Peggie, I recently purchased a 1990 Catalina 30. After reading your article on controlling odors, I am concerned about the tiny holding tank vent. As you probably know, the tank is vented through a small hole (less than a quarter inch) in a stanchion base via a 5/8 inch hose. I seriously doubt if any air finds its way into the tank from that opening. Are there common modifications to this situation that you or other readers are aware of? Thanks, Ken
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The only modification possible...
...is installing another thru-hull and re-routing the vent line to it. However, before you do that, I'd wait to see what happens...occasionally enough air manages to find it's way in. You really have two problems: that tiny little opening AND a vertical vent line. The only way to cure both of 'em is move the tank. Let's not go there quite yet.
...is installing another thru-hull and re-routing the vent line to it. However, before you do that, I'd wait to see what happens...occasionally enough air manages to find it's way in. You really have two problems: that tiny little opening AND a vertical vent line. The only way to cure both of 'em is move the tank. Let's not go there quite yet.
Catalinas Stink
Now this is not to offend anyone but I have a friend with a Catalina 34 and aside from how well it sails, the head ALWAYS stinks. They need to pump the head every time they use the boat. So I think that Kens observation is correct. PS: I wish my Hunter sailed that well, but we don't stink either.
Now this is not to offend anyone but I have a friend with a Catalina 34 and aside from how well it sails, the head ALWAYS stinks. They need to pump the head every time they use the boat. So I think that Kens observation is correct. PS: I wish my Hunter sailed that well, but we don't stink either.
hmm, my boat don't stink . . .
of course it could be that I'm having some much fun passing the Hunters to notice ....
Justin
of course it could be that I'm having some much fun passing the Hunters to notice ....
JustinYa, I know Justin...
I get "passed" by O'Days sometimes. Usually, they're on their way in cuz it's to scary out there and I'm on my way out cuz it's finally starting to look like fun. Greg H23 Faster-
I get "passed" by O'Days sometimes. Usually, they're on their way in cuz it's to scary out there and I'm on my way out cuz it's finally starting to look like fun
. Greg H23 Faster-Add a new vent line
I'm not sure I can agree that Catalina's are not good boats because "they stink." That leap in logic baffles me. I once flew a Boeing 727 from Miami to Kansas City. The heads were malfunctioning. Boy, did they stink. Would you avoid all Boeings because the head smelled? Well, I guess I would if they ALL smelled. Maybe that was Steve's point. Don't know, I haven't been on lots of Catalins. I've seen a '99 Catalina 34' MKII (I think that was the model) and it was a beautiful boat. I like my Hunter 340, but that was a fine boat and the interior was superior to my 340. However, the cost was $20k to $30k more, also. Back to the old basic premise. When you consider VALUE, Hunter makes a heck of a boat. Now, to your problem. I read a post awhile back that made a lot of sense. Many boats smell because of lack of oxegen to the holding tank, thereby prohiting the chemical treatment from doing it's job. Peggy's (Head Mistress on this site) archive information on this subject is very illuminating. The person who left this post solved his problem by running an air vent line to the OPPOSITE side of the boat and turning the VENT in the OPPOSITE direction of the other vent. Sooo, if the current vent is on the port side and it opens aft, his new vent was installed on the starboard side facing forward. Now he had cross ventilation to the holding tank and air flow no matter which way the boat was moving or the wind was blowing. Sort of like cross venting a room. Sounds like a simple and effective way of solving this problem. Of course, BEFORE I went to all of that trouble, I would make certain that my current vent and line was unobstructed. See Peggy's archives on this point, also. Further, you might try changing chemicals. Many people have had wonderful success with KO. KO does not produce ozegen, so if your holding tank is oxegen poor, KO will not be an effective product. ODERLOS produces oxegen and in an oxegen poor tank may prove to be the better product. I swithed to ODERLOS and solved my oder problem immediately without modification to the vents. Hope this helps. Wynn Ferrel S/V Tranquility
I'm not sure I can agree that Catalina's are not good boats because "they stink." That leap in logic baffles me. I once flew a Boeing 727 from Miami to Kansas City. The heads were malfunctioning. Boy, did they stink. Would you avoid all Boeings because the head smelled? Well, I guess I would if they ALL smelled. Maybe that was Steve's point. Don't know, I haven't been on lots of Catalins. I've seen a '99 Catalina 34' MKII (I think that was the model) and it was a beautiful boat. I like my Hunter 340, but that was a fine boat and the interior was superior to my 340. However, the cost was $20k to $30k more, also. Back to the old basic premise. When you consider VALUE, Hunter makes a heck of a boat. Now, to your problem. I read a post awhile back that made a lot of sense. Many boats smell because of lack of oxegen to the holding tank, thereby prohiting the chemical treatment from doing it's job. Peggy's (Head Mistress on this site) archive information on this subject is very illuminating. The person who left this post solved his problem by running an air vent line to the OPPOSITE side of the boat and turning the VENT in the OPPOSITE direction of the other vent. Sooo, if the current vent is on the port side and it opens aft, his new vent was installed on the starboard side facing forward. Now he had cross ventilation to the holding tank and air flow no matter which way the boat was moving or the wind was blowing. Sort of like cross venting a room. Sounds like a simple and effective way of solving this problem. Of course, BEFORE I went to all of that trouble, I would make certain that my current vent and line was unobstructed. See Peggy's archives on this point, also. Further, you might try changing chemicals. Many people have had wonderful success with KO. KO does not produce ozegen, so if your holding tank is oxegen poor, KO will not be an effective product. ODERLOS produces oxegen and in an oxegen poor tank may prove to be the better product. I swithed to ODERLOS and solved my oder problem immediately without modification to the vents. Hope this helps. Wynn Ferrel S/V Tranquility
Refering to the odferous condition.
