Last year (my first with this boat) I unknowingly allowed my holding tank to get overfull. I discovered this when we would get a foul odor inside the cabin after flushing, bad enough to notice in the cockpit. We pumped out immediately, but now we have waht seems to be a permanent odor in the area of the holding tank. I used a compressor to make sure the vent hose is clear (from the outside - we could hear the air rush into the holding tank). I've been using Odorlos. Thinking some effluent may have spilled in the area around the tank somehow, we tried washing around the outside of the tank with limited success, water that spills down there seems to accumulate, not run into the bilge! The hoses are the ones that came with the boat, big blak things that seem to be wrapped in a clear plastic. What would you do as next steps? Thanks in advance.
Odor in Area of Holding Tank
- Thread starter Joel23851
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I'm betting your hoses have permeated
And I'm also betting that the plastic wrap around 'em is Saran Wrap--that they needed replacing when you bought the boat, but the seller didn't want to do it. Wrapping permeated hoses in Saran Wrap is common "band aid" 'cuz Saran Wrap is odor impermeable. I even used it on my own boat to avoid replacing hoses mid-season. However, it isn't a permanent fix...it only lasts about a year. With or without plastic wrap, each time the toilet is flushed or the tank is pumped out, waste/water going through the hose puts pressure on the inside of it...pushing odor out if the hose has permeated. Flushing into an overfull tank puts even more pressure on the hose...and sooner or later even the Saran Wrap becomes saturated...which is why you first began to experience the odor after each flush. Washing down the area without being able to dry it out only compounds the problem...'cuz that only adds a smelly "swamp" to the mix that can also smell like a sewer very quickly in hot weather. So it's time to replace the your sanitation hoses. And while you have 'em off, lift out the tank (if you can)...dry out that entire area...then spray every surface in it including the outside of the tank with Raritan K.O. Don't rinse...let it dry, leaving that area open for at least 24 hours so that plenty of fresh air can circulate. That will get rid of all the odor left behind...new hoses will prevent new odor. Btw...there are several chapters in my book (see link below) that include instructions for replacing hoses that make the job a lot easier. Not easy...that's impossible...but a whole lot easier.
And I'm also betting that the plastic wrap around 'em is Saran Wrap--that they needed replacing when you bought the boat, but the seller didn't want to do it. Wrapping permeated hoses in Saran Wrap is common "band aid" 'cuz Saran Wrap is odor impermeable. I even used it on my own boat to avoid replacing hoses mid-season. However, it isn't a permanent fix...it only lasts about a year. With or without plastic wrap, each time the toilet is flushed or the tank is pumped out, waste/water going through the hose puts pressure on the inside of it...pushing odor out if the hose has permeated. Flushing into an overfull tank puts even more pressure on the hose...and sooner or later even the Saran Wrap becomes saturated...which is why you first began to experience the odor after each flush. Washing down the area without being able to dry it out only compounds the problem...'cuz that only adds a smelly "swamp" to the mix that can also smell like a sewer very quickly in hot weather. So it's time to replace the your sanitation hoses. And while you have 'em off, lift out the tank (if you can)...dry out that entire area...then spray every surface in it including the outside of the tank with Raritan K.O. Don't rinse...let it dry, leaving that area open for at least 24 hours so that plenty of fresh air can circulate. That will get rid of all the odor left behind...new hoses will prevent new odor. Btw...there are several chapters in my book (see link below) that include instructions for replacing hoses that make the job a lot easier. Not easy...that's impossible...but a whole lot easier.
You're probably right, but ...
the clear plastic wrapping looks like it's part of the hose. It's about 3" wide or so and the wrapping looks a lot smoother than I picture owner-applied Saran Wrap to look. I had to remove the hose from the pumpout thruhull last year and where I grabbed the hose to work it loose the plastic also came loose. Otherwise it looks like it's really part of the hose. Is there a sanitation hose that comes that way? Is it any good? Thanks again!
the clear plastic wrapping looks like it's part of the hose. It's about 3" wide or so and the wrapping looks a lot smoother than I picture owner-applied Saran Wrap to look. I had to remove the hose from the pumpout thruhull last year and where I grabbed the hose to work it loose the plastic also came loose. Otherwise it looks like it's really part of the hose. Is there a sanitation hose that comes that way? Is it any good? Thanks again!
No sanitation hose I ever heard of...
It may not be Saran, but it has to be owner added...and apparently very carefully to make it look like that...prob'ly even removed each hose, wrapped it and put it back. I never cease to be amazed by how little value people place on their own time in some of their efforts to save as little $50.
It may not be Saran, but it has to be owner added...and apparently very carefully to make it look like that...prob'ly even removed each hose, wrapped it and put it back. I never cease to be amazed by how little value people place on their own time in some of their efforts to save as little $50.
