I have been blessed to have the opportunity to own a new Hunter 420. It is the first boat I have owned and needless to say, I have a lot to learn. Does anyone have any suggestions on the care and maintenance of the waste tanks? My goal is to not have any foul odors when we flush. It would also be nice to not smell any chemicals. Anyone have any tips?
- Status
Read the articles in
the Head Mistress forum Reference Library (on the forum homepage). I'll be glad to answer any questions after you've read them.
the Head Mistress forum Reference Library (on the forum homepage). I'll be glad to answer any questions after you've read them.
Some easy basics
I'm always nervous answering a question in Peggy's area of expertise
but there are some simple guidelines I have used and am (so far) trouble free. 1) If you didn't eat it or drink it, it doesn't go in the head. Make sure guests are specifically told this. 2) Don't use household chemicals in the head. You have to convince the spouse that dumping Pine-Sol in the bowl is a not a good thing. Use specific marine head treatments if it goes in the bowl, thus through the plumbing. I find an occasional double glug of vegetable oil flushed through lubes the seals, etc. 3) Be sure you use enough water to flush waste through the hoses, particularly for the long run from the aft head 4) If the head smells when you flush it (water coming in smells) it is due to algae in the intake, usually due to light/infrequent use. Run more water through it by flushing. You will get this in SoCal. 5) When on land, make that morning trek to the marina facilities. The less solid wate in the tank, the less chance for odor. 6) Don't let the tank overflow such that the vent line spills. This is an air vent, not to be used as an overflow. Should this happen, backflush it. 7) Use a commercially available marine tank treatment 8) Pump it out, don't let it just sit and turn into a science project. Since you are in SoCal, I bet your pumpouts are free, don't be shy about rinsing with fresh water and some bleach and pumping out again. Be sure the bleach goes in throught the deck fitting, not the head. Could also pumpout before you leave the marina, put in some bleach water and empty when legal on your way to Santa Cruz Island. Peggy, have I been taking good notes? Congrats on the new boat, I own an earlier Passage 42. You will really enjoy it. Lots of nice anchorages at Santa Cruz Island, bring hefty anchors and lots of chain as it can get VERY windy at night.
I'm always nervous answering a question in Peggy's area of expertise
but there are some simple guidelines I have used and am (so far) trouble free. 1) If you didn't eat it or drink it, it doesn't go in the head. Make sure guests are specifically told this. 2) Don't use household chemicals in the head. You have to convince the spouse that dumping Pine-Sol in the bowl is a not a good thing. Use specific marine head treatments if it goes in the bowl, thus through the plumbing. I find an occasional double glug of vegetable oil flushed through lubes the seals, etc. 3) Be sure you use enough water to flush waste through the hoses, particularly for the long run from the aft head 4) If the head smells when you flush it (water coming in smells) it is due to algae in the intake, usually due to light/infrequent use. Run more water through it by flushing. You will get this in SoCal. 5) When on land, make that morning trek to the marina facilities. The less solid wate in the tank, the less chance for odor. 6) Don't let the tank overflow such that the vent line spills. This is an air vent, not to be used as an overflow. Should this happen, backflush it. 7) Use a commercially available marine tank treatment 8) Pump it out, don't let it just sit and turn into a science project. Since you are in SoCal, I bet your pumpouts are free, don't be shy about rinsing with fresh water and some bleach and pumping out again. Be sure the bleach goes in throught the deck fitting, not the head. Could also pumpout before you leave the marina, put in some bleach water and empty when legal on your way to Santa Cruz Island. Peggy, have I been taking good notes? Congrats on the new boat, I own an earlier Passage 42. You will really enjoy it. Lots of nice anchorages at Santa Cruz Island, bring hefty anchors and lots of chain as it can get VERY windy at night.I'd give you a B...
Points deducted for recommending pouring ANYthing down the toilet to lubricate it. Nothing lasts for more than a few flushes, but takes all of 10 minutes once a year to open up the top of the pump and give it a good shot of SuperLube (thick teflon grease in a tube) that lasts at least a full season. Points deducted for recommending bleach in the tank. And points deducted for not knowing that solids don't stink any worse than urine. But overall, pretty good. Might not hurt you to read the articles in the HM forum library again too.
Points deducted for recommending pouring ANYthing down the toilet to lubricate it. Nothing lasts for more than a few flushes, but takes all of 10 minutes once a year to open up the top of the pump and give it a good shot of SuperLube (thick teflon grease in a tube) that lasts at least a full season. Points deducted for recommending bleach in the tank. And points deducted for not knowing that solids don't stink any worse than urine. But overall, pretty good. Might not hurt you to read the articles in the HM forum library again too.
Fresh water flush
John, You might want to consider rigging a fresh water flush. Fresh water keeps your tank a bit "fresher" than sea water. Plumb into head sink drain, close sink drain thru-hull, fill the sink up and pump away!
John, You might want to consider rigging a fresh water flush. Fresh water keeps your tank a bit "fresher" than sea water. Plumb into head sink drain, close sink drain thru-hull, fill the sink up and pump away!
- Status