Out of ideas...please advise *cry

[Catalyst]

We have been working on odors associated with THE HEAD for the entire year we have owned our boat- we had a leaky aluminum tank - which turned out to be most of the smell. But, has anyone else had trouble with hose clamps biting into the hose and making holes? I found one that looked like a vampire bit it- guess we overtightened.... Could this be the cause of the persistent odors? We have replaced EVERY part of the system (holding tank, macerator, ALL hoses-with the good stuff). We had a leaky PVC fitting (not glued completely) which we also replaced after the new install- and it STILL stinks like sewage (and the smell is coming from this area). Have cleaned the shower sump and the bilge completely. Use only KO in the tank and CP in the shower and toilet. Even installed a Yvalve once I figured out what it was and read Peggie referencing it so many times-realized we only had a T.We had new tank made custom (Triple M ) polypro... used Sealand special-ordered fittings (straight instead of the elbow- but the lines do not seem to kink), and teflon tape on the PVC fittings. Oh, and we do not have a Discharge Vented Loop- only an intake vented loop. The 1 1/2 " hose from the toilet goes straight into the tank (5'run downhill)- Is this bad???Could part of it be odor coming back through the toilet? We have an old Jabsco (new joker valve in the last year) HELP.... I am ready to jump overboard. Thanks so much for your help, everyone... boat owners need a support group

 

[Ross]

Your long down hill run

probably siphons all of the water out of the hose. Pour a pint of water into the head after you are through flushing and see if that helps.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

About the only thing left....

If the odor seems to be concentrated in the area where the leaky tank was, I suspect you haven't gotten rid of all the odor from the leak. This would have been easier before the new tank went in, but it's still do-able:Put some K.O. in a pump-up spray bottle...spray every inch, nook and cranny of that area and every place the hoses passed through. Don't be skimpy with it, and make sure you get under and behind and into everywhere. Do NOT rinse or flush it out...just let it dry. Leave all the hatches, lids, etc open so that plenty of fresh air can circulate...turn fans on to get more air into the enclosed spaces...for 24 hours.If that doesn't get rid of the last of your odor completely, there's only one possibility left: trapped water under the sole somewhere that's turned into a primordial soup. The trick will be finding it so you can drain and clean the area.

 

[Matt s/v Catalyst 1994]

Not pumping out well, either

It also appears that we are not able to get pumped out completely - what would cause that? vent issues? The vent hose may be pinched.. IF we can get pumped out I will try to re run it. Peggie, we cleaned under the sole where the tank was in EVERY way possible. It is clean.... and the smell went away for the few days between tanks.... it must be a fitting....

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Blocked vent would definitely prevent pumpout

And a kink, while certainly possible, is the least likely source of a blockage, especially on a sailboat because waste spills into the vent when the boat is heeled. The two most likely places for a vent blockage are the connection--both the fitting and the hose end--at the tank and the vent thru-hull.And no, it doesn't GOTTA be a fitting. It MAY be, but doesn't gotta be. You cleaned under the sole where the tank was, but you're ignoring the possibility that stagnant water may be trapped elsewhere below the sole.

 

[catalyst]

No where else to clean...

Peggie, We had EVERY floorboard up when we replaced the tank, and we cleaned under every one. AND the smell went away for the days between tanks. Unless there is space between the hulls, (which I think is a possibility in production boats like Hunter)....it was all cleaned out. So, am I correct that I will have to try to unplug the vent before I will be able to pumpout? That does not sound fun on a full tank....