I have an issue with Methane Gas build in an inacccessible water trap area below the floorboards that does not ever get drained out completely. The area is just aft of the aft bilge compartment that you can access through the floorboards. The water accumulates from the stuffing box drip pan, goes under the engine compartment, and flows forward ending up sitting in this catchbasin area. There is a hole where once 4" of water accumulates in this catchbasis area it will finally drain into the main bilge area. However, there is always 4" of water sitting there and eventually methane gasses build up. Has anyone found a solution to this problem on their Hunter 336?
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Miles
Methane?
The 340 has a similar bilge setup but I must say I've never noticed any methane gas being produced in it. You might be able to siphon some of the water out or maybe use something like an "Oil boy" extractor to pump it out. Or maybe splash some bilge cleaner in and let it sit. Not sure where the gas is coming from though unless it's a byproduct of something nasty in the bilge...
The 340 has a similar bilge setup but I must say I've never noticed any methane gas being produced in it. You might be able to siphon some of the water out or maybe use something like an "Oil boy" extractor to pump it out. Or maybe splash some bilge cleaner in and let it sit. Not sure where the gas is coming from though unless it's a byproduct of something nasty in the bilge...
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Peter Milne
Methane Gas??
Malcom, What makes you think you have a problem with methane gas? Methane is colorless, tasteless and ordorless which is why your friendly natural gas company puts mercaptan in it so people can smell a leak. It is also lighter than air and will disapaite quickly. However, the right mixture of methane and air is highly explosive. Peter Milne S/V Blue Heron
Malcom, What makes you think you have a problem with methane gas? Methane is colorless, tasteless and ordorless which is why your friendly natural gas company puts mercaptan in it so people can smell a leak. It is also lighter than air and will disapaite quickly. However, the right mixture of methane and air is highly explosive. Peter Milne S/V Blue Heron
The best way to test for methane....
is with a match (maybe not)! Why do you think it is methane? Maybe it is just critters rotting and it smells bad. I would suggest that you replace your stuffing box with either some teflon packing or a dripless unit. This will eliminate the box from dripping.
is with a match (maybe not)! Why do you think it is methane? Maybe it is just critters rotting and it smells bad. I would suggest that you replace your stuffing box with either some teflon packing or a dripless unit. This will eliminate the box from dripping.
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Bryan Cleveland
It's like the old George Carlin routine
about couch cushions. Unless you have had a bevy of extremely flatulent guest on board, or perhaps a badly trained dog, hard to imagine methan in the bilge (is methan lighter than air?)
about couch cushions. Unless you have had a bevy of extremely flatulent guest on board, or perhaps a badly trained dog, hard to imagine methan in the bilge (is methan lighter than air?)
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Pete
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Methane is odorless...
What you're smelling are sulfurous gasses created when organic material decomposes anaerobically The cure: plenty of detergent and water, followed by thorough rinse. Once or twice a year--when you start to notice odor--should do it. You might want to read the article "Boat Odor Isn't All in Your Head" in the Head Mistress forum Reference Library.
What you're smelling are sulfurous gasses created when organic material decomposes anaerobically The cure: plenty of detergent and water, followed by thorough rinse. Once or twice a year--when you start to notice odor--should do it. You might want to read the article "Boat Odor Isn't All in Your Head" in the Head Mistress forum Reference Library.
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Malcolm Crow
Bilge producing sulfuric gases not methane
Thankyou to all who replied. Through Peggy's clarification I am indeed referring to Sulfuric gases and have misrepresented the problem by specifying methane. I like Steve's dripless stuffing box idea.
Thankyou to all who replied. Through Peggy's clarification I am indeed referring to Sulfuric gases and have misrepresented the problem by specifying methane. I like Steve's dripless stuffing box idea.
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Ned Strain
Join the Two Compartments
I drilled a hole from the main compartment (the one with the electric bilge pump) to the aft compartment (in mine the aft includes the input hose from the manual bilge pump). The shower also drains into the aft compartment and perhaps the refrigerator (not sure). In any case the fix has worked well. Ned and Tani Strain s/v Family Therapy 95h336 Chicago
I drilled a hole from the main compartment (the one with the electric bilge pump) to the aft compartment (in mine the aft includes the input hose from the manual bilge pump). The shower also drains into the aft compartment and perhaps the refrigerator (not sure). In any case the fix has worked well. Ned and Tani Strain s/v Family Therapy 95h336 Chicago
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