my head stinks

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redhead78

redhead78

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Dec 30, 2009
680
jeanneau 38 gin fizz sloop Summer- Keyport Yacht Club, Raritan Bay, NJ, Winter Viking Marina Verplanck, NY
Hey all, I posted about this recently, and I now have a drawing of the head system i installed this past winter. I understand the saltwater sitting and the difference a last flush wf fresh water could make. What I do not undestand here is this is the exact same system as I have had for years with saltwater flush, so something changed. I don't have any obvious leaks so maybe I did something wrong, please forgive my drawing its not the greatest but should show the system as it is . This thing really stinks, like sulpher. Thanks Red
 

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jmce1587

jmce1587

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Mar 20, 2011
624
Hunter 31_83-87 New Orleans
What type of head did you install? The reason I ask is that I recently installed a raritan sea era electric head and went with the sea water flush. I had a similar problem with the sulfur smell after flushing the new head with sea water standing in the system for a week between visits to the boat. I contacted raritan and they came up with 2 possible solutions. One was to install an in line cp "slip stream" system they would provide for free as a "test basis" and the other was to install a vacuum breaker and solenoid valve and tie into the boat's fresh water system. Due to space constraints i was not able to install the slip stream system and went with the FW system. Having reconfigured the head to FW has eliminated the sulfur odor from standing water in the head and hoses. If you installed a raritan I would check with them for suggestions or if another manufacturer, call them. good luck.
 
Rick

Rick

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Oct 5, 2004
1,098
Hunter 420 Passage San Diego
Well Red,
It could be pretty much anything from a clogged vent line to a permiated line. Every place you have a low spot in your plumbing is where the sea critters have a party. Except they forget the designated driver and wind up dying on the spot. If your lines are old you can check them for permiation. Put a really hot rag on the line and let it set for about 5 minutes. Now pick up the rag and smell it. If its "heady" the line is toast, and not the eating kind. Perhaps you have a leak? Did you check the fitting at the holding tank? Macerator? It comes down to basically starting at one end and working your way to the other. Not fun but it is what it is. Just ask Mike Rowe.

Cheers and good luck.

Also there are several good tank treatments you can try. Check the chandlery here. Peggy Hall was the absolute expert on sanitation.
 
Florida sail

Florida sail

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Apr 3, 2008
166
Nonsuch Ultra 30 Gulfport, FL
I have a relatively new Raritan II and had the same rotten egg smell. I was able to solve the situation by closing the salt water intake seacock and using my shower head to supply fresh HOH to the bowl. In addition I give the bowl a spray of Raritan CP 20% with HOH after each use. This has eliminated any H2S odor. I do not believe that the make of the head has anything to do with the H2S smell. I'm now a happy camper.
 
Rick

Rick

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Oct 5, 2004
1,098
Hunter 420 Passage San Diego
Concur. A head is a head. If not properly taken care of, they all will stinkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.
 
bilsheryl

bilsheryl

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May 6, 2010
51
newport newport 17 trailer
This is coming from a rv perspective, in our camper I will dump in lemon dish detergent and pull camper around to slosh the soap in side holding tank this has help us specially with the hot weather in Illinois.
 
CalebD

CalebD

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Jun 27, 2006
1,479
Tartan 27' 1967 Nyack, NY
I miss Peggy. Her book was worth buying too. I bought it read it and still have it.

For starters, you could use a 2nd tank vent line. Anaerobic bacteria = major stink, aerobic bacteria = not much stink at all.

Flushing the bowl with fresh water should also go a long way to reducing stink.

Using Raritan's "KO" tank treatment and "CP" will also help (both recommended by Peggy).

But nothing is going to help if your holding tank sits there with no O2 (oxygen) getting to it. Pump out early and often, add a 2nd vent and use a good head treatment like "KO".

If your diagram is at all representative of your holding tank you do not have much surface area for air in your tank. I really think you could use a 2nd air vent.

Peggy! Clean up in aisle 3!
 
