitting where the pumpout hose goes is about an inch off the bottom. Could this small amount of waste be causing the smell? Thanks for your help.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
Almost impossible to remove the water.
Joe: It is almost impossible to remove the water that gets trapped in the grid area on these boats. You probably have water draining from the icebox into the grid. The drain hose may or maynot actually drain into the bilge. You also have areas under the settee that trap water (and maybe some other stuff on your boat). There was a post last year from someone with a H'34 that removed the floor. Check these pictures out and you will have a better idea of what you are dealing with. Just get a new poly tank to replace your old one. You are probably looking at about $150-200 and will probably be able to sleep better knowing you have a quality tank installed. Check out Ronco (http://www.roncoplastics.com/) You should consider putting a couple of inspection ports in the sole area (like under the settee table) so you can clean this area too. There are also some hole in the grid that MAY be plugged up. They may not even be there. You will want to scrub out these areas with hot soapy water and some bleach treatment (kills the bacteria spores). I pour a bleach water mixture down my icebox drain to help kill some of the stuff that I cannot get to. Once you get these areas taken care of and get the new hose and tanks installed it is not too bad keeping everything fresh smelling.
Joe: It is almost impossible to remove the water that gets trapped in the grid area on these boats. You probably have water draining from the icebox into the grid. The drain hose may or maynot actually drain into the bilge. You also have areas under the settee that trap water (and maybe some other stuff on your boat). There was a post last year from someone with a H'34 that removed the floor. Check these pictures out and you will have a better idea of what you are dealing with. Just get a new poly tank to replace your old one. You are probably looking at about $150-200 and will probably be able to sleep better knowing you have a quality tank installed. Check out Ronco (http://www.roncoplastics.com/) You should consider putting a couple of inspection ports in the sole area (like under the settee table) so you can clean this area too. There are also some hole in the grid that MAY be plugged up. They may not even be there. You will want to scrub out these areas with hot soapy water and some bleach treatment (kills the bacteria spores). I pour a bleach water mixture down my icebox drain to help kill some of the stuff that I cannot get to. Once you get these areas taken care of and get the new hose and tanks installed it is not too bad keeping everything fresh smelling.
P
Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
I'll take 'em one at a time...
1. If you can't get rid of all the water, flush until it's clean. You'll prob'ly have to do that 2-3 times a season to keep the boat from smelling like a swamp...or worse. 2. Yep...a new tank is most definitely in order. It should have been replaced when it split. It may not be the only source of your odor, but it's certainly a major contributor. 3. Nope...the residue in the bottom of the tank isn't the culprit...it's normal and common to all tanks. Read the article "Head Related Odors"...and while you're at it, read "Replacing Hoses" and "Installing a Head and Holding Tank"...in fact, it wouldn't hurt to at least take a look at all of 'em.
1. If you can't get rid of all the water, flush until it's clean. You'll prob'ly have to do that 2-3 times a season to keep the boat from smelling like a swamp...or worse. 2. Yep...a new tank is most definitely in order. It should have been replaced when it split. It may not be the only source of your odor, but it's certainly a major contributor. 3. Nope...the residue in the bottom of the tank isn't the culprit...it's normal and common to all tanks. Read the article "Head Related Odors"...and while you're at it, read "Replacing Hoses" and "Installing a Head and Holding Tank"...in fact, it wouldn't hurt to at least take a look at all of 'em.
J
Joe M
Steve - Inspection Ports?
Steve, About inspection ports in the sole: Should I cut into the sole and place an inspection port over it? Do you think this would allow me to get to some of that water I already wrote about? Since I don't know exactly what's under there is any place better than another to make the hole? Thanks.
Steve, About inspection ports in the sole: Should I cut into the sole and place an inspection port over it? Do you think this would allow me to get to some of that water I already wrote about? Since I don't know exactly what's under there is any place better than another to make the hole? Thanks.
Yes but......
Joe: Yes it will help if you could cut a couple of inspection plates in the sole. Did you get a chance to look at the pictures in the Photo Forum? http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/display.tpl?folder=Hall73089543037
Joe: Yes it will help if you could cut a couple of inspection plates in the sole. Did you get a chance to look at the pictures in the Photo Forum? http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/display.tpl?folder=Hall73089543037
J
Joe M
Steve, Still need help....
