Just bought a 2001 Hunter 290 in June. Lately we have noticed that the cabin has a sickly sweet smell when we enter her after she has been closed for the week. We do not leave food on her. It does not seem to be coming from the head. Is it possible that when the interior of the boat superheats in the summer sun, that it puts off some vapors? Perhaps from the teak or the oil used on the teak? Perhaps a combination of vapors from the wood, fabrics, fiberglass, etc.? I know there is currently some discussion in the media about such vapors(VOCs, I think they are called) in homes and was wondering if this might be the source of the odor. Has anyone else experienced such a problem? Cheers! S/V Cherokee Lullaby 2
- Status
Most likely permeated sanitation hoses
If the odor is a sharp/sweet/sour/almost-but-not-quite sewer odor, I'd bet money on it. Since odors are always strongest at their source, if I'm right the odor will be strongest in the lockers etc that the hoses run through. The only cure is new hoses. If that doesn't quite describe the odor, try cleaning your bilges....really CLEANING 'em. A wet bilge--especially if your ice box and/or shower drain into it--can smell like a swamp or a sewer...or something else, depending on what foods were in the fridge. Hunters are notorious for bilge spaces that trap water water--especially ice box water--where it can stagnate and stink.
If the odor is a sharp/sweet/sour/almost-but-not-quite sewer odor, I'd bet money on it. Since odors are always strongest at their source, if I'm right the odor will be strongest in the lockers etc that the hoses run through. The only cure is new hoses. If that doesn't quite describe the odor, try cleaning your bilges....really CLEANING 'em. A wet bilge--especially if your ice box and/or shower drain into it--can smell like a swamp or a sewer...or something else, depending on what foods were in the fridge. Hunters are notorious for bilge spaces that trap water water--especially ice box water--where it can stagnate and stink.
Anti-freeze
Anti-freeze smells sticky sweet, especially when hot. You might check to make sure you have not over filled your reserve tank or spilled any into your bilge when capping it off. Or worse have a leak in a line somewhere. Andy
Anti-freeze smells sticky sweet, especially when hot. You might check to make sure you have not over filled your reserve tank or spilled any into your bilge when capping it off. Or worse have a leak in a line somewhere. Andy
My sweet smell ....
.... turned out to be a bottle of wine that was hidden when we winterized. it froze, broke, and left a sticky sweet smelling trail all the way to the bilge. Cleaning the bilge was the easy part. Did the previous owners like to celebrate with wine ?? Good luck.... Jeff
.... turned out to be a bottle of wine that was hidden when we winterized. it froze, broke, and left a sticky sweet smelling trail all the way to the bilge. Cleaning the bilge was the easy part. Did the previous owners like to celebrate with wine ?? Good luck.... Jeff
Peggy,
Peggy, Your boook is on my boat at the marina, so I cannot refer to it at the moment, but didn't I read that permeated hoses would transfer their smell to a wet rag rubbed over them? Perhaps I was overcome by the odor and dreamed it. Would I be able to detect the smell on the hoses by placing my nose close to them? The boat is three years old. Can the hoses permeate that quickly? Thanks for responding.
Peggy, Your boook is on my boat at the marina, so I cannot refer to it at the moment, but didn't I read that permeated hoses would transfer their smell to a wet rag rubbed over them? Perhaps I was overcome by the odor and dreamed it. Would I be able to detect the smell on the hoses by placing my nose close to them? The boat is three years old. Can the hoses permeate that quickly? Thanks for responding.
Yep...the warm wet rag test will let you know
If it's really bad, you can just rub your fingers briskly enough to start to generate a little friction heat on the hose for about 30 seconds and then smell your fingers. And yes, hoses CAN permeate that quickly...I had 'em permeate on one of my boats in less than 90 days after I'd replaced 'em all--with the same brand/type of hose that had been on my previous boat for 7 years without a trace of odor.
If it's really bad, you can just rub your fingers briskly enough to start to generate a little friction heat on the hose for about 30 seconds and then smell your fingers. And yes, hoses CAN permeate that quickly...I had 'em permeate on one of my boats in less than 90 days after I'd replaced 'em all--with the same brand/type of hose that had been on my previous boat for 7 years without a trace of odor.
- Status