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Post by rxc on Sept 23, 2021 2:38:41 GMT
The smell is from the vent, which does not have any valves. You can buy vent filters that use activated charcoal to absorb the odors. They are installed in the vent line and have to be replaced periodically. Or you can make one yourself with a couple pieces of PVC pipe/fittings and charcoal from a pet store for aquariums. I did that with my old boat and it was easy to do and to change the charcoal. A LOT cheaper, too. I have never had this problem on the 43DS.
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Post by NZL50505 on Sept 23, 2021 2:47:14 GMT
Not sure if this has already been discussed (I couldn’t spot it) but what about the breather pipe / valve? Reason for asking, a few weeks ago we noticed a strong smell every time the toilet was flushed (the smell was outside the boat ie if we were underway it wafted back towards the cockpit). Somebody said to me that these tanks have a rubber breather valve that is supposed to be one way but it becomes stiff with time and doesn’t seal properly? This sounds plausible but since we’ve been in NZ lockdown last few weeks I haven’t had chance to even look for such a valve let alone inspect? Anyone know? If you're referring to the vent, which allows air to move between the tank and the outside, it's been mentioned. I'm not sure why there would be a one-way valve. You would need to let air out when you flush, and in when you pump out. There may be a filter in the vent line that prevents smells from leaving the boat, though my boat doesn't have one. In this case, a one-way valve might be used to bypass the vent, allowing outside air in, but I've never read about anyone providing one. Yeah that makes sense. My friend’s advice sounds rubbish. I need to get some better friends.
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Post by Don Reaves on Sept 23, 2021 3:05:03 GMT
I need to get some better friends. No. You have lots of great friends right here on the forum!
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Post by virtualburton on Sept 23, 2021 3:14:52 GMT
The smell is from the vent... Not sure if you're referring to my (OP) boat's smell, or NZ50505's, but in my case it was not the vent, it was permeated hose. I have fixed it by replacing the hose, problem solved, no more smell! Thanks everyone, David
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Post by NZL50505 on Sept 23, 2021 4:53:54 GMT
The smell is from the vent, which does not have any valves. You can buy vent filters that use activated charcoal to absorb the odors. They are installed in the vent line and have to be replaced periodically. Or you can make one yourself with a couple pieces of PVC pipe/fittings and charcoal from a pet store for aquariums. I did that with my old boat and it was easy to do and to change the charcoal. A LOT cheaper, too. I have never had this problem on the 43DS. Thanks! Do you think cat litter would work too (the kind that is fragranced and dissolves into clumps in moisture)?
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Post by rene460 on Sept 23, 2021 10:30:13 GMT
Hi NZL, like Don says, a valve would be problematic as air must be discharged every time you flush into the thank, and air mus enter to replace the liquid as you pump out or drain. And the tank must breathe with temperature changes.
The vent hose on our tank does not have a valve nor a filter. I have seen a filter recommended, but it seems more like a potential maintenance problem than a help to me.
on our small boat, the vent outlet is quite close to the cockpit and it would seem likely that we would notice if we had a problem. Not to mention those in the even smaller boat in the next pen, but they often relax in the cockpit.
I have been using fresh water for the last few years, which has reduced the smell when we return after each absence, which I have put down to the wild life in normal lake and sea water decomposing in the absence of oxygen.
So far our hoses are holding out. Perhaps the big advantage of using fresh water is in the avoidance of those sea creatures sitting in the hoses while we are away. But as many others have reported problems with the hoses eventually permeating, I guess our turn is coming. rene460
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Post by rxc on Sept 24, 2021 2:49:11 GMT
Sorry about the confusion. I was talking about the smell outside the boat when someone inside flushes. There are at least 4 other smells. First, the hoses eventually permeate and need to be replaced. The test is the hot wet cloth method applied to the hose. Then sniff the cloth. The second odor source is dead sealife in the inlet parts of the bowl, from the sea-critters that get left there after you flush. This is cured by shifting to a freshwater flush so that there are no beasties to die and stink inside the bowl. The third source of smell is a leak in hoses or hose connections, Very bad, because it drips and contaminates the inside of the boat. Probably worse than a diesel leak. Last source would be a tank leak, which those of us with SS tanks are waiting to happen, eventually. Smell, contamination, PITA, and big bucks to fix. And of course, if you are married, your spousal unit will likely detect these odors before you do, and let you know about it quickly. Kitty litter does NOT work well with boat sewage systems, in any way whatsoever. The vent filter gets filled with activated charcoal, which is available at pet stores, in the fish supply section. Not useful for fishing, though. Interesting situation, using fish supplies on a boat for something not associated with fish or fishing.
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dean
New Member
Posts: 2
Jeanneau Model: 2001 SO 37
Yacht Name: About Time
Home Port: St. Clair Shores, Mi
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Post by dean on May 31, 2022 17:33:10 GMT
I too am having that smell and after reading the comments discovered the 50mm discharge line coming out of the bottom of the holding tank to be diffused and permeating. I figured it was a 21 year old item and from the comments here has long since outlived its usefulness. The question I have is has anyone tried to replace using conventional PVC-DWV (hard) pipe? I noticed the there is 90 degree radius just out of the bottom and that is partially flattened out on the inside of that turn to reduce the tube by at 1/3rd or more. The PVC would be more labor intensive but once done should last at longer than the flexible tube. Are there any other considerations that I may be overlooking?
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Post by dbostrom on May 31, 2022 18:54:30 GMT
"... has anyone tried to replace using conventional PVC-DWV (hard) pipe?" Yes. I've not done this myself (yet) but I know of two boats that have had most (not quite all) hosing replaced with PVC DWV, with great success. This is in our upgrade plans. In our case (39i w/two heads) we won't be able to eliminate all of the hose, but probably in the neigbhorhood of 75% or so. As the amount of gas traveling through hose walls is a matter of available surface area, I expect quite a positive result. Depending on the amount of remaining amount of hose for gas to travel through, possibly we'll eliminate the problem for practical purposes. A the minimum we'll extend the hose service interval. For me the main inhibitor on doing this change has been the engineering ugliness of additional parts, interfaces between hard and soft tubing. If the hosing manufacturers would just add a layer of aluminum foil in their product laminations, we'd never have to worry about all this fuss and bother and smell. Permeation has been a solved problem in such things as automotive fuel tanks for decades. But that would be very bad for business. [Some brave person might want to try a spiral wind of aluminum furnace duct tape around hose. This should effectively impede permeation to a neglible level. One layer with a little overlap ought to do the job. www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b40068009/ (3M is pricy but adhesive is known reliable) And hmm, maybe I should be the brave person?]
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dean
New Member
Posts: 2
Jeanneau Model: 2001 SO 37
Yacht Name: About Time
Home Port: St. Clair Shores, Mi
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Post by dean on Jun 1, 2022 21:19:22 GMT
Thank you for the reply. I too have that foil tape as I am in the HVAC. To take off the tube and wrap it might be masking future troubles! lol I work with PVC for venting furnaces and feel confident to tackle this project. Did you use 2" PVC and how snug or loose was the NO-hub coupling on the outlet of the tank?
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