Wynn: I was only refering to the head odor, not the quality or sailing ability. I should have known. My friends C'34 sails great, it just stinks. When someone pumps the head the odor from the vent is baaaad.
Wynn: I was only refering to the head odor, not the quality or sailing ability. I should have known. My friends C'34 sails great, it just stinks. When someone pumps the head the odor from the vent is baaaad.
KRYSTAL AIRE
I have a friend who sells a great smell killer - the only one I ve seen that really works. He has a web site too. I have sold this on my booth at boat shows. It can actually netralize the smell of ammonia put on a rag!. Personally I think that putting some on some doggy doo in a jatr would be an even better demo. Seriously. You can put this product into the head and holding tank and spray it aournd the head and over the hoses and it eliminates smell for some considerable time. Thanks Jim W
I have a friend who sells a great smell killer - the only one I ve seen that really works. He has a web site too. I have sold this on my booth at boat shows. It can actually netralize the smell of ammonia put on a rag!. Personally I think that putting some on some doggy doo in a jatr would be an even better demo. Seriously. You can put this product into the head and holding tank and spray it aournd the head and over the hoses and it eliminates smell for some considerable time. Thanks Jim W
No Stink
The vent is an exhaust not an intake for the holding tank. When you pump waste into the tank the air displaced is exhusted through the vent. Thefre is no reason to enlarge it. Any odor in the cabin could be coming from a leaking or defective tank or hose. By the way, waste hoses are a special type, usually black and designed for containing odors.
The vent is an exhaust not an intake for the holding tank. When you pump waste into the tank the air displaced is exhusted through the vent. Thefre is no reason to enlarge it. Any odor in the cabin could be coming from a leaking or defective tank or hose. By the way, waste hoses are a special type, usually black and designed for containing odors.
Vent should be both, Gary
And oxygen is essential in preventing odor. When ANY organic matter breaks down anaerobically (without oxygen), it converts to sulphur compounds which stink. But when it breaks down aerobically (in the presence of oxygen), it converts to CO2, which is odorless. That's why septic tanks, which get no oxygen, stink...why it's necessary to toss and aerate compost piles...why decorative ponds in malls and office buildings are always full of plants and designed to include fountains and waterfalls. Sewage is organic matter....no different from any other organic matter. So the key to an odor-free holding tank is a supply of oxygen...and the vent line is the only source. However, an odor-free holding tank does not guarantee an odor-free boat, only odorles gasses out the vent when the head is flushed. Unless a tank is leaking, odor inside the boat is always a completely separate issue from the tank...and it's highly possible to have either problem without the other. There are a whole bunch of articles that address both problems--their causes and their cures--in the Reference Library in the Head Mistress forum...I think you'll find them enlightening. And I'm always glad to answer questions...that's why I'm here.
And oxygen is essential in preventing odor. When ANY organic matter breaks down anaerobically (without oxygen), it converts to sulphur compounds which stink. But when it breaks down aerobically (in the presence of oxygen), it converts to CO2, which is odorless. That's why septic tanks, which get no oxygen, stink...why it's necessary to toss and aerate compost piles...why decorative ponds in malls and office buildings are always full of plants and designed to include fountains and waterfalls. Sewage is organic matter....no different from any other organic matter. So the key to an odor-free holding tank is a supply of oxygen...and the vent line is the only source. However, an odor-free holding tank does not guarantee an odor-free boat, only odorles gasses out the vent when the head is flushed. Unless a tank is leaking, odor inside the boat is always a completely separate issue from the tank...and it's highly possible to have either problem without the other. There are a whole bunch of articles that address both problems--their causes and their cures--in the Reference Library in the Head Mistress forum...I think you'll find them enlightening. And I'm always glad to answer questions...that's why I'm here.
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