Waste tank smell

[Casey V]

Hello friends, this is my first time on this site, I read most of the comments and really like what I see.
I am the new owner of TOUCAN Catalina 380 and love the boat.
We are in dock in Bayfield Ontario and when ever we enter our bout the smell of the waste tank is really bad.
Took all the coverings off and everything is dry and all the connections are double clamped , the lines are the white materials, is it possible that the tank leaks gas? and where would that be?
I can use all the help[ I can get.
Thanks.
Casey, Toucan

[AfterHoursNLCT]

Ensure the tank vent is not clogged/covered...

[MarkJ]

The holding tank may need a lot of flushing.
When I bought this boat the smell was eliminated by multiple fresh water flushes. Fill the tank up, pump it out. Over and over.

Then some biological holding tank treatment.

If that doesnt work then it may be the pipes have become permeable. But its unlikely.

[Casey V]

Thanks for the comment.
Vent is small but clear.

[Kenomac]

Most likely the smell has permeated the waste hoses. If the smell doesn't go away by first doing what Markj recommended (enemas till clear), you'll need to replace the waste hoses.

[ranger58sb]

Casey, search threads here where Peg Hall has posted. Could be a number of causes, perhaps least likely being permeated hoses, and many causes often have an easy fix.


-Chris

[S/V Illusion]

My recollection is Ms Hall ranked permeated hose as the most likely cause of the smell. Unless there is a leak, it is the only possibility as tank walls don't 'breathe'.

[CS Cruiser]

To check if the hoses are permeated, just wrap a damp cloth around one you want to check then a day later remove it and if it smells bad you've found your problem or at least one of them.

[SeaSon]

For me the issues were cause by leaks around the tank inspection/gauge port - the bolts holding the port ring leaked. Was cause by the vent getting blocked (PO), and gas buildup popping seals. Be sure to check around the toilets themselves, and if there is space under the tank, check there for signs of a leak.

[zeehag]

odorlos and change hoses. odorlos for tank treatment.it is an enzyme and actually works. \
blue stuff doesnt work/ odorlos does work.
when ye pump out , flush tank well with either fresh or salt water, and make sure is empty when done. put odorlos with contents of head when ye flush. instructions on container. get the dry stuff in a pouch, not the liquid.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

My recollection is Ms Hall ranked permeated hose as the most likely cause of the smell. Unless there is a leak, it is the only possibility as tank walls don't 'breathe'.

Usually only after checking other things like fittings, vent air flow, vent filter failure (if installed), treatment products, flush water source, other odor sources mistaken for head smells, etc etc etc.

-Chris

[peghall]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

My recollection is Ms Hall ranked permeated hose as the most likely cause of the smell. Unless there is a leak, it is the only possibility as tank walls don't 'breathe'.

Yep...you got it right. You can take this to the bank: Unless a tank is leaking, it's rarely if ever the source of odor INSIDE a boat...'cuz odor from inside the tank has only one place to go: out the tank vent. So while frequent pumpouts, increased ventilation, various tank products may or may not have any impact at all on odor out the tank vent, using any or all of them to try to eliminate odor inside the boat is only chasing your tail …you’ll never catch it.

And while there are several possible sources for odor inside the boat, permeated sanitation hoses and wet dirty bilges are the most common.

If the odor is a sharp combination sewer-chemical smell, permeated hoses are the source...new hoses are the only cure. If it's a swampy moldy sewer smell, clean your bilges and sumps!

[colemj]

If your vent house really is a clear one, then it is most assuredly permeated.

Mark

[Casey V]

Thanks guys.
I will follow your advice and let you know in time.
TOUCAN

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by peghall

And while there are several possible sources for odor inside the boat, permeated sanitation hoses and wet dirty bilges are the most common.

If the odor is a sharp combination sewer-chemical smell, permeated hoses are the source...new hoses are the only cure. If it's a swampy moldy sewer smell, clean your bilges and sumps!

Heh... willing to believe it... but gotta admit, when members of our owners club and other folks on various for a describe head odor problems, it's often with statements like:

- I always use this wonderful blue stuff...
- What? I have a vent filter? Where?
- Oh, no, I've never, ever overflowed my holding tank up into the vent filter line, no Sirree, Bob!
- We flush with sea water...
- Never though to check to see whether fittings* are tight before... [*on the tank, on the vent hoses, on the bowl, etc etc etc]

And even then, the fix often turns out to be cleaning stagnant water out of bilges, AC condensate pans, shower sumps, and sink P-traps...


These are usually about boats less than 30-35 years old or so, of course.



-Chris