Odors and Bilge Access

[BWagner]

We have a 2003 Hunter 426 DS that has a "boat odor" problem. We're not sure if this is bilge odor or related to the waste tank. We have taken all the easy steps to solve this problem including replacement of the sanitation hoses, treatment of the tank itself and cleaning all the areas of the bilge that we can access.

The odor seems to come from the area where the waste fitting and vent hoses run up to the deck/hull fittings making me suspicious that at some point prior to our owning the boat maybe the hose came off during a pump out and effluant spilled in that area. If thats not the case maybe we have a problem with our waste tank - it's tough to say until I can look at it.

In any event, does anyone know how I can get access to the bilge areas under and aft of the galley? The floor is the laminant "EverWear" material and there appears to be a white melamine type material under it - which is the problem. I can take the laminate boards off but short of tailing a saws-all to it, I have no idea how to get the white material off. It appears to be glued to the stringers or whatever is underneath it.

If anyone has dealt with this problem I would love to hear how you solved it.

Thanks!

 

[onecoolair]

We have a 2003 Hunter 426 DS that has a "boat odor" problem. We're not sure if this is bilge odor or related to the waste tank. We have taken all the easy steps to solve this problem including replacement of the sanitation hoses, treatment of the tank itself and cleaning all the areas of the bilge that we can access.

The odor seems to come from the area where the waste fitting and vent hoses run up to the deck/hull fittings making me suspicious that at some point prior to our owning the boat maybe the hose came off during a pump out and effluant spilled in that area. If thats not the case maybe we have a problem with our waste tank - it's tough to say until I can look at it.

In any event, does anyone know how I can get access to the bilge areas under and aft of the galley? The floor is the laminant "EverWear" material and there appears to be a white melamine type material under it - which is the problem. I can take the laminate boards off but short of tailing a saws-all to it, I have no idea how to get the white material off. It appears to be glued to the stringers or whatever is underneath it.

If anyone has dealt with this problem I would love to hear how you solved it.

Thanks!

Yep! Will be cutting new starboard very soon to replace the sub-floor in effected areas.

 

[BWagner]

Yep! Will be cutting new starboard very soon to replace the sub-floor in effected areas.

Robert,

Thanks for the pics. I'm having trouble identifying where they're from. Did you have a tank problem or was it something else?

Brian

 

[onecoolair]

stinky molded mess

Robert,

Thanks for the pics. I'm having trouble identifying where they're from. Did you have a tank problem or was it something else?

Brian

Yes... I suspect you have the same vinyl coated balsa wood sub-floor material. If it gets wet it will then turn to mush then to a stinky molded mess. Who in their right mind would put balsa wood in the bilge area of a boat?:cussing:
What you are seeing in the pictures Is the area from in front of the stove all the way across the base of companionway to the door way at the head lavatory bulkhead. I have had to place temporary support under this areas for safety reasons. In my exploration of the area I had to cut back the soft vinyl covering a bit to see what was happening. What I discovered was nothing but a wet pulp of a molded mess. I started to use penetrating epoxy with some micro-fibers in the affected area. With plans to fill and sand putting a nice finish on it to make it look nice. But when the epoxy failed to cure properly I decide that the best course would be to go ahead and just remove the complete failed sub-floor in that entire area. Thought about what would be a best replacement material and decided the starboard product would work best in my situation. So I have the starboard now and did my measurements and then did my drawings. Being an Architect the drawings were a no brainier. Printed out full size copies of the two sections and did a paper doll fit to verify. Now all I have to do is cut the starboard replacement panels out, remove the old sub-floor. Then I will be able to have good access to clean and paint the bilge area in that location. Then Lay the new starboard sub-floor panels in there proper place. Next... I am pretty sure the sub-floor area from the aft cabin door way back to the bulkhead in front of water-heater will have to be done also. The 3rd next major fix is the ripping out of the shower to remove and replace all the defective rotted bulk-heading material used in that area, but first this will give needed access too .....Well lets just not mention the other non-sense happening under the shower/head area that has to be done, this may require some expensive dry dock time.. Please any body need any architectural design work done? I need to be able to pay for this.
Brian....I certainly hope your issues are not as bad as mine.

 

[BWagner]

Thanks Robert, glad you've got your problem handled.

 

[Pat Hooyman]

Subfloor rot - How?

Onecoolair

This is a terrible mess -How did this happen? Where did the water come from?

The Hunter subfloors are plywood - not sure how long they would have to be wet to get to this state - I own two Hunters - one a 1998 and have never seen anything like this!

BTW I am also in Kemah (@ HYC) would like to meet you sometime.

Pat Hooyman
S/V Ahoy Mon

Yes... I suspect you have the same vinyl coated balsa wood sub-floor material. If it gets wet it will then turn to mush then to a stinky molded mess. Who in their right mind would put balsa wood in the bilge area of a boat?:cussing:
What you are seeing in the pictures Is the area from in front of the stove all the way across the base of companionway to the door way at the head lavatory bulkhead. I have had to place temporary support under this areas for safety reasons. In my exploration of the area I had to cut back the soft vinyl covering a bit to see what was happening. What I discovered was nothing but a wet pulp of a molded mess. I started to use penetrating epoxy with some micro-fibers in the affected area. With plans to fill and sand putting a nice finish on it to make it look nice. But when the epoxy failed to cure properly I decide that the best course would be to go ahead and just remove the complete failed sub-floor in that entire area. Thought about what would be a best replacement material and decided the starboard product would work best in my situation. So I have the starboard now and did my measurements and then did my drawings. Being an Architect the drawings were a no brainier. Printed out full size copies of the two sections and did a paper doll fit to verify. Now all I have to do is cut the starboard replacement panels out, remove the old sub-floor. Then I will be able to have good access to clean and paint the bilge area in that location. Then Lay the new starboard sub-floor panels in there proper place. Next... I am pretty sure the sub-floor area from the aft cabin door way back to the bulkhead in front of water-heater will have to be done also. The 3rd next major fix is the ripping out of the shower to remove and replace all the defective rotted bulk-heading material used in that area, but first this will give needed access too .....Well lets just not mention the other non-sense happening under the shower/head area that has to be done, this may require some expensive dry dock time.. Please any body need any architectural design work done? I need to be able to pay for this.
Brian....I certainly hope your issues are not as bad as mine.