Hi all, I recently purchased a 1985 H40. I had an intermittant start problem, and last weekend (5/1/2005), I finished up replaced the starter and a bunch of wires/connectors. To test it I have been going to the boat each evening this week and starting the engine. It works great, however, when I went to the boat Wednesday night I opened the hatch to be greeted by a strong sewage smell. I opened all the hatches and ports, and it was mostly cleared out in about 10 minutes. I figured I had a holding tank leak, but I couldn't find a source of the smell as I went throught the boat and stuck my nose in the different compartments. Last night (Thursday) I went back to the boat expecting to "feel the flavor" but was plesantly surprised to find that there was only a tiny residual smell of Wednesday's super sewage smell. The only change on the boat from Tuesday to Wednesday was that I normally close the sea water cooling through hull and Tuesday I forgot. I closed it Wednesday when I left. The only other difference was that on Wednesday there was a North East wind and the other days were either North West or the common south west wind direction. Any ideas on why the smell would show up one night and disappear the next?
- Status
No idea
I'm a few miles away at Gloucester Point, and there's no buildup of Bay/James/York water that would produce that odor so quickly, and badly. As an aside, I have long since quit using the raw water intake for the head, since the water just sits in the hose for a week or so until the next pump, creating all kinds of smelly bacteria. I keep a jug of fresh water handy instead.
I'm a few miles away at Gloucester Point, and there's no buildup of Bay/James/York water that would produce that odor so quickly, and badly. As an aside, I have long since quit using the raw water intake for the head, since the water just sits in the hose for a week or so until the next pump, creating all kinds of smelly bacteria. I keep a jug of fresh water handy instead.
Thanks Bill!
Thanks for your input Bill! Given the 130+ views and only 1 response, it would seem that this is truly a mystery. I need to pump the tanks out anyway (I haven't checked them yet, and I will follow your advice and use fresh water to flush the pipes out.
Thanks for your input Bill! Given the 130+ views and only 1 response, it would seem that this is truly a mystery. I need to pump the tanks out anyway (I haven't checked them yet, and I will follow your advice and use fresh water to flush the pipes out.
I use the shower head to flush the toilet
with fresh water only... I never open the "only to lube it in the spring" raw water intake during the sailing season.
with fresh water only... I never open the "only to lube it in the spring" raw water intake during the sailing season.
I don't think it has anything to do with the head
And I suspect the odor will return after the boat has been closed up again for a few days, especially if the weather stays warm. Most likely sources: a bilge and/or sump that's seriously in need of a REAL cleaning that includes flushing all the dirty water out instead of just another dose of bilge cleaner and/or bleach. A wet bilge is a stagnant primordial soup than can indeed smell like a sewer. Permeated sanitation hoses...the only cure is new hoses. Trapped water somewhere that hasn't been able to drain. If the "seas" in your marina had been calm prior to Weds, then turned rough enough to bounce your boat around a bit, that's a VERY likely scenario...'cuz sloshing around can cause odor to roll out.
And I suspect the odor will return after the boat has been closed up again for a few days, especially if the weather stays warm. Most likely sources: a bilge and/or sump that's seriously in need of a REAL cleaning that includes flushing all the dirty water out instead of just another dose of bilge cleaner and/or bleach. A wet bilge is a stagnant primordial soup than can indeed smell like a sewer. Permeated sanitation hoses...the only cure is new hoses. Trapped water somewhere that hasn't been able to drain. If the "seas" in your marina had been calm prior to Weds, then turned rough enough to bounce your boat around a bit, that's a VERY likely scenario...'cuz sloshing around can cause odor to roll out.
- Status