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Minimizing Odors
Ahhhh, the smell of the sea!!!
Unfortunately, our sailboat smells (stinks, actually) despite cleaning throughout, checking the head & plumbing/holding tank, scrubbing the bilge, and everything we can think of. We haven't found any definitive source of odor, and it may just be a combination of all of the sources. We have pulled up floorboards to check for mold and removed panels and mounted items to clean behind them. There must be something we are overlooking - has anyone else had success overcoming general smelliness? Also, has anyone tried this http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|7504|72870&id=443202 - I came across it in my search for help. -Nancy |
Minimizing Odors
Our own Peggie Hall literally wrote the book on this subject. I can't
find the link right now but she or someone should be along with it shortly. A must read and you should have a copy to keep on board. -- Roger Long wrote in message oups.com... Ahhhh, the smell of the sea!!! Unfortunately, our sailboat smells (stinks, actually) despite cleaning throughout, checking the head & plumbing/holding tank, scrubbing the bilge, and everything we can think of. We haven't found any definitive source of odor, and it may just be a combination of all of the sources. We have pulled up floorboards to check for mold and removed panels and mounted items to clean behind them. There must be something we are overlooking - has anyone else had success overcoming general smelliness? Also, has anyone tried this http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|7504|72870&id=443202 - I came across it in my search for help. -Nancy |
Minimizing Odors
Here ya go:
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 Also, I've used ozone generators in the past to get rid of nagging odors, although their use is controversial. Just don't overdo it. Plain old good ventilation will do wonders as well. |
Minimizing Odors
Cushion foam will absorb odors. I'd take off all the cushions and let the
boat air out then give it another sniff test. wrote in message oups.com... Ahhhh, the smell of the sea!!! Unfortunately, our sailboat smells (stinks, actually) despite cleaning throughout, checking the head & plumbing/holding tank, scrubbing the bilge, and everything we can think of. We haven't found any definitive source of odor, and it may just be a combination of all of the sources. We have pulled up floorboards to check for mold and removed panels and mounted items to clean behind them. There must be something we are overlooking - has anyone else had success overcoming general smelliness? Also, has anyone tried this http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|7504|72870&id=443202 - I came across it in my search for help. -Nancy |
Minimizing Odors
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Minimizing Odors
Consider installing a bilge blower (use a USCG-approved powerboat
blower). Have a friend who solved the problem of indeterminate odors that way. Also consider piping fresh water to flush your head. Let us know if these measures work... :-) Capt Ron wrote: Ahhhh, the smell of the sea!!! Unfortunately, our sailboat smells (stinks, actually) despite cleaning throughout |
Minimizing Odors
wrote:
Consider installing a bilge blower (use a USCG-approved powerboat blower). Have a friend who solved the problem of indeterminate odors that way. Cleaning his bilge once or twice a year instead of only dumping in more cleaner and/or bleach would eliminate the need for the blower 'cuz it would eliminate the odor. I'm always amazed at the amount of effort and creativity that some people will invest in avoiding a little manual labor occasionally. :) Also consider piping fresh water to flush your head. NEVER connect any toilet designed to use sea water to the onboard fresh water supply...it cannot be done without risk of e-coli contamination of the potable water supply, damage to the toilet, or both...and EVERY toilet mfr warns against it in their installation instructions. Only toilets designed to use pressurized flush water can safely be connected to the fresh water supply. -- 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://shop.sailboatowners.com/books...ku=90&cat=1304 |
Minimizing Odors
There must be something we are overlooking - has anyone else had
success overcoming general smelliness? I suspect old epoxy or polyester resins can degrade into foul smelling stuff, such as from heating when the sun beats on it. |
Minimizing Odors
On Mon, 22 May 2006 19:28:47 GMT, Peggie Hall
wrote: NEVER connect any toilet designed to use sea water to the onboard fresh water supply...it cannot be done without risk of e-coli contamination of the potable water supply, damage to the toilet, or both...and EVERY toilet mfr warns against it in their installation instructions. Only toilets designed to use pressurized flush water can safely be connected to the fresh water supply. Not disagreeing at all, but there may be another way. I've done several deliveries on Grand Banks trawlers modified with extra fresh water tanks plumbed directly to and only to the heads, with no pressure other than a bit of gravity. Do you see any problem with that arrangement? Being a sailboater, I find the waste of fresh water apalling, but the main tanks probably hold 300 gallons. Or more. It's a different world. __________________________________________________ __________ Glen "Wiley" Wilson usenet1 SPAMNIX at world wide wiley dot com To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious. Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/ |
Minimizing Odors
On a former boat where the hull linings had mildewed badly, I finally