Use aluminum foil
I guess Peggie will be mad at me again for recomending using aluminum foil to cover permeated hoses instead of replacing them. Two years ago I posted my experience using aluminum foil to cover the permeated hoses of my Beneteau 361. I explained that because of the less than optimal design of the sanitation system in my boat, I could not use the amount of flushing recommended by Ms Headmistress without filling up the small holding tank in one sitting. In addition, there are two hoses that, no matter how well you flush, will always have waist inside them. After trying unsuccessfully SARAN wrap and Duck tape, I covered the hoses with one sided sticky 3" aluminum foil sold in HomeDepo for sealing insulation materials. At that time I posted my discovery because I thought people could save a lot of $ and time with that solution. I turned out, see link from archive, that Peggie did not like it and we had a long discussion about Peggie's feared "galvanic corrosion" caused by using aluminum foil in a boat. She quoted anonymous expert opinions but we never heard the physical reasons for those fears. In fact, a real expert in corrosion posted his opinion in rejecting the concept of galvanic corrosion on the boat fittings and metal parts could be caused by aluminum foil used in this manner. She asked me to wait a few years before bringing the topic back and later asked me not to post about this topic because the audience may not know how to use the aluminum and possible cause galvanic corrosion . I decided to wait and make sure that the aluminum held without permeation for two years. Well Peggie, the aluminum foil is still shining, the hoses are not stinking, and my rudder and shaft are still as good as new. No corrosion as expected. Guys, the cost of the foil is minimal and the work of covering the hoses is as much as using SARAN and much less than replacing them. More important, you don't have to flush as much and in my experience after two years aluminum has not permeated. Even if it ever did it, adding a second layer of aluminum would extend the hoses for at least three more years. I will be happy to give some tips on how to make the covering easier. Enjoy your odor free hoses.
I guess Peggie will be mad at me again for recomending using aluminum foil to cover permeated hoses instead of replacing them. Two years ago I posted my experience using aluminum foil to cover the permeated hoses of my Beneteau 361. I explained that because of the less than optimal design of the sanitation system in my boat, I could not use the amount of flushing recommended by Ms Headmistress without filling up the small holding tank in one sitting. In addition, there are two hoses that, no matter how well you flush, will always have waist inside them. After trying unsuccessfully SARAN wrap and Duck tape, I covered the hoses with one sided sticky 3" aluminum foil sold in HomeDepo for sealing insulation materials. At that time I posted my discovery because I thought people could save a lot of $ and time with that solution. I turned out, see link from archive, that Peggie did not like it and we had a long discussion about Peggie's feared "galvanic corrosion" caused by using aluminum foil in a boat. She quoted anonymous expert opinions but we never heard the physical reasons for those fears. In fact, a real expert in corrosion posted his opinion in rejecting the concept of galvanic corrosion on the boat fittings and metal parts could be caused by aluminum foil used in this manner. She asked me to wait a few years before bringing the topic back and later asked me not to post about this topic because the audience may not know how to use the aluminum and possible cause galvanic corrosion . I decided to wait and make sure that the aluminum held without permeation for two years. Well Peggie, the aluminum foil is still shining, the hoses are not stinking, and my rudder and shaft are still as good as new. No corrosion as expected. Guys, the cost of the foil is minimal and the work of covering the hoses is as much as using SARAN and much less than replacing them. More important, you don't have to flush as much and in my experience after two years aluminum has not permeated. Even if it ever did it, adding a second layer of aluminum would extend the hoses for at least three more years. I will be happy to give some tips on how to make the covering easier. Enjoy your odor free hoses.
Hey, Jose...
..I was wondering how that worked out. Obviously, replacing the hose is the first choice if you have decent access, but sometimes it's a nightmare. This may be an option. At least it worked for you and we appreciate the post. Rick D.
..I was wondering how that worked out. Obviously, replacing the hose is the first choice if you have decent access, but sometimes it's a nightmare. This may be an option. At least it worked for you and we appreciate the post. Rick D.
Hey, Rick
I would go further than that. If I ever had to replace my hoses, I would cover them with aluminum tape at the time of installation. I understand that even the best plastic hoses eventually permeate. Not only you can use less stiff and easier to shape hoses, but covering them with two layers of aluminum tape after you shaped them to their final shape will make them last a lot longer without the stench. If my experience of three years keeps holding, you may not have to worry about permeated hose odor again even if you don't flush all the waste from them after every use. More iportant, they don't look that bad (see photo)
I would go further than that. If I ever had to replace my hoses, I would cover them with aluminum tape at the time of installation. I understand that even the best plastic hoses eventually permeate. Not only you can use less stiff and easier to shape hoses, but covering them with two layers of aluminum tape after you shaped them to their final shape will make them last a lot longer without the stench. If my experience of three years keeps holding, you may not have to worry about permeated hose odor again even if you don't flush all the waste from them after every use. More iportant, they don't look that bad (see photo)
Hey Jose, They look like they belong on the
Space Shuttle
Glad to hear everything seemed to work out for you with the Aluminum Backed tape. Now we need a dozen more trusting souls with smelly hoses to try it and report back after a year or two.
Space Shuttle
Glad to hear everything seemed to work out for you with the Aluminum Backed tape. Now we need a dozen more trusting souls with smelly hoses to try it and report back after a year or two.- Status