Foul Odor

[jkxtreme]

We have noticed that we get sewer or urine smell in our boat if the wind is fairly strong and coming from the rear of the boat. Our vent for one holding tank is on the port side at the rear and the vent for the other tank is mid ship on the starboard side. We're on a 48 ft Californian motor yacht. Anyone else have similar issues and if so how did you take care of the problem.

[psk125]

We anchor bow to the wind so don't have to worry about breeze coming up from aft. Adding a chemical cleanser to the head like this one: https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-...SABEgJwkfD_BwE
might work better in your situation.

[sailorboy1]

I solved it by installing a vent filter

[Stu Jackson]

Peggie Hall advises that vent filters aren't helpful in the long run, and explains why in her book.


What you do have is an insufficient holding tank vent system.


https://shop.sailboatowners.com/prod...+of+Boat+Odors


She's posted here many times, find the right forum and read up.


Good luck.

[sailorboy1]

My holding tank vent filter has worked for 2 years. So I guess I would need to know what “long term” means.

[JPA Cate]

Here's a link to Peg Hall's newer book. She is highly respected, and her book can help you through many harrowing experiences: https://www.amazon.com/New-Get-Rid-B...=UTF8&qid=&sr=

You might also want to look at the Plumbing forum, and check out what are called composting toilets. But then, I'm not exactly entranced by the concept of carting around my fermenting fecal matter, so the dessication process involved would be preferable to me over the consequences of long term holding tank maintenance, plumbing and vent maintenance. Peggie's book discusses those subjects thoroughly, and what I've read about holding tank remove/ and replacement here on CF--say it chills me. One interesting account was from a Nauticat 51 Refit thread by minaret. Take a peek at that, even though it's a sailboat, not a motor vessel.

Ann

[Lepke]

If you have 2 tanks, each with a vent and internally connected, you'll get an airflow in one vent, thru the tanks and out the other vent. Valving off one vent will stop the air flow.

[Simi 60]

Our tank has a hi blow air pump on top to aid aerobic breakdown and get rid of smell.
Seems to work fine cruising full time for 2.5 years.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by jkxtreme

We have noticed that we get sewer or urine smell in our boat if the wind is fairly strong and coming from the rear of the boat. Our vent for one holding tank is on the port side at the rear and the vent for the other tank is mid ship on the starboard side. We're on a 48 ft Californian motor yacht. Anyone else have similar issues and if so how did you take care of the problem.

Do you have vent filters on each line? If so, when last replaced?

-Chris

[Tetepare]

Do you treat the contents? Many power boaters I know do not, relying on frequent pumpouts (or overlfow through the vent). No offense if you do use chemicals to treat the contents, but given my observations it is statistically likely that is a culprit.