Strong, sharp ammonia-like odor - not head related.

[Jake N Eggs]

For what it's worth, we have had a similar smell in our 2006 Hunter since it was new. It is only noticeable when you first open an enclosed area like the cabinet door just below the galley sink. We first noticed it a few weeks after we took delivery but it has never gotten any worse and it airs out quickly if the cabinet door is open for a short time. Or boat has always been bone dry and the smell was there before we ever used the head. I wrote it off as manufacturing smells from the various components and sealants used in the construction of the boat.

Our boat sits covered from November until April, due to our northern climate, and we leave the cabinets open during this time. When we first open the boat in the spring it still smells like a new boat. The enclosed area smell is not there until a couple of weeks after the boat is put back into service and the enclosed areas are in fact closed up again.

 

[quadrille38]

We do not have any fiberglas insulation. Can fiberglas in the construction of the hull produce TMA?

Not likely as the fiberglass glass mat or roving is encapsulated in the resins. You'd more likely get a styrene type odor coming off the hull.

Are you sure that you don't have any insulation on things like air conditioning ducts or around a refrigerator?
Another possible source of the smell could be the mdf/particleboard that makes up much of the interior structure. Typically these composite woods are made with wood fibers held together with urea formaldehyde resins under high pressure. It's possible urea formaldehyde could be giving that ammonia smell.

 

[Zeus2012]

We do not have a/c. No fiberglas insulation on boat.

 

[Zeus2012]

If it's the 'wood', wouldn't the odor be inside the cabin too?

 

[quadrille38]

If it's the 'wood', wouldn't the odor be inside the cabin too?

Logically yes. But there is more air movement in the cabin than there would be in a closed space.

 

[agprice22]

Ford once used an adhesive that smelled like fish when it heated up. I rented a Ford Contour once, and I had to return it. It was hideous.
So, your problem could be worse!

 

[JamesG161]

The odor cannot be detected, even by me, aka "Super Nose," in the cabins or salons unless I open a storage space.

When you open a storage space, it may cause air to flow from the odor source to that opening. In other words, the source could be many feet away from that opening.

If the odor "quickly fades" then what is happening it is "concentrating" in the confined space.

Continuing odors must be "fed or renewed" at the source.
Example: Why don't we have new car smell forever? Ans: The cleaner/plasticizer fades with time.

You never mentioned how many months this odor has been plaguing you.
Example: a single dead mouse smell will eventually end.

Stagnant Bay water is full of microbes that do rot and smell like something dead.
Jim...

 

[Zeus2012]

This lovely aroma has been with use since day one. As a new boat, 4.5 years ago. We are on San Francisco Bay so I can guarantee it does not heat up.

 

[Birdman737]

Might it be gassing from charging your batteries? (or overcharging them?) It wouldn't exactly be an "ammonia" smell, but definitely could be "sharp" and "chemical" smelling. Could your "salt crystals" be corrosion from these fumes?

 

[JamesG161]

As a new boat, 4.5 years ago

That gives you a big clue, you are renewing the source of the smell.
Sounds like stagnant sea water smell.

Your salt crystals is the second clue.

Sounds like a sea water leak.
Do you have a sea water pump for from cleaning your anchor or deck?

Other sources of intermittent sea water are from engine, genset, AC and refrig.

Remember the sea water may be dripping 30 feet away and the smell is being carried under the interior liner.
Jim..

 

[Zeus2012]

All of the above are interesting. We do have a saltwater washdown pump but have never used it. The throughhull was replaced about 8 months ago because it had been left open and corroded. The new one is closed. I discovered yesterday that our plastic water tank sweats so that accounts for some moisture. We do not have a/c or a genset. We are in the middle of a huge storm sequence, day 3. So the boat movement and heaving are not conducive to crawling around on hands and knees. The pat couple weeks we have been smelling random hydrogen sulfide at random intervals and cannot source that either. We have sealed batteries and the head/ holding tank are not the issue.

You all must be really tired of me. I seriously appreciate your input.

Posting a pic of our replaced through hull.

 

[Zeus2012]

Pic

 

[JamesG161]

I discovered yesterday that our plastic water tank sweats so that accounts for some moisture.

Sweating or moisture in the air condensing, can only occur when the surface of your tank is colder than the daily dew point.
From watching your weather, you have colder water in that tank when warm moist air hit the Bay area.
Do other boats in your area experience a lot of interior boat sweating?

If you have eliminated any head leaking problem, then the only "renewing" source of a smell has to be...
SEA WATER

Fresh water from a public potable water system that has be chlorinated, should not produce odors, although some public water do stink.
____
Does the smell increase after a motor cruise?
Give a few days after the cruise to have the ocean water critters began to decompose.
Jim...

 

[MitchM]

"Surely that wasn't the only Beneteau dealer anywhere on SF Bay...???" some manufacturers will try to make you always go back to your selling dealer for warranty repairs, even though another dealer may be much more convenient. This practice is a violation of warranty and unlawful, as the warranty of merchantability (and any warranty of fitness for particular purpose) is given to buyer by BOTH the selling manufacturer AND the selling dealer to the buyer pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code. This means that a buyer can sue BOTH selling dealer and selling manufacturer to enforce terms of a warranty which either is breaching. I've successfully sued the manufacturer over a defective engine that was breaching the warranty when the local dealer 30 miles away refused to correct the defect and demanded (wrongly) that I return the product to the selling dealer 400 miles away for replacement of the engine , a free repair to which I was entitled under my warranty. (another reason never to deal with VW of America.) (I'd think of putting OP buyer's experiences with SF Bay dealer up on ripoffreport.com ..)

 

[Zeus2012]

There is only one dealer in SF bay area. She has multiple locations. Trust me.