"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
Great idea! Thanks.

I'll try to remember to let you know how it smells so you'll have a
datapoint on hoses that have dried for six years.

Wouldn't it be easier to just saran warp the nostrils?

--

Roger Long



"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...


Roger Long wrote:
Peggie,

Will all the nasties have died in the last six years or are they just
lying dormant in permeated hoses and other places waiting to blossom
into life as soon as the salt water hits.

One way to find out: it's not salt water that'll "wake up" any permeated
hoses...it's warmth. So you can find out very quickly whether the hoses
have become permeated if you can warm up the areas they pass through.

I'm planning a complete replacement of everything but hoping I can get
through this season without handing out clothespins for the crew's
noses.

If the hoses do stink, wrapping them in Saran Wrap (only Saran, not Glad
or any other brand..Saran is the only wrap that's totally
odor-impermeable) should provide enough of a "band aid" solution to keep
things bearable for a single season. Just be sure to wrap every inch of
hose...secure it with duct tape or electrical tape.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1


One way to find out: it's not salt water that'll "wake up" any permeated

hoses...it's warmth. So you can find out very quickly whether the hoses
have become permeated if you can warm up the areas they pass through.

If the boat has been laid up for 6 years I would think everything has dried
out pretty well.
Don't see how nasties are going to wake up if everything is totally dry?
Why not fill the system with 10% bleach, let it sit for a few days and then
flush out?
Should kill anything that might still be alive after 6 years of dessication.

Don't see how nasties are going to wake up if everything is totally
dry?

Spores.

--

Roger Long

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
Don't see how nasties are going to wake up if everything is totally dry?

Spores.

--

Roger Long


Spores need water to germinate. That's the whole point of my comment. If
everything is bone dry they are going to remain dormant no matter how warm
things get. If you smell anything its from decomposition not growth.

As for 10% bleach damaging hoses, I suppose a very thin layer of hose might
be degraded but hoses are pretty thick. If you have any kind of scum inside
the hose the bleach will attack that before it gets to the hose. After a
few days all the oxidizing power of the bleach is lost and you've basically
got a weak solution of sodium chloride.
By the way, when I suggest 10% bleach I mean a 10% dilution of household
bleach.
Household bleach is about 5% sodium hypochlorite so 10% gives you a 0.5%
final solution. That's 1 gallon of household bleach to 9 gallons of water.
I think there are more concentrated solutions of sodium or calcium
hypochlorite available for "super chlorinating" swimming pools and water
supply systems. You don't want to use these.

Undiluted white vinegar is the best thing for hoses...it not only
reduces odor, but also dissolves sea water minerals. And won't hurt the
toilet or the hoses.

However, it's your boat, Gordon...I can only advise and pass on what
I've learned over the last 20 years.

Gordon Wedman wrote:

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...

Don't see how nasties are going to wake up if everything is totally dry?

Spores.

--

Roger Long



Spores need water to germinate. That's the whole point of my comment. If
everything is bone dry they are going to remain dormant no matter how warm
things get. If you smell anything its from decomposition not growth.

As for 10% bleach damaging hoses, I suppose a very thin layer of hose might
be degraded but hoses are pretty thick. If you have any kind of scum inside
the hose the bleach will attack that before it gets to the hose. After a
few days all the oxidizing power of the bleach is lost and you've basically
got a weak solution of sodium chloride.
By the way, when I suggest 10% bleach I mean a 10% dilution of household
bleach.
Household bleach is about 5% sodium hypochlorite so 10% gives you a 0.5%
final solution. That's 1 gallon of household bleach to 9 gallons of water.
I think there are more concentrated solutions of sodium or calcium
hypochlorite available for "super chlorinating" swimming pools and water
supply systems. You don't want to use these.



--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

"Peggie Hall" wrote in message m...
However, it's your boat, Gordon...I can only advise and pass on what
I've learned over the last 20 years.

That little, huh?

CN

"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
m...
Undiluted white vinegar is the best thing for hoses...it not only reduces
odor, but also dissolves sea water minerals. And won't hurt the toilet or
the hoses.

However, it's your boat, Gordon...I can only advise and pass on what I've
learned over the last 20 years.

