Odor from cockpit lazarette

njlarry · Jan 3, 2015

Where is your holding tank and what sort of odor?

njlarry · Jan 3, 2015

Chemical as in acid, sour or garlic or?
We have a faint garlic order that is strongest under the V berth but is detectable all the way back to the nav station locker. I replaced the vent lines. The hoses tested ok but I suspect the tank fittings are not sealed properly.
Are your ice box drain lines clean and clear? SHower sump could be another source.

Gunni · Jan 3, 2015

Leprecaun said:
Hello, I thought my odor problem was coming only from beneath the V Berth. However, when i open the cockpit lazarette I get the same odor just as strong. I can see that the stuffing box drips every few seconds, leaving a small puddle and the salt water eventually makes its way to the bilge. Could this be an odor source? Any suggestions/comments/remedies. Advice is always appreciated. ST

You bet! Seawater is full of microbes and your bilge collects food like oil, grease, and Leprecaun bits. The microbes excrete hydrogen sulfide and stink the place up. Don't feed the wildlife. A clean bilge is an odor free bilge.

Gunni · Jan 3, 2015

There are specialty cleaning products labeled "bilge cleaner" that you can mix in a bucket of warm water and add to the bilge. But any number of detergents will work also. Let it soak and mop it out. A wet vac helps with extraction. Long term, clean bilges require regular maintenance, vacuum out the dirt, wipe up the oil & grease, and keep everything ship shape. Remember EVERYTHING that drops inside a boat, ends up in the bilge. Seawater and spills supply the medium and bacteria for bio reactionary stink down there.

njlarry · Jan 3, 2015

I belive rariton makes an effective "odor eater" but can't remember the name. Hopefully our Head Mistress will chime in for you.

Dave602 · Jan 3, 2015

Njlarry may be referring to Raritan KO or Knock Out. Very effective in killing all kinds of oders

shemandr · Jan 3, 2015

Leprecaun said:
Also, I never thought of the shower drain, which does run to the bilge.

Shower drains pass hair, soap and exfoliated skin into the bilge if there isn't a sump. Basically a great medium for microbial growth. Yes, they can and do cause stink. If possible you should create a sump for the shower drain, which can be emptied - either by a pump or other means. It's not that big of a project.
Oxidizing agents in the bilge will mitigate the problem. Bleach, Oxiclean or a variety of other products help. As Leprecaun said "A clean bilge is an odor free bilge. "

gettinthere · Jan 3, 2015

Shower drain into bilge is not good for many reasons as listed already. Definitely change that first

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Jan 3, 2015

First thing I would do is check that ice box drain hose. Ice boxes are notorious fior having tiny food particles in them and a hose from there into the laz would be a PRIME suspect for odor, even more so than the shower drain. My ice chest has no drain- I use a small hand pump to empty into a bucket and dump over board.

I do agree on adding a sump to the shower, however personally I would never have a shower below anyway- mildew city. Mine is in the cockpit, or a wash cloth and tub in the main cabin. Ladies also.

njlarry · Jan 3, 2015

Dave602 said:
Njlarry may be referring to Raritan KO or Knock Out. Very effective in killing all kinds of oders

Yes thank you that's it.
Memory isn't what it used to be.

Anonymous 121765 · Jan 4, 2015

Lep,

The guys here have given good advice pal.

Salt water with a drip stuffing box will add to odors when first opening the slats. Waste tank/head hoses leaching is also a contributor. Clogged or fresh water drains can grow mold that can have an odor also. Beware of some cleaners you may use to keep in compliance with local or state rules.

Here's a trick I use from time to time on my boat. I fill my bilge about 1/3 full. I use pool chlorine solution that I pour in the bilge. Depending on the size, I like to use a 15% mix. Then, I turn off the bilge pump and go sailing for the day, making sure I hit all points of sail, allowing the water to slosh about.

I never use chlorine on my boat, but some add this to their fresh water. I would never put up with a stinky chlorine smell in my water. I also add a small amount of pool chlorine to my fresh water, as it has aromatics & will not eat hoses like chlorine.

On the way back, I pump this out & do a fresh water 1/3 full in the bilge continuing the sloshing (pump off). I pump this out when close to the dock. It cleans & removes bilge smells quite alot. And, pool chlorine is cheap.

CR

njlarry · Jan 4, 2015

Yes. Peggy Hall in her book Getting Rid of Boat Odors recommends putting it in a spray bottle for cleaning surfaces and allow to dry without rinsing.

Jackdaw · Jan 4, 2015

TSBB 2 said:
I do agree on adding a sump to the shower, however personally I would never have a shower below anyway- mildew city. Mine is in the cockpit, or a wash cloth and tub in the main cabin. Ladies also.

Yes... But your boat is 25 feet long. Bigger boats with headroom and space can afford the luxury of a shower below. That plus pressure hot water is my simple defining characteristic of a 'big boat'.