replaced the fabric after trying everything. Fortunately my new boat is lined in plastic so no odor. However my van and other car suffered from serious mildew odors which were causing allergy reactions and I bought an ozonator which removed the odor. High levels of ozone can be dangerous but you can run the unit for an hour or so at high levels, then make sure you vent the area before inhaling any remaining ozone. Hotels use ozonators to get rid of odors like smoke, vomit, etc. but not with people in the room. I bought mine new on ebay for half the regular price. good luck |
Minimizing Odors
Glen "Wiley" Wilson wrote:
Not disagreeing at all, but there may be another way. I've done several deliveries on Grand Banks trawlers modified with extra fresh water tanks plumbed directly to and only to the heads, with no pressure other than a bit of gravity. Do you see any problem with that arrangement? No problem at all, as long as there's no interface whatever with the potable water system....no common plumbing including fill or vent. Being a sailboater, I find the waste of fresh water apalling, but the main tanks probably hold 300 gallons. Or more. It's a different world. It really is. In this era of so many boats that rarely (if ever) leave the dock, coastal cruisers that can put in for water any time and watermakers on boats that actually get out of sight of land occasionally, fresh water conservation isn't nearly the issue it used to be. And, electric toilets use only about 1/3 of the flush water they used to...those designed to use pressurized flush water use even less. -- 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://shop.sailboatowners.com/books...ku=90&cat=1304 |
Minimizing Odors
Once you've tackled the source of the odors, a good way to eliminate
any residual odor is to leave used coffee grounds sitting out in a tub or pan for a few days. The coffee grounds will absorb and neutralize most other odors, and once you remove the grounds, leave the boat smelling relatively fresh. I've used this technique in houses and cars, but never had a need to use it on my boat, as she is a very dry boat... Starbucks will give you a 5 lb. bag of used coffee grounds for free. :D |
Minimizing Odors
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Minimizing Odors
It's like a combination of smells - maybe mold and sewage (?), but not
rotten eggs or oil/engine smells. We can't find any specific "source". The bilge smells ok, the head smells ok, etc. After the boat has been closed up for a few hours, there is just a general stinky smell throughout. |
Minimizing Odors
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Minimizing Odors
wrote:
It's like a combination of smells - maybe mold and sewage (?), but not rotten eggs or oil/engine smells. Iow, it's a sour/swampy/sewery odor? If so, my money is on permeated sanitation hoses. To make sure, wet a clean rag in HOT water...wrap around a hose...use a clean rag for each section of hose. When the rags cool, remove 'em and smell 'em. If you can't smell anything on the rag, the hose is ok...but if you can smell the same odor on the rag, the hose has permeated. New hoses are the only cure. -- 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://shop.sailboatowners.com/books...ku=90&cat=1304 |
Minimizing Odors
On Wed, 24 May 2006 14:14:49 GMT, in message
Don White wrote: It did have a holding tank still 20% full...but only a real thru-hull marine toilet had been used sparringly in the last number of years. Why was the tank still 20% full? And with what? I would do a lot flushing before taking a tank out of service, and probably fill it with something anti-microbial. Ryk |
Minimizing Odors
Ryk wrote:
On Wed, 24 May 2006 14:14:49 GMT, in message Don White wrote: It did have a holding tank still 20% full...but only a real thru-hull marine toilet had been used sparringly in the last number of years. Why was the tank still 20% full? And with what? I would do a lot flushing before taking a tank out of service, and probably fill it with something anti-microbial. Ryk Believe it was like that when boat was purchased used around 2002. I can't remember if the hose to tank from toiler was disconnected & capped after the 'Y' valve...or the 'Y' valve simply put in the thru-hull flushing position permanently. The boat was manufactured in Quebec where holding tanks/pumpouts are used. |
Minimizing Odors
Huh.
Thanks for the "microbial pet odor eliminator" tip! I could have saved a bunch if I'd known that before doing new cushions on my boat! MMC "Peggie Hall" wrote in message . com... wrote: Unfortunately, our sailboat smells (stinks, actually) despite cleaning throughout, checking the head & plumbing/holding tank, scrubbing the bilge, and everything we can think of. We haven't found any definitive source of odor, and it may just be a combination of all of the sources. We have pulled up floorboards to check for mold and removed panels and mounted items to clean behind them. If it's sewer-like odor, I'd bet you have permeated sanitation hoses. The only cure is new hoses. And, as MMC suggested, permaeated cushions and other softgoods. The cure for that: Go to pet store and buy some microbial (MUST be microbial, not chemical) pet odor eliminator...remove the covers, saturate the foam (not dripping wet, but only enough to penetrate all the way into the middle of the cushion from both sides) with it..put the cushions out in the sun to dry for day. Send the covers to the cleaners or wash 'em. -- 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://shop.sailboatowners.com/books...ku=90&cat=1304 |
Minimizing Odors
Dave wrote:
(MUST be microbial, not chemical) pet odor eliminator. I noted one on the shelf saying it was enzyme based. Chemical or microbial? I'm thinking maybe they didn't want to call it microbial for marketing reasons. It's neither. Microbes are bacteria...enzymes are produced by bacteria, so they aren't microbes, but they are chemicals either. Enzymes are a lot cheaper to produce than bacteria cultures, but they're also a lot less effective. - 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://shop.sailboatowners.com/books...ku=90&cat=1304 |
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