Stinky boat - Hunter 40.5

[redunculous]

Hi all

So I placed in a Raritan sea elegance in my aft head and since then I have had the following issues

The forward jabsco fills itself with black water pretty much everyday - doesnt smell too pleasant - pumps out fine but come the next day shes got black water in again.

There is an odor outside of the boat which isnt too pleasant either. Its on the pumpout side

Going to pumpout today (tanks definitely not full) and would love to hear peoples thoughts?

I was wondering if I maybe have a blocked vent line building back pressure but the forward head will pump the black water out fine and take in raw water and pump that through fine also.

 

[redunculous]

Just managed to get the pumpout cap off - ewww and I shimmied the side of the boat and smelt the vent scoop - nasty stuff

When I try and fill the holding tank with water from the deck she just spills out of the vent

 

[Rich Stidger]

I'll take a shot-

It sounds like the pickup tube that is supposed to draw from the bottom of the tank is somehow broken/disconnected or has a leak near the top and the pump-out pickup is drawing from the top of the tank (all or partially). If this is true, then your holding tank will be hard (or impossible) to empty and is now nearly full. If the tank is near full, when the Elegance pumps into the tank it will push out the vent and also toward the forward head. The forward head being lower than the vent may get the black water first. It could fill if the joker valve in the forward head is leaky.

So, my analysis is that you may have multiple problems. I think the existence of these problems would explain all of your stated symptoms. First the pickup tube is leaking at the top of the tank and second the joker valve in the forward head is leaky permitting back-flow.

Let us know the final answer please.

 

[Rick D]

What Rich Said...

I totally agree and also think it is the pick up tube in the tank. There's lots of info in the archives re: installing a custom poly tank. Sorry about that! How much did you get out by pumping.?

See my custom backflush devise for the tank vent.

 

[Bill Roosa]

You just replumbed some stuff right? Did you get the hoses back on the correct fittings? Just because they all go into the tank does not mean they all do the same thing. One, the pump out and mercerator hose has an internal pipe inside the tank that goes to the bottom so you can pump it out. all the others just enter the tank at the top. I'd say you put the pumpout onto the wrong connection at the tank and are now trying to fill a full tank hense the stuff comming out the vent and the forward head is connecte to the pumpout hense the filling with black water as the pressure builds up and pushes the "stuff" back out the pump out pipe.
A pretty easy thing to check, just try pumping out. You should only suck a little then only get air as the pipe you are sucking on is only goes to the top of the tank and not the bottom.

 

[redunculous]

Hi Bill

The raritan pumps fine on every flush

The forward jabsco pumps fine too (that one was never messed with)

I shamefully have to admit gents that I think my holding tank was just full

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Not sure how y'all arrived at failed pickup tube...

That required more psychic ability than I have, 'cuz he only mentions waste backing up into the bowl...not a word about waste spilling out the vent when the toilet is flushed, which would happen if the tank were full. In fact, he said he had his nose right next to the vent and didn't mention that.

But he did say, "I was wondering if I maybe have a blocked vent line building back pressure but the forward head will pump the black water out fine and take in raw water and pump that through fine also."

So the toilet has no problem bringing in flush water (not surprising 'cuz the the toilet intake has nothing to do with your problem) and has no trouble pushing bowl contents out...but SOMETHING is pushing 'em back into the bowl, which is a strong indication of a blocked tank vent.

You may indeed have a failed pickup tube, but a blocked or kinked vent line would also create the kind of back pressure and odor your describe. And it's worth checking all your plumbing connections to make sure you got those right. I'm guessing you have more than one problem. However, I'm certain that installing the Elegance--or any other toilet--in the aft head had nothing to do with it...that it's only a coincidence. Welcome to boat ownership!

 

[redunculous]

Thanks Peggy

The elegance really only has the discharge hose connection, the rest is fresh water supply on it so I know I havent messed that up

I have pumped out and there was a lot in there - I will see what happens now, you are right though when I put my nose to it I didnt get any crud in my face...

However, when I initially checked to see what was going on I put a hose on the deck into the waste tank and the water immediately flew out the vent - strangely enough it was nice and clean though - not as if it mixed with anything.

Now after pumping out if I stand on the deck again and put the hose into the waste cap the water flows into the tank - I havent checked to see how long it would take to fill it up but I sat there for a good minute filling the tank with no water flowing out the vent.

 

[redunculous]

Peggy

Theres lots of calcium buildup at the pumpout cap, is there an easy way to clean that hose that goes from the deck into the tank?

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

That's a tough hose to clean out...

And it definitely reinforces the reasons to flush tanks out with clean water several times a year.

The easiest solution in this case is: replace the hose. Check the head discharge hose for buildup too...however, that one isn't too hard to clean out.

If the deck fitting itself is covered with buildup, muriatic acid (you can spray it on the fitting), available from any hardware store will dissolve it and won't hurt the fitting or the plumbing or even the gelcoat. But it will hurt your hands, so wear rubber gloves.

 

[redunculous]

Update

So

It appears that whenever I flush the toilet the smell is coming from the vent outside of the boat

What would be causing it to smell so bad whenever I flush?

Does my holding tank just need a good clean?

 

[Bill1565]

So

It appears that whenever I flush the toilet the smell is coming from the vent outside of the boat?

On our boat we have the same problem. Our vent is too long, has too many bends.

The gospel according to Peggy is that the odor is caused by anaerobic decomposition of the used food and beverages. Said odors are heavier than air. Vent needs to be short, bend free and horizontal to allow fresh air in for airobic decomposition

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Are you using any tank product?

If so, which one?

I suggest you check out the link in my signature here...it goes to a comprehensive "marine toilets and holding tanks 101" manual that would help you learn how to operate and maintain your system to prevent all the usual problems instead of having to cure 'em.

Bill...it's prob'ly not nearly as difficult as you think it is to improve the ventilation to your tank...I'll be glad to help you do that. Or, sometimes just changing to a different tank product--and actually following the directions for use--can make a major difference!

 

[BreakAwayFL]

Peggy, You are truly a wealth of useful information. I want to buy your book for my kindle, but Amazon says the publisher hasn't made it available yet! I betcha you know someone at that publishing house.... ;-)

 

[Rick D]

You don't want it on Kindle; I made that mistake with another how-to book. It's way too hard to flip through for the diagrams and the illustrations are too small. Order the book, it's great.