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clockwork orange · 11-01-2013, 16:37

Sea water is not THE problem, fresh water flushed boats in the great lakes stink just the same, its a disgusting smell that is worse than the sum of the contents, none of the boats we have plumbed with pvc pipe do not smell,period. We had a 47ft yawl that was in our care for many years, that we custom built the holding tank out of plywood /epoxy/glass and plumbed with pvc, it is right under the owners heads when they sleep in the vee berth, 10 years on, no smell,nada,zip,zilch. its the stagnant water laying in the hoses permenating through the hoses that stinks, eliminate the hose you eliminate the smell. The idea of flush flush flush as has been suggested is not practical, no boat has enough holding tank capacity to be filling it up with flush water, salt or fresh.

Steve.

goboatingnow · 12-01-2013, 03:50

Regularly flush a bit of chemical toilet fluid through the system, works wonders.

Dave

sailorboy1 · 12-01-2013, 04:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Regularly flush a bit of chemical toilet fluid through the system, works wonders.

Dave

great for the odor,............ hell on the rubber pump parts!

this includes bleach

ranger58sb · 12-01-2013, 05:20

Just buy Peggie's book. You'll learn the differences between aerobic and anearobic bacteria; bacteria vs. enzyme vs deodorant treatments; vent lines vs septic systems; flushing; restoring; etc.

-Chris

Cormorant · 12-01-2013, 06:25

+1 for Jim and HopCar's comments about cleaning the intake end of things from seacock to the bowl rim.

We have a screened intake through-hull, but if the system sits for days or weeks when we're not using the boat, the first few flushes will dispense black crud that has grown in the hose and rim.

goboatingnow · 12-01-2013, 06:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

great for the odor,............ hell on the rubber pump parts!

this includes bleach

No there is no ammonia in it , I beleive formaldehyde. I've been using on boats for years , one for ten years will no ill effects whatsoever , I buy it in caravan and RV shops or some hardware stores.

Dave

Cheechako · 12-01-2013, 09:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Regularly flush a bit of chemical toilet fluid through the system, works wonders.

Dave

I'm surprised no one makes a drip feed system for this. This type of thing is used in industry all the time to feed in chemicals at a given rate or time. A tiny 1/8 hose tapped into the water inlet with a orifice and going to a small tank is the basic system. When you flush, drawing water through the hose, a drip or two is fed into the system.
One of you vendors need to invent this for boats!

sailorboy1 · 12-01-2013, 09:28

I'm nt going to search for the drip system, but I've seen them installed on boats.

thinwater · 12-01-2013, 09:41

I don't even agree with Peggy on all things, but rather than wade through mix of correct and misinformation here, buy the book!

A few other thoughts, based upon controlled testing and personal expereince:

Good hoses do not permeate odor for at least 5 years. The cheapest white hose may and clear vinyl will within 3-6 months.
Sea water should not be the problems for a live aboard. If the head is used every 8 hours, no way. It takes longer than that for the bacteria for convert the sulfate in seawater to sulfide. For non-live aboards, either freshwater flush or a treatment upon leaving the boat, such as this: Sail Delmarva: Something Free, Something Lazy
Don't use the blue stuff. It really does not work well. Use either a bacterial product or something containing an alternative oxygen source (Odorlos, Camco Ultra, Forespar Refreash, Raritan products, others). Google for studies.
Don't rule out leaks. The smallest seep on hidden bit of hose can be trouble.
Flush enough water. Many sailors try to conserve water and simply don't flush the lines clear of waste, into the tank. Bad for hoses, increases scale build up, and asking for backflow.
Make certain the vent is clear.

HopCar · 12-01-2013, 12:07

"Flush enough water. Many sailors try to conserve water and simply don't flush the lines clear of waste, into the tank. Bad for hoses, increases scale build up, and asking for backflow."
Very good point! This is also a strong reason to keep the hose run short. A lot of toilet problems are caused by folks who just flush long enough to clear the bowl. You have to flush long enough to clear the hose as well.

zeehag · 12-01-2013, 12:21

use one cup of vinegar in system weekly followed by oil into system, also..let vinegar sit in bowl for a time, then clean and flush. then add oil to maintain lubrication of rubber bits in pump.

jgbrown · 12-01-2013, 14:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheechako

I'm surprised no one makes a drip feed system for this. This type of thing is used in industry all the time to feed in chemicals at a given rate or time. A tiny 1/8 hose tapped into the water inlet with a orifice and going to a small tank is the basic system. When you flush, drawing water through the hose, a drip or two is fed into the system.
One of you vendors need to invent this for boats!

There is a system that you actually install on the intake line(after pump iirc) which uses a solid cake... replace occasionally. not sure how good formaldehyde is for you though. Never seen one in use though, only in catalogs

boating2go · 12-01-2013, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockwork orange

If you remove all of the hoses and replace them with common, very inexpensive pvc plumbing pipe you will be rid of the smell permenantly, dont waste money on the ridiculously expensive marine sanitation hose, it is only a temporary fix. The only customer boats we have worked on over the last 30 years that dont stink have either pvc plumbing or composting toilets. It does not mater if you flush with salt or fresh lake water, they both stink the same, i expect that flushing with fresh water from your tanks would probably work but the idea of filling my water tanks with precious municiple water at the marina only to pump it into my holding tank then carrying it around until i can pay to have it pumped out is to me, absurd.

When you install the PVC do you run it all the way or use some hose at each end to allow some flex? Seems to me if it is rigid it could break if the boat rolls a lot.