Remove the Macerator???

Status
Not open for further replies.
Swan

Swan

.
Jan 19, 2012
56
Hunter 31' Apponaug RI
We are tackling some really stinky issues on our 1987 Hunter 31' and are going to do some heavy HEAVY HEAVY rinsing of the holding tank (Thanks Peggy!). We plan to remove and replace all of the hoses relating to the head / holding tank. My question is this....The macerator is wired improperly (per the survey) and will not turn on. Since we only use the boat in no discharge zones anyway, is it wise to just remove it and run the new hoses directly to the tank without replacing the macerator? The discharge seacock would just be closed/sealed.

The smell has been a problem since we put her in the water after purchase this spring but WOW!!! After our first pump out, it's been much worse and with this weather we've been having, I can't imagine it's gotten any better since our last visit a week ago. After the hoses are replaced, we will flush water through the pump out fitting (enough for about 4" in the bottom per Peggy), rinse-repeat, rinse-repeat etc....then we will fill the tank with water and a gallon of Tide (liquid), sail sail sail, rinse rinse rinse. I hope it works and look forward to your replies!
 
SEMPERAVANTI41

SEMPERAVANTI41

.
Jun 15, 2012
715
BAVARIA C57 Greenport, NY
Try a product called "Raritan K.O." It solved about 85% of the smell problem on my boat. For it to work, the tank must be free of all chemicals.
 
Swan

Swan

.
Jan 19, 2012
56
Hunter 31' Apponaug RI
I've read about both Raritan K.O. as well as Odorlos. Have you tried both? I'm still up in the air about which will be best but yes....we have to rinse the tank very well because as "newly appointed headmasters" we made the mistake of thinking a little bleach would be helpful :( So much to learn.
 
redhead78

redhead78

.
Dec 30, 2009
680
jeanneau 38 gin fizz sloop Summer- Keyport Yacht Club, Raritan Bay, NJ, Winter Viking Marina Verplanck, NY
Hi swan I am having similar smell issues. Since I went ot a holding tank this year with a macerator to pump over, in ocean. I believe I am using raritan KO, I will check this weekend. I used all the proper hoses, brand new ronco tank, and especially when I first get to the boat the first flush really stinks. I am drawing seawater to flush, still when I was flushing straight over wf seawater it never stunk. Do I need to make sure their is some water in the bowl to block smell like a P trap does on a sewer?? any thoughts???? Red
 
Last edited:
Rick

Rick

.
Oct 5, 2004
1,097
Hunter 420 Passage San Diego
Swan I have to make a suggestion. Since you are replacing the lines, (which you can check for permeation by putting very hot water on a rag and then laying it on the line for a few minutes, and then smell the rag to check), why not get a new tank. Its already a job planned. You can order one for around a 100 bucks and be done with 25 dollar bottles of chems for a while.

Just a thought.

http://www.tank-depot.com/product.aspx?id=1168
 
redhead78

redhead78

.
Dec 30, 2009
680
jeanneau 38 gin fizz sloop Summer- Keyport Yacht Club, Raritan Bay, NJ, Winter Viking Marina Verplanck, NY
Thanks Stu, I think u r correct also, as I changed everything, and used the best hose, tank, fittings, that first flush is really nasty, and its like not even like well poo, it smells like the NJ turnpike low tide. For now i will flush last time wf fresh water, and this winter I am going to redo my shower sump and sink which is directly across from the head, and will tee as u recomend so I can flush with fresh water. thanks all for your suggestions. . Red
 
syoun10

syoun10

.
Jan 28, 2012
101
2006 Hunter 33 Santa Barbara
I think there are two very different smells going on here.

When using salt water to flush, there is salt water left in the line between the thru-hull that takes in the water and the toilet. This typically contains small sea water animals that die & rot in the pipe. If it's some time before the next flush, they can be quite smelly when they eventually end up in the bowl. Not like poop - but worse (I'm not familiar with the NJ Turnpike at low tide). This is different from the more typical smelly permeated sewer pipes discussed in the rest of this thread.

I'm thinking of a plumbing modification to eliminate this problem, but haven't done it yet.
 
Swan

Swan

.
Jan 19, 2012
56
Hunter 31' Apponaug RI
We learned the secret of fresh water flushing.and keep a jug in the head. I'm at the boat today to do the Tide and water fill and it's actually not bad in here dispite 99 degree temps! I like the idea of the rag on the pipes but honestly they are all going soon so it won't matter. The Y valve had been shut off after the last trip and I wonder if that helped with the stink???
We've pretty much decided to go directly from the head to the tank and save the discharge seasick for the next guy.

Not sure but I believe the holding tank is actually molded into the V berth. Is that correct? Seems like a daunting job to get rid of that I assume.
 
syoun10

syoun10

.
Jan 28, 2012
101
2006 Hunter 33 Santa Barbara
Swan said:
We learned the secret of fresh water flushing.and keep a jug in the head. ........

I don't think doing the last flush (only) with fresh water is the complete answer. Sure, it is good to do to keep deposits from forming in the pipe downstream of the head, but it still leaves salt water (with its organisms that can go bad) in the pipe between the water entry thru-hull & head. And as discussed before this will still leave an evil smell on the next flush (if it happens after a long time - ie the first flush of a new visit to the boat).

Perhaps this is not your problem, Swan, but I do think it is the problem that Redhead78 is mentioning earlier in this thread
Click to expand
 
Swan

Swan

.
Jan 19, 2012
56
Hunter 31' Apponaug RI
Yes for us it's exclusively fresh water not just last flush.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,008
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Frustration sets in.

Gentlemen (and ladies) I posted those links for you to read. They also include Peggie's suggestion that pouring a cup of water in the bowl as the last flush is wrong. Don't do it. It doesn't solve the problem. And why wasting freshwate for all your flushes also isn't needed.

If you do read the links, it discusses just about everything Peggie has mentioned here before she retired.

Please...
 
Swan

Swan

.
Jan 19, 2012
56
Hunter 31' Apponaug RI
Ah ha ha... I failed to observe the links were for my benefit as well Stu. I'll be checking them out :)
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,008
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Peggie Hall - "The Best of Head Odors"

Glad to help. One of the reasons I made up those "Head Odors 101" is that Peggie, as some of you may know, has retired. She had shared her wealth of knowledge with us for a long time, but in many, many individual topics and threads.

She also contributed to our C34 Forum, and those few topics on head odors actually included some of her "Greatest Hits" so I repost the links here when the inevitable new but same questions and incorrect assumptions arise.
 
redhead78

redhead78

.
Dec 30, 2009
680
jeanneau 38 gin fizz sloop Summer- Keyport Yacht Club, Raritan Bay, NJ, Winter Viking Marina Verplanck, NY
In the meantime b-4 I change plumbing, I am going to try a 5 gal can of fresh water I will drop the salt water intake into it, close the intake, and literally flush the shit out of it. Do I need to leave half a bowl of water to act as a "P" trap does to block odors???? Red
 
SEMPERAVANTI41

SEMPERAVANTI41

.
Jun 15, 2012
715
BAVARIA C57 Greenport, NY
Further to using K.O., I spoke with Raritan and they suggest to make K.O. more effective it needs a source of oxygen in the holding tank such as another vent line. Evidently the K.O. needs oxygen to work.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,008
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Have you tried Odorlos? Rather than KO. IIRC, Peggie recommended Odorlos for use in the last flush of the day. Maybe both, but it's been a long time since I've reread any of those old posts.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom