New to this!

[john6206]

Hi All -

We are looking at a "big boat" (32') after trailer sailing for 25 years.

I don't remember there being a smell in the head when we first looked at it, but there was snow on the ground, so it makes sense that there would be no odor if stuff was frozen.

When we looked at it last week my wife said she couldn't stand the odor. I said, "probably antifreeze?" She said, "That aint antifreeze!"
Marina says that they are going to commission the head. I'm not entirely clear what that means to them. "Commissioning the water" is NOT what Peggy described in the article in the stickies, it's basically filling the tanks and making sure water comes out of all the faucets, and draining out the antifreeze.

Records show the toilet was replaced 8 years ago with a Jabsco manual toilet. Logic would say the hoses were replaced at the same time??
There is evidence that the current owners have done NOTHING by way of maintenance and upkeep.

Having read the article in the stickies, I'm assuming the right steps are to rebuild the head and replace the hoses?

What else do I need to know?

 

[Foswick]

This is my advice on sanitation plumbing for any boat purchase: If there is a problem, and you aren't 100% positive what it is, just remove/inspect/replace/rebuild - end-to-end. Just do it.

It is an unpleasant job but, on most boats, not really that difficult and not especially expensive if you don't need to replace any major component. But, when it is done, you have three huge benefits:

1. You are starting with a clean system. You do not have other people's sewage on your boat, lingering in hoses, etc. Anything from that point forward, even if problematic, is at least yours. Aside from this just being psychologically more comfortable (to me anyway), it has the practical benefit that any odor, mystery liquid, etc. is known to be a new issue - not something lingering from a past problem.
2. You will know the system inside and out.
3. You will know that it is done right.

For me, sanitation isn't something I want to think about. So, when I get a new boat, I just do this. Then, I don't have to think about it again for a long time.

For example, we bought our current boat about a year ago. When we initially inspected her, no one had used the head for some time. We did not notice any odors and everything appeared to be fine.

When we took possession, the previous owner had been staying on her for a few days and had used the head. We immediately started to notice an odor that had not been there, previously. To make a long story short, the hose that attaches to the bottom of the holding tank was just a little bit too large (diameter) and someone had tried to make up the difference with a hose clamp. The result was that it slowly leaked.

So, the previous owner had been pumping urine into the holding tank and it had been slowly leaking out under the settee and eventually into the bilge. The only thing for it was to remove the tank, replace the hoses and fittings, and reinstall. With the tank removed, I discovered what must surely have been decades of build-up inside the tank - which was surely the original 1976 tank. Cleaning that was not as fun as it sounds.

But, when I replaced the tank, I laid a plain white paper towel underneath. So, in the future, if there is even a slow leak, it will be immediately obvious with a brief visual inspection. It is very satisfying to open the settee and see that pristine paper towel. Now, I don't give he holding tank a second thought.

 

[dmax]

Plus one on that - I bought my new-to-me boat in the winter, when the warm weather came around, it started to stink. I tore out everything and replaced all the hoses - no more stink. As Foswick says, nice to start with a clean system so just plan on it. And get the good stuff. It's routine maintenance really, every ten years or so if done right.

 

[john6206]

@dmax
im less afraid of $$ than of time.
the first thing we are doing with the new boat is a 400 mile delivery, and we are kind of on the clock.

How long did this take you to do?

 

[jssailem]

I am a with @Foswick. Starting fresh is a smart step to happy boat life.

After 10 years of boat ownership, I just did the same thing. I corrected the way the hoses are run. I installed the Raritan Super Flex hose (so easy). I put in a new Joker valve and lubed the pump. I figure I am good to go for another ten years other than the regular maintenance.

@john6206 the discover of a stinky boat is worthy of a price adjustment. Perhaps the “commissioning process” will correct the issue. At the least the yard should be able to tell you what they mean by “commissioning the head”.

 

[Foswick]

How long did this take you to do?

If I had the parts and tools on-hand and only had to run to the store once or twice, I could probably remove a head, holding tank, and related hoses, clean everything, rebuild the head, and put everything back, in a day and not be especially rushed. And, I am not a particularly fast worker. It really isn't nearly as big a job as it seems it should be. The only thing I couldn't get done in that time frame is replacing the hose to the deck pumpout - and that's just because that can be difficult to get to - not because the job itself is hard.

My last boat had a head that was plumbed to pump directly overboard. I added a holding tank, including a deck pumpout, and completely rebuilt the head - in probably about 12-16 hours ... something like that ... and a good portion of that was cutting through the deck and installing that fitting.

Honestly, if you are seriously crunched for time, you could completely empty and thoroughly flush the holding tank and all hoses and simply live without a functioning head for the immediate term. Return to the head issue when you have time to deal with it properly. The short-term goal would be simply to get anything that stinks off of the boat so that your delivery run isn't unbearable.

 

[john6206]

the broker said that’s it’s a pretty normal spring boat smell, and that there are some chemicals to run through the system that will really help.

the first thing we are going to do on the boat is a 400nm delivery cruise. I’m hoping major rebuild can wait until we get the boat home, but I’m prepared to do it before we leave if necessary. Honestly I didn’t notice the smell very much. My wife has a more sensitive nose.

 

[dmax]

@dmax
im less afraid of $$ than of time.
the first thing we are doing with the new boat is a 400 mile delivery, and we are kind of on the clock.

How long did this take you to do?

It is time consuming as generally things are not easily accessible - I scrubbed everything down, added a macerator and changed the configuration a bit so not just a hose change-out, probably spent 10 hours. On my last boat (O'Day 35), I was able to swap out the hoses in less than 3 hours.

 

[DArcy]

My boat had a bad odor problem when I bought it. I replaced all the hoses to and from the holding tank in a day (maybe 4-6 hours). As long as you have good access, it isn't really a big job. Replacing the hoses made a big difference.

 

[jssailem]

A former owner spread baking soda over some hoses to mitigate odors. I changed to new hoses and the cause of the problem was erased.