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06-12-2018, 08:10 PM
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#1
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Veteran Member
City: Merritt Island- Port Canaveral
Vessel Name: Jagger
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 39
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Holding tank
We have a Mainship 400 which is located at a marina. We occupy it on the weekends but do not utilize the head on a regular basis. Any suggestions on how to eliminate the strong pungent smell that it produces on regular weekend flushes for maintenance to circulate water. We always use the marina restrooms.
Any feedback is appreciated.
__________________
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06-12-2018, 08:21 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Never Say Never
Vessel Model: President 41 DC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 10,810
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You need more air flow in the holding tank. Check your vent, it is probably very small and convoluted which will restrict air flow. Best plan is adding another vent on the opposite side of the boat to allow air to flow through. Anaerobic bacteria is what smells, aerobic bacteria does not. Get Peggie Halls book on boat odors. It is a very good source to all you need to know about heads and related systems.
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06-12-2018, 08:27 PM
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#3
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Guru


City: AR
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,081
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Get Peggie Hall's book on boat odors. It is a very good source to all you need to know about heads and relared systems.
I can't argue with that advice!  You'll find a link to it in my signature below...just click on the title in bold. And I'm always glad to answer any questions it doesn't.
--Peggie
"If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't completely understand it yourself." --Albert Einstein
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06-12-2018, 08:49 PM
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#4
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Veteran Member
City: Merritt Island- Port Canaveral
Vessel Name: Jagger
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Comodave
You need more air flow in the holding tank. Check your vent, it is probably very small and convoluted which will restrict air flow. Best plan is adding another vent on the opposite side of the boat to allow air to flow through. Anaerobic bacteria is what smells, aerobic bacteria does not. Get Peggie Halls book on boat odors. It is a very good source to all you need to know about heads and related systems.
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Thank you
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06-12-2018, 08:50 PM
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#5
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Veteran Member
City: Merritt Island- Port Canaveral
Vessel Name: Jagger
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadMistress
Get Peggie Hall's book on boat odors. It is a very good source to all you need to know about heads and relared systems.
I can't argue with that advice!  You'll find a link to it in my signature below...just click on the title in bold. And I'm always glad to answer any questions it doesn't.
--Peggie
"If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't completely understand it yourself." --Albert Einstein
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I appreciate your input
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06-12-2018, 10:18 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Huntersville NC
Vessel Name: Abeona
Vessel Model: Marine Trader 47’ Sundeck
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 896
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You aren’t drinking enough. I’m pretty sure I pee straight rum. Bacteria can’t survive in my holding tank.
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06-12-2018, 10:32 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Never Say Never
Vessel Model: President 41 DC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 10,810
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In lieu of a second vent, you can install a Groco Sweetank. That will pump air into the tank and will solve the problem. It maybe a much easier fix than a second vent.
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06-12-2018, 10:41 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
City: Pensacola, FL
Vessel Name: Rain Dog
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 42 Classic
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 184
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Addendum1
We have a Mainship 400 which is located at a marina. We occupy it on the weekends but do not utilize the head on a regular basis. Any suggestions on how to eliminate the strong pungent smell that it produces on regular weekend flushes for maintenance to circulate water. We always use the marina restrooms.
Any feedback is appreciated.
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Are you flushing with fresh water or salt water?
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06-12-2018, 11:51 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 8,656
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Comodave
You need more air flow in the holding tank. Check your vent, it is probably very small and convoluted which will restrict air flow. Best plan is adding another vent on the opposite side of the boat to allow air to flow through. Anaerobic bacteria is what smells, aerobic bacteria does not. Get Peggie Halls book on boat odors. It is a very good source to all you need to know about heads and related systems.
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+1. Buy Peggie’s book.
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06-12-2018, 11:58 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Never Say Never
Vessel Model: President 41 DC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 10,810
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My assumption was that you were referring to smell that is expelled overboard when the head is flushed. If you are referring to a smell inside the boat when the head is flushed then the problem likely is a seawater flush and the microorganisms that die inside the intake hose between uses. The easiest fix for that is to go to a freshwater flush head.
