Nasty Boat Odor

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Oct 28, 2005
89
Hunter 31 Portage De Sioux, MO
I just came home from a weekend on our 1987 Hunter 31. As I was leaving this afternoon, my wife noticed a bad odor comeing from the bildge area. We had this problem last year and found that some frozen chicken was the cause due to leaking down in the ice box, then into the bildge. Which stayed there through the summer. A little bleach and hot water fixed that problem.
We checked all of the other places that the usual suspects live and no odor. I poured about 24 oz. of bleach and hot water down the ice box drain and wa law, the odor disappered. I am thinking the drain hose that runs from under the ice box to the bildge has lived out its life.
I checked the history out in the forums, and found a similiar question. But his boat didn't have a drain hose. Mine does. Can this area be accessed somehow to be replaced?
According to Steve on that post, you can not get to the drain ot the bottom of the ice box without dismantling the boat. That was in 2003, so has any one found a way yet?

Robert :confused:
 
Feb 22, 2004
222
Hunter H340 Michigan City
There is an issue with the hull and liner water stays trapped and nasty things grow the smell is very bad. It took me almost the whole first season to figure out the fix. I put a bleach solution in the front access door under the v bearth. let it slosh around then I took the hose in and flushed it out with fresh water all kinds of yuck went into the bilge. I then took my dremel tool and enlarged (lengthened) the drain hole on the forward wall of the blige (be careful not enlarge it too much). Now most of it drains into the blige but I still rinse it and put vinegar in a couple of times a season and I have no smell any more. Good luck
Keith
 
Jun 9, 2008
1,801
- -- -Bayfield
There are a number of bilge cleaners on the market that you can pour into your bilge. They are sweet smelling and also emolsify (sp?) oil that might be there as well. It really helps with bilge odor.
 
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