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

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

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.

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

On 22 May 2006 03:55:35 -0700, wrote:

There must be something we are overlooking

Possibly. Sometimes the hoses from the head become permeated with
odor and must be replaced. Another possibility is the chain
locker/anchor rode. Empty it out and pressure wash the locker and
chain. If all else fails I would pressure wash the entire bilge area
including the underside of the cabin sole. Try to gain access to
enclosed areas and clean them also.

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

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

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

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.

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/