Interesting Smell - 1993 Hunter Legend 40.5

[Sdiring]

Hi everyone,

I have an odor issue. There is a chemical smell when we open the boat. Doesn't smell like diesel or sewage, but it is not pleasant. It vents after a while but is still there. I opened various cavities to try to identify the source. It does not smell over the waste tank or the bilge. The stern area is clear. It seem to originate in the aft area of the boat. No smell in the port compartment where the fuel tank is located. If I open the starboard lazarette I can smell it, but the lazarette is clean. I thought flushing it until it ran into the bilge might be an idea but it seems like I would have to put in a lot of water until it actually hit the drain. I thought there was a drain in the bottom surface in the far right of the compartment (aft) but now I don't think so. There is a area that sticks out with a downward facing hole in the most forward portion of the enclosure. It would take a lot of water to get it filled to that hole. There is no smell in the bilge, though I did put in some bilge cleaner. Any thoughts would be helpful. It also seems like it might be coming from the heat pump ducting, but that doesn't explain the odor in the lazarette. It is noticeable in the aft berth.

Any help would be appreciated.

Best,
Scott

 

[Sailgunner]

What kind of head treament do you use? Anthing but Odorloss will leave a smell in the boat from the head treament product.

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

I have the same issue. Kind of a chemical super concentrated odor covering agent similar to "Febreze".
I don't know?

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Does this boat still have the original aluminum holding tank and hoses/vent line hose?

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

I'm guessing it's either permeated sanitation hoses (cheap single wall flexible pvc won't have a sewage odor, they'll have a sharp chemical odor) or the residual odor left in the lockers etc that those hoses passed through. Depending on how many hoses have been replaced and what hose was used, it could be both. New hoses can stink too.

So don't limit your searching for the source to, for instance, the area around the holding tank or just the existing hoses...all the hoses that have ever been connected to it have passed through a bunch of places on their way to and from everything that's connected to that tank.

You can take this to the bank: You cannot eliminate any odor until you've eliminated the source of that odor, because as long as the source exists it can continue to generate new odor.
Don't assume that just because an area is clean, it can't be the source of an odor.
Odors can have more than one source.

That's enough for now.

--Peggie

 

[Scott NIelsen]

Is it a sulfur smell? Could be batteries off gassing, that is if your batteries are lead acid and in the aft starboard locker and you use a battery charger.

 

[Apex]

isn't there some areas hidden in-between liner that do not drain? I don't recall what boat that is, but do remember seeing discussions on such areas. If there is stagnant "water" in that area, could be a source of smell.

 

[baycloud]

I've been having some odors and it's very challenging to determine because there can be multiple sources. However have yourself or someone with a good nose follow it - move your nose within inches of any possible source. Close doors and air out other locations as well to isolate and test different areas. Check all 3 sections of your bilge. Pull the floorboard over the holding tank and smell. Holding tank and all hoses should be included in the checks if there is even a small chance of it being the source.

Random thought - wood rot/hidden. However I doubt this would be able to cause enough smell unless there was visible damage.

Agree that any dampness/standing water could be a culprit as well.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

All good suggestions, however, it appear this is another phantom thread in which someone asks a question, lots of people offer advice and there is never any response to or acknowledgement of appreciation for your/our assistance.
why do we bother….