28 TE - Stinky

[waterhound]

Hi folks,

The new boat is working out well, except a persistent problem with bilge/sewage gas in the cabin. I finally had an afternoon to more thoroughly investigate, and I found the cause...

The p-trap on the vent of the holding tank was completely clogged/corroded at the screens... very little air was able to escape the tank - so if you turned 'er up a bit, the only gas escape was back through the toilet or the trap valves in the plumbing system. Installed a new p-trap by removing the storage unit on the starboard side (this is a flushdeck), then unbolting the through hull and disconnecting the vent hose. I also verified at this time that the vent hose was completely unclogged.

I'm not sure how often the p-trap vent should be cleaned/checked - but I suspect with heavy use this should be inspected regularly. One symptom was that the toilet was slow to drain.. dawn on marblehead one might say, but in hindsight, this was obvious.

I hope I solved the "M/V Stinky" issue so we don't have to don gas masks every time we go below deck!

[RicM]

What year is the boat? Original installations did not always use the best hose stock and there has been several new products introduced that are less permeable than what Albin put in in the 90's and early oughts. The P trap could be just the low hanging fruit in the process, hose that is older than 7-8 years can become porous and leak odor into the enclosed spaces.

[waterhound]

Boat is an '05 Flushdeck. I heard about the hoses, I'm hoping that's not it as that's a lot of work in dark, awkward places. But I am right up on the 7 year mark.

[waterhound]

Ric, thanks - I updated my signature to have the year/type. Appreciate the quick response and insights!

[RobS]

Boat is an '05 Flushdeck. I heard about the hoses, I'm hoping that's not it as that's a lot of work in dark, awkward places. But I am right up on the 7 year mark.

I changed out all of the sanitation hose on my 2000 28TE, what a PITA!

[RicM]

I put in a new, 10 Gal Vacu-flush system last winter and redid everything but the porcelain bowl. It was not as bad as I expected to be honest. Doing it in the cold weather cuts down on the "throwing up in your mouth" syndrome. The Vacu-flush is a good system because it sucks all the "material" out of the hoses rather than leaving liquid sitting in any low points. It also helps that where I fuel up now has a free pumpout. If you pump out early and often it will cut down the odors collecting. Does your head flush with sea water? That's another source of odor, as sea water is filled with critters that die in the lines & tank and add stink to the equation.After a weekend of fun, pump the head Sunday afternoon and flush with fresh water from the dock hose, it gets the "stuff" out of the lines. Lastly, screw that organic green stuff they sell for the holding tank, use the blue Campa Chem that has plenty of formalgahyde in it. It works, the green stuff, not so much. You can get the blue stuff cheap at the local WalMart in the RV aisle along with the "special" toilet paper. Much cheaper than Waste Marine.

I didn't find the replacing of the hose to be all that difficult. My buddy, Sawzall Dave, has redone a couple of waste systems and does as much as he can with rigid PVC from Lowes. MUCH cheaper than the good sani-hose ($8/ft mounts up fast) and COMPLETELY impermiable. I specify Lowes because for some reason HD doesn't carry the adaptors that go from the Sani-hose to the PVC. He uses the PVC for the long runs and corners then just attaches with the sani-hose & clamps. As long as you keep the poop running down hill the lines stay empty (good). The sani-hose, while very stiff when new gets soft in the heat of the summer and if not supported, will droop in long runs and develop low points that hold liquid and ferment over the course of a week, backing up through your bowl valve as the air heats up then cools off then heats again.

The second source of mysterious, malodorous, indoor air is the bilge. The 28 TE has a low spot that holds water under the cabin floor, under the showersump. While there is a bilge pump there, it is not well designed to get the last bit of water out of that V shaped space. Even if your hull is tight you will get condensation from the refrigerator, and sometimes the AC if you leave it on and don't leave the shower sump on as well (the AC condensate line is supposed to go into the shower sump, but doesn't always make it). A little bleach in that bilge area, then swish it around, then rinse it out well with plenty of fresh water will do wonders. Just don't leave the bleach in there, as the chlorine gas that it gives off will corrode metal, especially metal with a little salt residue on it. Like hose clamps. On your through hulls. Get it? "Freshening the bilge", which is purposely letting new water in and allowing the pumps to work regularly is a regular thing on wooden boats. They always have water hiding below so they learn to live with it. With modern fiberglass boats and dripless shaft logs we've forgotten that we need to attend the bilge or pay the price. The more fastidious among us have been known to carry small wet vacs or install elaborate pump systems to get the last bit of water out of that space regularly.

Catumet is a great place, we have spent many a merry night at the Chart Room. The lobster roll on portugese roll is the best (you have to ask for it, not on the menu) and oh! The mudslides! my liver trembles with anticipation!

[RobS]

Ric,
In your for sale add I notice the placement of your poopometer next to the medicine cabinet - have you ever sat there long enough to make the meter go up

[RicM]

Aye laddy!