All U Get

All U Get

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Oct 2, 2008
3,811
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
Hi Redhead,
You could try pumping the bowl dry and adding a glass of freshwater from the sink. We did this for a season and decided to install the freshwater feed when we upgraded to Raritan Smart flush.
All U Get
 
fox islander

fox islander

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Jun 5, 2004
241
Catalina 30 MkII Foss Harbor Marina, Tacoma, WA
I do the same thing as Florida Sail. Flush with fresh water...no smell at all...ever.
 
redhead78

redhead78

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Dec 30, 2009
680
jeanneau 38 gin fizz sloop Summer- Keyport Yacht Club, Raritan Bay, NJ, Winter Viking Marina Verplanck, NY
Guys, I am going to do a tee off shower sump this winter when I redo the sink and shower plumbing. All the components of the head system are brand new, hoses vent and line, I used the best hoses and fittings. The toilet is an old raritan, which I am going to change also this fall, I dont see any leaks. B4 new system with tank it was salt water direct discharge and I never smelled anything like this. I am using raritan KO, I guess I will flush the sh*t out of the tank and start again. Will just pouring fresh water in the head help or do I have to pull off the intake and pump a solution of KO and water thru??? Head is above the water line...Red
 
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Steve_Catalina

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Apr 1, 2004
185
Catalina 34 Herring Bay Chesapeake, MD
My opinion and another idea

RedHead78,

If you tried the hot rag on your pipes and have no smell they are not permeated.

A clogged vent would not allow you to pump the waste out of your head into the holding tank, since there would be nowhere for the displaced air to go.

You do not need or want a vented loop on your head discharge since it goes directly to your holding tank, per your diagram.

If you have validated that have no leaks in your plumbing or tank and the smell is not from your bilge there is only one remaining issue.

When you pump you head with salt water or brackish critters get caught under the bowl
in the lip. Pouring water or other concoctions in the bowl at this point will not kill all of the little creatures that have gotten caught and will die and dry up under the lip of the bowl.

What many owners and some manufactures have done is tee the head intake into the head sink drain. This allows you two options.

1. Keep the head sink thu hull closed and use fresh water in the sink for all flushing.

2. or….. put a stopper in the sink, open the thru hull for the head sink and draw sea water for all flushes EXCEPT the last one of the day or weekend. Before you close up the boat put fresh water in the sink with the thru hull closed, pump the head drawing water from the sink thru your head, this will clean all of the head and flush any remaining critters in the holding tank.

Try searching the archives, its full of Peggy Hall's words and years of wisdom.

Steve
 
redhead78

redhead78

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Dec 30, 2009
680
jeanneau 38 gin fizz sloop Summer- Keyport Yacht Club, Raritan Bay, NJ, Winter Viking Marina Verplanck, NY
Thanks Steve, I understand, I will pull the intake hose off the sea intake for now and set it in a 2 gallon jug with a mix of fresh water and KO, and pump it same as if I was winterizing. Come fall and winter on the hard I am going to install water to head sink and shower, and a shower sump, and I will provide for a loop to introduce fresh water thru the head for the last flush. Several of u guys have givin me ways to do this, thanks...Red
 
CalebD

CalebD

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Jun 27, 2006
1,479
Tartan 27' 1967 Nyack, NY
I still think that a second (2nd) vent hose to your tank will help a lot.
You are definitely on the right track.
 
All U Get

All U Get

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Oct 2, 2008
3,811
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
Hi Red,
After reading your post I got digging around in the forward bilge scrubbing the bottom under the holding tank. With the new forward head installed we were using it while working on the aft head. There was an odor that was getting stronger the more I flushed around the tank.
Well we had checked hoses, fittings, and other sources before we decided to yank the tank. Sure enough the bottom seam was leaking on both sides. Awaiting the new one to be installed, (BOAT). We scrubbed down anything that was under the tank and will paint the area with epoxy.
All U Get
 

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Bill Murray

Bill Murray

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Jun 2, 2004
241
Hunter 410 Charlevoix, MI
she retired.... however almost any question can still be answered (and already was)... just check the forums / or buy her book.
 
S

Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
If you have not tried it yet, I would suggest that you try the Odorlos powder. This together with your fresh water rinse should help the situation. I have had better luck with the powder than the liquid.

During the hot months of the year you need to treat it about every week or 10 days if you have not pumped out. When the weather cools one treatment between pumpouts is usually adequate.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,353
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
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