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Why does my head stink?

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/06/2005 : 09:13:15

the whole front of the cabin smells like a Port-A-Potty. Is this normal? Cheers.

Dennis
No Boat
S.E. Michigan

Edited by - on

DanM
Captain

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USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2005 : 10:08:52

Did you have the head, tank and hoses pumped and re-flushed and then pumped again, and winterized? Perhaps a waste hose was not cleared and has frozen and burst. Or just a fitting popped off.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2005 : 13:06:04

The best way not to smell like a Port-A-Potty is to get a Port-A-Potty!

I've never smelled mine to speak of--whether empty or "in service".

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 12/06/2005 13:08:12

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2005 : 16:20:45

Try this: http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/menunew.tpl?fno=31

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2005 : 16:57:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 The best way not to smell like a Port-A-Potty is to get a Port-A-Potty!

I've never smelled mine to speak of--whether empty or "in service".
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Like the man said!

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2005 : 22:43:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by djn
 the whole front of the cabin smells like a Port-A-Potty. Is this normal? Cheers.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Dennis,

You did say that your boat was used as a "party boat" for two years, didn't ya? Maybe the party'ers used the access under the V berth as a urinal!

But seriously, if the boat was neglected like you indicated, then I would suspect that the head system was too. Your system may need new gaskets, a good pumping, clear air vent, new hoses,...etc to correct the problem.

Do you have a porti-potty or marine head?

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2005 : 01:09:58

Hi Stu, thanks for the link. I am ordering her book tomorrow.

Hi Don, it is a marine head....I was just making mental notes in my head and remembered seeing a jug of smell good type liquide on the shelve behind the head so the PO might have doused it, just like a port-a-potty at a rock concert. I have been thinking about pressure washing the bilges this spring before I put the interior back together, that might help the smell. Cheers.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2005 : 01:21:46

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by djn
 Hi Don, it is a marine head....I was just making mental notes in my head and remembered seeing a jug of smell good type liquid on the shelve behind the head so the PO might have doused it, just like a port-a-potty at a rock concert. I have been thinking about pressure washing the bilges this spring before I put the interior back together, that might help the smell. Cheers.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

So is the odor you are referring to the deodorant or the contents of the holding tank

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2005 : 01:38:59

Now that you ask, I think it is the deoderizer! I am going out tomorrow to start scrubbing the cabin down and the first thing I will do is checkout the stink. I'll let you know. Cheers.

Edited by - on

gracer
1st Mate

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USA
39 Posts

Response Posted - 12/09/2005 : 08:18:30

I read somewhere and now do it on a regular basis when I leave the boat to flush with "fresh" water. I move the seacock valvue to the right pump water into the sink basin and then flush the head using the water from the sink. supposed to clear the lines from bay water or "flush" water. It works!

Bob

Edited by - on

Mike Mullen
Deckhand

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USA
8 Posts

Response Posted - 12/09/2005 : 12:47:11

You are remembering to flush, aren't you? ;)

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 12/09/2005 : 21:16:45

Okay, I just can't resist . . .

SKUNKED

A man and his wife were driving home one very cold
night when the wife asks her husband to stop the car.
There was a baby skunk lying at the side of the road,
and she got out to see if it was still alive.

It was, and she said to her husband, "It's nearly
frozen to death. Can we take it with us, get it warm,
and let it go in the morning?"

He says, "O.K., get in the car with it."

"Where shall I put it to get it warm?" she asked.

"Put it in between your legs. It's nice and warm
there," he suggested.

"But what about the smell?" she asked.

"Just hold its nose."

...the man is expected to recover, but the skunk she
used to beat him with died at the scene.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 12/10/2005 : 14:35:01

Order the book thru Amazon.com, it's much cheaper...at least it was when I got mine.

Edited by - on

oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 12/11/2005 : 11:15:35

You might have inexpensive waste hoses which are encrusted with "matter" causing the odor. That crummy corragated hose is the worst offender since it soon comes down with a case of "diverticulitis".

Likewise, the holding tank may be encrusted with all sort of goodies as well.

It's also possible that one or more loose hose clamps allowed some "juices" to escape into free air and in to the blige.

Heavy duty indusutrial petroleum hose with a smooth interior will solve the hose problem, but in order to get the aroma out of your tank, you may have to flush the system repeatedly with fresh water.

I cut a Beckson inspection plate into my holding tank which allows a good cleaning from time to time.

As far as the question " why does my head stink"....I'm not touching that one.

Edited by - oldsalt on 12/11/2005 11:20:05

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 12/12/2005 : 10:26:36

Thanks Mark, I will look at the hoses today when I am out there. I like the idea of an inspection plate. Is that a cover sold at all the finest West Marine shops? Cheers.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 12/12/2005 : 10:45:58

Dennis,

"Beckson Plates" should be available at just about any marine parts source -- they're a very common item. By now there are also imitators on the market. I've used the Beckson clones successfully in applications where sealing wasn't critical. In a waste system I would (and did) stick with the original Becksons. They are available in diameters ranging from about 3" to maybe 10" or even larger. I have a 3" or 4" one on my waste holding tank -- just large enough to be usable as a cleanout. The larger the inspection plate, the greater the chances of it leaking.

I have a 6" Beckson plate in the top of my fresh water tank, and it does leak slightly when the tank is completely full.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 12/12/2005 : 11:16:32

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Heavy duty indusutrial petroleum hose with a smooth interior will solve the hose problem, but in order to get the aroma out of your tank, you may have to flush the system repeatedly with fresh water.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Where do you get it, Mark, and is there a manufacturer that we can look for?

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 12/12/2005 : 11:29:45

Thanks for the info Leon. I am heading to WM in a few minutes then out to the boat. This sounds like a good winter project. By the way, if you rearrange the letters in Leon, it spells Noel....how festive is that. Cheers.

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 12/13/2005 : 00:05:47

If you want to stop most of the smell that you get when returning to the boat after being away do the following. Take what ever fresh water you have left over and fush your head with it. Pump it through the bowl and then add some blue deodorant. Most of the time odor is caused by salt water left in the bowl or tubes. If your using fresh already are you getting back flow from the holding tank via worn seals in the heads joker valve. If so rebuild or replace it. Try the fresh water trick first its cheap.

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 12/13/2005 : 08:34:16

Hi Douglas, I will try that. Thanks.

Edited by - on

DanM
Captain

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USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 12/13/2005 : 12:41:07

"As far as the question " why does my head stink"....I'm not touching that one."

Confucious say "if your feet smell and your nose runs, you're built upside down"

Edited by - on

oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 12/14/2005 : 06:17:20

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Heavy duty indusutrial petroleum hose with a smooth interior will solve the hose problem, but in order to get the aroma out of your tank, you may have to flush the system repeatedly with fresh water.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Where do you get it, Mark, and is there a manufacturer that we can look for?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Steve,

I got mine in 1983 through someone who was in the business of supplying petroleum hose to the industry. It's the same reinforced stuff marinas use to supply gasoline or diesel to their pumps located on their flosting docks from their shoreside underground tanks.

You can probably check with any marina that sells fuel to find out where they got theirs.

I wish I could have been more helpful.

Edited by - on

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