Gordon Wedman wrote:

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...

Don't see how nasties are going to wake up if everything is totally dry?

Spores.

--

Roger Long



Spores need water to germinate. That's the whole point of my comment.
If everything is bone dry they are going to remain dormant no matter how
warm things get. If you smell anything its from decomposition not
growth.

As for 10% bleach damaging hoses, I suppose a very thin layer of hose
might be degraded but hoses are pretty thick. If you have any kind of
scum inside the hose the bleach will attack that before it gets to the
hose. After a few days all the oxidizing power of the bleach is lost and
you've basically got a weak solution of sodium chloride.
By the way, when I suggest 10% bleach I mean a 10% dilution of household
bleach.
Household bleach is about 5% sodium hypochlorite so 10% gives you a 0.5%
final solution. That's 1 gallon of household bleach to 9 gallons of
water.
I think there are more concentrated solutions of sodium or calcium
hypochlorite available for "super chlorinating" swimming pools and water
supply systems. You don't want to use these.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

Well I've not actually put any diluted bleach in my own system. I don't
have any odour problems. I just provided the info in case someone wants to
kill off all the bugs. 10% bleach is a good general disinfectant.
I agree that vinegar is going to be good at dissolving mineral deposits and
possibly some critters as well. I suppose the acidity would kill off a lot
of microorganisms as well but if you flushed out the tank afterwards and had
some residual dilute vinegar in there it might actually serve as food for
some other type of bug. Just need to flush well I guess.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that bleach can be bad for some
hoses and such. . . . but I only have a vague notion and it doesn't
seem like 10% would be that bad.

What is the best thing to "flush" your system with to clean it out? I
use that blue cleaner stuff that RVers sometimes use

Whistledown wrote:

I seem to remember reading somewhere that bleach can be bad for some
hoses and such. . . . but I only have a vague notion and it doesn't
seem like 10% would be that bad.

What is the best thing to "flush" your system with to clean it out?

Clean fresh water is all you need 90% of the time. At the end of the
season, clean fresh water and detergent.Wisk is best, but any laundry
detergent that doesn't contain bleach is ok...or Dawn or any of the
other dishwashing liquids. Avoid Oxiclean and similar products...they're
oxidizers, and oxidizers promote oxidation (rust, corrosion).
--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1

Gordon Wedman wrote:
Don't see how nasties are going to wake up if everything is totally dry?

Try re-hydrating anything rotten that's totally dried out and leave it
in warm sun for a day or two. Trust me...it'll start to stink again.

Why not fill the system with 10% bleach, let it sit for a few days and then
flush out?
Should kill anything that might still be alive after 6 years of dessication.

Because bleach--or any cleaning products that contain bleach--should
never be used in a marine toilet and hoses...it's highly damaging to the
rubber parts in toilets and also breaks down flex PVC, contributing to
odor permeation. Same is true of household chemical toilet bowl
cleaners, pine oil cleaners, Lysol, any petroleum based products, and
all other chemical cleaning products...none of 'em should ever be used
in a marine sanitation system.


--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1

"Peggie Hall" wrote in message ...
Gordon Wedman wrote:
Don't see how nasties are going to wake up if everything is totally dry?

Try re-hydrating anything rotten that's totally dried out and leave it
in warm sun for a day or two. Trust me...it'll start to stink again.

Why not fill the system with 10% bleach, let it sit for a few days and then
flush out?
Should kill anything that might still be alive after 6 years of dessication.

Because bleach--or any cleaning products that contain bleach--should
never be used in a marine toilet and hoses...it's highly damaging to the
rubber parts in toilets and also breaks down flex PVC, contributing to
odor permeation.


Did you not elsewhere state that it is probably better to use fresh
water to flush the head instead of salt water?

Do you know that most fresh potable water is treated with chlorine
to make it safe to drink? Some is disinfected using chloramines
(chlorine and ammonia) Seems like a discrepancy in your statements
to me.

The active ingredient in bleach is chlorine. Why is potable water
not damaging when it contains chlorine while bleach which contains
chlorine is so damaging. Enquiring minds wish to know.

CN