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06-13-2018, 06:36 AM
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#11
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Veteran Member
City: Merritt Island- Port Canaveral
Vessel Name: Jagger
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve91T
You aren’t drinking enough. I’m pretty sure I pee straight rum. Bacteria can’t survive in my holding tank.
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06-13-2018, 06:37 AM
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#12
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Veteran Member
City: Merritt Island- Port Canaveral
Vessel Name: Jagger
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rain Dog
Are you flushing with fresh water or salt water?
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Fresh water
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06-13-2018, 06:38 AM
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#13
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Veteran Member
City: Hervey Bay QLD
Vessel Name: Moana
Vessel Model: 1996 M40 Riviera aft cab
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 97
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I always turn off
thru hull sea cocks on leaving my boat, then flush well with fresh water, leaving fresh water in the bowl with a little disinfectant added, never had a problem with any of my boats with smell.
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06-13-2018, 06:44 AM
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#14
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Enigma
City: Slicker?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 15,167
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Greetings,
We do exactly the same as Mr. ausk. No smells either.
__________________
RTF
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06-13-2018, 07:02 AM
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#15
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Veteran Member
City: Little River, SC
Vessel Name: Memory Lane (fiberglass)
Vessel Model: 1974 Pacemaker 40 Flush deck Motor Yacht
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 81
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Flush with freshwater.
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06-13-2018, 07:47 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
City: Marathon
Vessel Name: silver gift
Vessel Model: 45 jefferson
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 259
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By freshwater ,they mean water from the boats freshwater tank, not outside freshwater. Just to be sure.
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06-13-2018, 08:33 AM
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#17
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TF Site Team
City: Westerly, RI
Vessel Name: N/A
Vessel Model: 1999 Mainship 350 Trawler
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,886
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Comodave
My assumption was that you were referring to smell that is expelled overboard when the head is flushed.
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This was my assumption as well. I think we need to clarify whether this is an odor in the head and cabin, or whether the cockpit and dock are getting gassed out.
If this is an exterior odor, then this is the displacement of gasses in the holding tank when fluid is flushed into the tank. An in-line holding tank vent filter should be installed. We replace ours roughly every 6 months.
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06-13-2018, 08:46 AM
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#18
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Guru
City: Huntersville NC
Vessel Name: Abeona
Vessel Model: Marine Trader 47’ Sundeck
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 896
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Ahh! I’ve been wondering why sometime when we flush we get a terrible smell outside. Also when we had the boat in Charleston in salt water, the head would stink, especially the first flush after being away for a while. Now that it’s in fresh water, it’s not that bad at all.
All makes sense now.
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06-13-2018, 08:49 AM
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#19
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Guru
City: Maryland
Vessel Model: 42' Sportfish
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 5,406
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Addendum1
We have a Mainship 400 which is located at a marina. We occupy it on the weekends but do not utilize the head on a regular basis. Any suggestions on how to eliminate the strong pungent smell that it produces on regular weekend flushes for maintenance to circulate water. We always use the marina restrooms.
Any feedback is appreciated.
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Several folks have mentioned vents and filters relative to exterior odors when you flush.
An easy check is to learn whether you actually have a vent filter, and if you do, when it was last changed. Could be as easy as replacing it with a new one, if it's been a very long time. (We get 3-4 years from our filter.)
OTOH, if you have a filter and if you know it's new, some of the other suggestions may apply... but adding new vents lines and/or increasing vent hose size could be a lot of work... to avoid if you can.
If you mean interior odor when you flush, that's maybe a couple different things. An easy one to check is whether your joker valve needs replacing... and another is about whether hose connections at the head and holding tank are secure.
Also, many folks treat their holding tanks, ideally with products designed to promote and/or sustain aerobic bacteria. Names like NoFlex, KO, Odorlos...
-Chris
__________________
South River, Chesapeake Bay
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06-13-2018, 09:16 AM
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#20
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Guru
City: gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,431
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Yes if you are flushing with potable water and the smell is external then try using KO. It worked for me.
Once you get it under control dont use bleach or most cleansers in the head they will kill the good bacteria.
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