Steve, The pictures were great. I'll be keeping them on file for future reference. My thanks to Dick Hall as well. When you're looking at the pictures there are several where you can see dime size and quarter size hole in the bildge. Several of these holes are for wires to pass through. There are others that are just there for no apparent reason. Inside those holes is where the water is that I can't get to. I'm talking specifically about the main bildge area where the bildge pump is located (off the settes). I placed a long hose off a hand pump and extracted as much water as I could. But after doing that and waiting five days it's still wet there. The bildge itself is dry. Just inside those holes. Is this something I should worry about? Thanks. Joe
Steve, The pictures were great. I'll be keeping them on file for future reference. My thanks to Dick Hall as well. When you're looking at the pictures there are several where you can see dime size and quarter size hole in the bildge. Several of these holes are for wires to pass through. There are others that are just there for no apparent reason. Inside those holes is where the water is that I can't get to. I'm talking specifically about the main bildge area where the bildge pump is located (off the settes). I placed a long hose off a hand pump and extracted as much water as I could. But after doing that and waiting five days it's still wet there. The bildge itself is dry. Just inside those holes. Is this something I should worry about? Thanks. Joe
A
Andy Howard
Grid work
Try removing the table leg mounting plate on the sole. You will see a 3 or 4 inch hole that goes directly under the pan that will have a 1/4 inch of standing water that can't drain into the bildge. This should give you everything that an inspection hatch would.
Try removing the table leg mounting plate on the sole. You will see a 3 or 4 inch hole that goes directly under the pan that will have a 1/4 inch of standing water that can't drain into the bildge. This should give you everything that an inspection hatch would.
Thanks Andy!
Andy: As I explained to Joe, the H'31 and H'34 are similar. Not having one makes it difficult to judge where everything ends up in regard to the grid. He still may need an inspection plate for the icebox drain area if the hose does NOT go to the bilge.
Andy: As I explained to Joe, the H'31 and H'34 are similar. Not having one makes it difficult to judge where everything ends up in regard to the grid. He still may need an inspection plate for the icebox drain area if the hose does NOT go to the bilge.
J
Joe M
Andy, How does it come out?
Andy, I tried removing that piece the other day by removing the six screws but couldn't budge the piece at all. How did you remove it? Is this water really a concern? It seems that even if I do clean it out it will eventually fill up again. There's no easy access to the area and I'm sure other H34 have the same situation maybe witout even being aware of it. Am I concrned with something not to be concerned about? If it was an area that needed to be kept dry wouldn't Hunter have made an access point to it? Thanks, Joe
Andy, I tried removing that piece the other day by removing the six screws but couldn't budge the piece at all. How did you remove it? Is this water really a concern? It seems that even if I do clean it out it will eventually fill up again. There's no easy access to the area and I'm sure other H34 have the same situation maybe witout even being aware of it. Am I concrned with something not to be concerned about? If it was an area that needed to be kept dry wouldn't Hunter have made an access point to it? Thanks, Joe
Joe, why ask why?
Joe: The base piece for the table probably has some varnish and crap that is making it stick to the sole. Remove the screws and then try using a putty knife to free it from the sole. Once you get it out you can then clean it up. Hope you gain access to the hidden part of the grid. You will probably need to do a little research on where the water is comming from. Remember to check the drain for the ice box. This could be your problem. If it is, it makes your odor problem twice as bad.
Joe: The base piece for the table probably has some varnish and crap that is making it stick to the sole. Remove the screws and then try using a putty knife to free it from the sole. Once you get it out you can then clean it up. Hope you gain access to the hidden part of the grid. You will probably need to do a little research on where the water is comming from. Remember to check the drain for the ice box. This could be your problem. If it is, it makes your odor problem twice as bad.
J
Joe M
Thanks Steve, Andy, Peggy
Thanks for all the help. I'm hooking up with Ronco for the new tank and will work on that table piece to access the water. I won't forget the icebox drain. Thanks again.
Thanks for all the help. I'm hooking up with Ronco for the new tank and will work on that table piece to access the water. I won't forget the icebox drain. Thanks again.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.