mysterious bilge liquid

[Rich in Annapolis]

a couple of weeks ago i found an unusual amount of water in the aft section of the bilge. smelled like sewage/decayed matter. boat was hauled in nov 2006, bilge dry. it's been blocked since then. hand pumped out the liquid. two days ago i filled holding tank with water. so far no sign of liquid in bilge.ideas?

 

[PHitchcox]

Heater water?

Sorry to her about the mysterious liquid. For what its worth, we left our bilge dry and came back to it full in the spring. It seems the hot water heater had not been properly emptied and burst during the winter. It slowly leaked into the bilge. Don't know why the smell, but fill up the water tank and hot water heater and make sure there are no leaks in either of them.Paul

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Stagnant bilge water is a primordial soup

That can easily smell like a swamp or even a sewer because the dead and decaying organisms in it produce the same kinds of gases. Over the years I've had dozens of calls and emails from people who've replaced their entire sanitation systems trying to get rid of what they thought was "head" odor when all they really needed to do was clean their bilges and sumps...really CLEAN 'em for a change instead of only dumping in more bilge cleaner and calling it done. The source of your bilge water is most likely rain water and condensation that's sat and "fermented" in a bilge that needs a thorough cleaning.

 

[Rich in Annapolis]

thanks Peggy and PHitchcock

Peggy and PHitchcockthanks for the replies....the hot water heater's drained and by passed. hope it's not a burst freeze plug, but system was winterized.PeggyYour response was almost verbatim what my lovely wife said. Great minds...

 

[Al - s/v Persephone]

What a great name for a new cocktail

 

[Rich in Annapolis]

cheers (nm)