Odor from the bowels of the boat

[MichaelStacy]

I have been noticing an odor, similiar to that I would associate with the holding tank coming from what I believe to be below the bilge, maybe from the area between the hull and liner? This odor started just a two or three of months after I got the boat. I smell it most noticibly when I open the cabinet below the galley sink, and when I lift the hatch boards to the sump areas. But, I don't think it is coming from the bilge areas, since I now have them dry, etc. I have looked at the connection points at the head, holding tank, macerator, and thru-hulls - no drips.Just a couple of weeks ago I got around to cleaning up the water (maybe a couple of cups) from the bilge. It was slimy and yellowish, but no noticible odor. I tasted it and it was very bitter (acidic), but not necessarily salty. I mention this, because I have had fairly clear rain water (taste test again) in the bilge after rains, but not with this this color or taste.Anyone have a similiar situation with their H33?Thanks,Michael

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

That's trapped stagnant water, all right...

And because it is a festering "primordial soup," it does smell like a swamp or a sewer.The source could be your ice box drain, shower drain, heat/ac condensate, humidity condensation, or water getting into the hull through a leak around a rail stanchion or other deck hardware and running down into that area. The only cure...create access to that area that allows you clean it out as needed. Otherwise, as the weather gets warmer, the odor will only get worse.

 

[Jim Seamans]

I've started flushing the bilge

On my H356 I've taken to bringing the hose down and opening up most of the floor boards and running the water. Slowly of course. It flushes anything that is hiding under the boards. Sure makes a difference. Once that is complete I take a wet/dry vac and suck up all the water that is in the lower regions. I do this a couple of times during the season.JimS/V Java

 

[Franklin]

Could it be....

the hoses? Do sink drain hoses have the ability to smell themselves? I ask because I too have a smell somewhere. I've put stuff in the bilge and that didn't take care of it. I poured vinigar down the head and sink and let both sit for hours before flushing but I still have an odor and I swear it seems to be strongest under the sink next to the head. This is a 1996 hunter 376. So, could the problem be the hoses or should I be looking for stagnat water too?

 

[MichaelStacy]

Re: Could it be

Franklin,In my case I doubt that it is the hoses. The boat is less than a year old. But in an older boat (my previous boat, a Catalina 30) it definately was the hoses, amoungst other issues.Michael

 

[David Ochoa]

Smelly Boat

When I bought my 1997 H376 over a year ago it too had a smell. At that time I noticed the PO hadn't emptied the holding tank (gauge showed just about full) so I headed down to the do it yourself pump out. The odor persisted though and what I found out was pumping in raw salt water to rinse the head was the problem. Now I keep the seacock closed and I keep a gallon jug handy filled with fresh water from the boat handy and use it to rinse the bowl, then pump out to the holding tank after business. Took care of the foul odor :~)