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maytrix · 03-12-2010, 15:07

If it was mice, there would be other signs like droppings.. so its probably not.

John A · 03-12-2010, 15:34

I hate to mention it, but it sounds like Dry Rot, which gives off an odor much like cat urine. Lack of ventilation in a hot, humid, enviorment would allow the odor to increase.

I believe your boat has a wood core within the hull, deck, and cabin top. And I fear that there is a void somewhere in the interior of your boat that has allowed water to get into this core.

**James S** · 03-12-2010, 21:10

A few months back I noticed an odor similar to cat pee in our house, we don't have a cat.
I managed to trace it back to a defective electrical adapter.
I know what electrical "melt" smells like, but this was different...really smelled like cat pee?
I don't know what these extra cheap adapters are made of.

Bash · 03-12-2010, 22:06

The smell you're associating with cat urine may be ammonia. Whether or not a cat produced it, Nature's Miracle will probably deal with it, once you determine the source. Since you don't have a cat, begin with scuppers. (Drains.)

delmarrey · 04-12-2010, 01:40

Did you happen to anchor on a high populated anchorage lately. And is your chain locker open to the inside of the boat.

I had a really bad smell after anchoring in Madison Harbor of Seattle. The mud left on the anchor rode did not get completely wash off. And in about 3 hours it was really starting to stink inside the boat. I had to stop in a deep gunkhole and let out all the rode and let it soak a while, as well as wash down the chain locker.

And even after a week of sitting of in the marina it started to smell again. So I ran it all out again into a tub on the dock with fresh water and bleach. And it still had a bit of an oder for a couple more weeks.

I'm never anchoring in Madison Harbor again!

gonesail · 04-12-2010, 05:24

agree on the electrical smell .. i have a small shore power clip on light that gives off a very strange odor when hot. careful with the bleach .. it can destroy certain rubber parts that you don't know exist until they stop working. also if the smell is like a cat then there may have been a cat around or in your boat.

svHyLyte · 04-12-2010, 05:46

I wonder if you happen to have urea-formaldahyde foan insulation on the boat anywhere that you may not be awaer of. As that breaks down it will give off that smell. See urea-formaldehyde foam insulation

mrohr · 04-12-2010, 06:26

Pee? maybe human. check all head and waste fittings etc.

msulc · 29-12-2010, 12:19

Thanks for all the feedback... We tried a bunch of things and the odor is gone. We just got back after about a week away and no smell.

It almost seems like a combination of things might have happened, but I think the main odor was coming from the low part of the bilge. There is a grate with a screen right above it that leads to the galley, so the scent was probably getting up from there.

We:
1) Cleaned out the bilge completely with some cleaning detergent. We then sprayed Nature's Miracle all around (and I think the Nature’s Miracle really got rid of the reaming odor).
2) Pumped the head. It was getting full and had not been pumped in a while. All of the connections looked fine, but we know we need to replace the hose from the tank to the pump-out soon (it’s probably original). After doing this, the boat smelled much better at this point but I could still smell it a little when entering the boat.
3) Cleaned and sprayed nature's miracle around the companion way (I really think a cat was hanging out there).

Anyway, all is good now, hope it lasts!

anjou · 29-12-2010, 12:25

My mate Alan had a Mink aboard his boat and that DID stink so count yourself lucky yours only smelled like cats pee

**Cotemar** · 29-12-2010, 12:41

Msulc,

You may be interested in these posts if you want to change your sewage hoses.
Changing out Sewage hose and using PVC piping.

Sewage Hose or PVC Pipe ?

Sewage Hose or PVC Pipe ?

Mark

S&S · 29-12-2010, 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Msulc,

You may be interested in these posts if you want to change your sewage hoses.
Changing out Sewage hose and using PVC piping.

Sewage Hose or PVC Pipe ?

Sewage Hose or PVC Pipe ?

Mark

I used 2" pvc for the long runs. Great stuff, no worries. At some point I'll go to all PVC for drains and pex for water.

Julie Hartzog · 29-12-2010, 16:14

Hi everyone! I live in salt lake and plan to move to Belize, buy a 30ft. Sailboat and live on it! That has always been my dream and I finally have the courage to do it. Does anyone know of a marina that has all the amenities like laundry, power, water etc.....that will rent their slips?