We have a new boat (H306 commissioned 1 month ago) and the head has been used on 1 weekend trip (used and flushed approximately 10 times). This was 2 weeks ago. The intake water came from a brackish bay. The head had not been flushed again until last night. I flushed the head at the dock and it produced an overwhelming odor of rotten eggs. The smell was strongest in the main cabin, not in the head. Could this be because the intake line vented loop is up near the head liner? There was also a dark colored scum in the small amount of water that was left in the very bottom of the bowl. I have read that the rotten egg smell can be caused by marine life that gets sucked into the intake. Do you think this is the cause, and if so, how do you get rid of it? Once rid of it, how do you keep it from returning?
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Mike
I have the same problem
Same problem with my 2004 H306. Mine didn't develope until about 2 months after delivery and use. My boat is in Pensacola. Will be interesting to hear the replies.
Same problem with my 2004 H306. Mine didn't develope until about 2 months after delivery and use. My boat is in Pensacola. Will be interesting to hear the replies.
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Russell Egge
Solved the problem
The problem is due to organic matter left in the intake line from the last time the head was used.*o The rotten egg smell is from the decaying matter. We are in a cove in Rhode Island and HAD the same problem. Our solution was to relace the standard head with a SeaEra electric head that uses fresh water for flushing. Great head, no rotten egg smell the first couple of times after leaving the boat for a week, and easy for kids and guests to use. It doesn't use that much water or electricity. The other solution is to disconnect the intake hose and use fresh water from the shower, be careful about this if you have an electric head, there could be problems. Russell S/V Allie Kat
The problem is due to organic matter left in the intake line from the last time the head was used.*o The rotten egg smell is from the decaying matter. We are in a cove in Rhode Island and HAD the same problem. Our solution was to relace the standard head with a SeaEra electric head that uses fresh water for flushing. Great head, no rotten egg smell the first couple of times after leaving the boat for a week, and easy for kids and guests to use. It doesn't use that much water or electricity. The other solution is to disconnect the intake hose and use fresh water from the shower, be careful about this if you have an electric head, there could be problems. Russell S/V Allie Kat
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Stan
Rooten Eggs/ Dead Marine life
The smell is from the decomposition of marine life in the intake hose. A few pumps when you arrive on board should clear it.
The smell is from the decomposition of marine life in the intake hose. A few pumps when you arrive on board should clear it.
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Reid
What we do
We have the same problem on our boat caused by those little marine critters that come in with the intake water then die and start to stink. The odor from the first flush after the head hasn't been used for a week or so is pretty bad. Now when we first use the head after being away from the boat is pump it 10 to 15 times (sometimes 20), add a little KO, clean the head with a brush and then flush a few more times. After doing that the odor goes away very quickly. That and opening the hatch in the head to let it air out is all we do now and it works fine.
We have the same problem on our boat caused by those little marine critters that come in with the intake water then die and start to stink. The odor from the first flush after the head hasn't been used for a week or so is pretty bad. Now when we first use the head after being away from the boat is pump it 10 to 15 times (sometimes 20), add a little KO, clean the head with a brush and then flush a few more times. After doing that the odor goes away very quickly. That and opening the hatch in the head to let it air out is all we do now and it works fine.
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
The simplest cure
Re-route the head sink drain...tee it into the head intake line. The head intake seacock should always be left closed while away from the boat...so after you've closed it, fill the sink with fresh water...flush the toilet. Because the thru-hull is closed, the toilet will pull the water out of the sink, flushing all the seawater out of the head intake, channel in the rim of the bowl, AND the head dicharge hose. If this is impossible, tee a short piece of hose into the head intake line and keep a gallon milk jug aboard to do the same thing. This solution does require a shut-off valve at the tee. To prevent sea water mineral buildup in the hoses, follow the fresh water rinse with a cupful--no more--of white vinegar flushed down the toilet. This should be done weekly whether you rinse the sea water out of the hoses or not.
Re-route the head sink drain...tee it into the head intake line. The head intake seacock should always be left closed while away from the boat...so after you've closed it, fill the sink with fresh water...flush the toilet. Because the thru-hull is closed, the toilet will pull the water out of the sink, flushing all the seawater out of the head intake, channel in the rim of the bowl, AND the head dicharge hose. If this is impossible, tee a short piece of hose into the head intake line and keep a gallon milk jug aboard to do the same thing. This solution does require a shut-off valve at the tee. To prevent sea water mineral buildup in the hoses, follow the fresh water rinse with a cupful--no more--of white vinegar flushed down the toilet. This should be done weekly whether you rinse the sea water out of the hoses or not.
T
Terry
When we first bought our boat last year it had...
that smell because of the way the previous owner neglected the head system. After I fixed the vent clog problem I always do the following upon our return from cruising: 1. Close sea water through hulls. 2. Pump out the holding tank. 3. Fill tank with fresh water. 4. Pump out and repeat with about three gallons of fresh water each time until clear water pumps out. 5. Run fresh water through tank vent line. 6. Flush one gallon of fresh water through heads. 7. Pump out one last time. 8. Flush one quart of Odorlos though each head. The stink that we had is gone and the head system on our boat works great. You can use fresh water for flushing but if you follow the above procedures sea water works just fine as long as its cleaned out of the system when you are done cruising. Terry
that smell because of the way the previous owner neglected the head system. After I fixed the vent clog problem I always do the following upon our return from cruising: 1. Close sea water through hulls. 2. Pump out the holding tank. 3. Fill tank with fresh water. 4. Pump out and repeat with about three gallons of fresh water each time until clear water pumps out. 5. Run fresh water through tank vent line. 6. Flush one gallon of fresh water through heads. 7. Pump out one last time. 8. Flush one quart of Odorlos though each head. The stink that we had is gone and the head system on our boat works great. You can use fresh water for flushing but if you follow the above procedures sea water works just fine as long as its cleaned out of the system when you are done cruising. Terry
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