Septic vapours R-25

S

sidetrack

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2010
Messages
58
Fluid Motion Model
C-248 C
Vessel Name
Sidetrack
Having a holding tank is new to me. I am not pleased at the fact that, whenever the toilet is flushed, the vapours are almost overwelming.... both inside the boat and in the cockpit. Is this right? I do not use the boat at the dock and therefore would rather discharge directly out , when traveling and trolling, instead of using the tank. Is this possible? I have not seen valves to facilitate this. Is there any product to soften the smell in the tank?
 
There are many products on the market for holding tanks. I've used "Odorlos Head Chemical" in my previous boat and my R25, totalling around 6 years. I get the granular. I have a small plastic jar that I put a package in and then use a couple of teaspoons at a time. One pack is good for 40 gallons, so no need to put in a whole bag at once time. The chemicals control odor and assist in degrading the stuff.

One comment -- pick you chemical carefully -- and stick with it.

West Marine: Part number 1170687 $20 for a 10-pack.

Dave
 
Sidetrack.

You said the odor is almost overwelming.
Something is wrong with your plumbing.
There should be no noticable odor anywhere unless you put your nose right next to the holding tank vent on the rear of the boat.
 
Hi Sidetrack,

Maybe we can get you to describe how you're using and maintaining the head/holding tank...ie, What model head do you have? Are you flushing the head according to the instructions ? Do you have a macerator? how often do you have the tank pumped? when was the system last flushed? Are you using any chemicals in the tank..which ones? fresh or salt water flush water? be as detailed as you can, I'm sure the TugNuts will be able to help .

Unless my brother-in-law used your head....then all hope is lost.
 
Sidetrack,

It is possible to use a Y-valve to devert the stuff to a thru hull instead of going to the holding tank.
This is the norm for blue water cruising boats.
However, In inland waters there is almost always a rule prohibiting pumping the stuff over the side.
 
Is the Y valve stated in the reply (bbrh842) already installed standard in the R-25? As stated, I am new to this and only have 160 hrs on the vessel. And "Yes" the odour is overwhelming. I havent used chemicals and have only pumped out a couple of times.
 
Interesting that this topic should come up... this past weekend we had our 29 out in the San Juans and for the 1st time we really noticed a odor when our head was flushed. I know that Dave from Karma uses a product that works very well for Karma and I had meant to ask him about it today. Dave???
 
Sidetrack,

The Y-valve already installed on the boat is behind the holding tank.
It's purpose is to send the stuff from the holding tank, either over the side thru the macerator pump, or, to the waste fitting on the stern of the boat if you intend to have the tank pumped out at a marina or fuel dock. Either way, the stuff goes from the head to the holding tank first.

If you wanted to bypass the holding tank altogether, you would have to install a second Y-valve between the head and the holding tank. This Y-valve would allow you to divert the stuff over the side instead of letting it go to the holding tank.
In addition to the Y-valve this would require installing a thru hull below the water line and a sea cock, the same diameter as the outlet on the Y-valve. This would be a pretty big project. Just the parts are going to set you back about $300.00
Or, if you REALLY want to bypass the holding tank, just plumb the head directly to the sea cock and thru hull mentioned above, and forget about the Y-valve. However, this option is almost certain to get you in trouble with the law if they board your boat and decide to check if your plumbing compies with local statute.

However, this might hot be necessary unless you are going on a cruise to Tahiti.
There has to be a problem with your plumbing that is allowing fumes into the boat.
I have never used any chemical in my holding tank and have never had any problems with odors.
My guess is the vent line going from the top of the holding tank to the vent on the stern of the boat, is not connected. This is is allowing fumes from the holding tank to escape into the boat instead of going out the vent on the back of the boat. A leak anywhere else in the plumbing from the head to the holding tank would allow waste into the bilge, and you have not mentioned that waste is present in the bilge.
 
Hi Sidetrack...when we owned her as Big Attitude we did not experience any odour issues, therefore I can't help but think that there is an underlying issue causing this.
As Dave suggested there are a multitude of great products that help control the "problem". Pacific Yachting back issues address the issue if you want to look up on-line.
Good Luck !

Tim and Kim
R29 Hermitage
Gibsons, B.C.
 
is this a manual or electric pump head? It's not unusual to get "stuff" leaking past the seals on the double acting pump. This allows tank gases and odours from the discarged effluent being pumped to the tank to also be passed to the head with the flush stroke. Any remaining "stuff" left between the pistons can get extremely foul on the first few strokes on the subsequent flush.
I now use a dry (suitcase) dessicant toilet on my R-21I also use their wash-n-go sink. (space is very tight on the R-21), but I had manual marine heads on 4 previous boats. After a particularly nasty emergency rebuild I started to put a new "kit" in the head each fall as a regular maint. item.

http://www.relianceproducts.com/product ... ation.html
 
Are you sure that the odor is coming from the holding tank? In my experience on other boats, I have observed a stong and awful odor from raw water unavoidably remaining in the intake hose if the boat is left unused for a few days. The strong odor becomes apparent at the first flush. Multiple flushes of "new" raw water cure the problem, although they fill up the holding tank. I never found a really good and convenient solution, since you can't put fresh water or chemicals into the hose on the intake side without adding some kind of "tee." This is the main reason that we have a porta-potti on our R-21EC.
 
The response from JohnH has been our experience as well.
Not to be gross, but it is kind of like a rotten egg smell that I believe comes from the raw water left in the intake hose. A few "flushes" and the smell goes away. For us, the odor only occurs when we do not use the toilet for long periods of time. Over the spring, summer, and fall we are good to go as long as we keep chemicals in the holding tank and pump out regularly.
 
We have always used Thetford Eco Smart Holding Tank Additives. You can buy this at Camping World or the Fisheries. We have never had an issue with any odor from our holding tank on Karma.

However, on Tenacity, our Catalina 25 we did have the "rotten egg" smell when the head had not been used for a while. It was caused by water being left in the intake hose.
 
To avoid raw sea water from sitting in the toilet and lines, we try to make the last "flush of the day" with fresh water. Since the toilet and engine both draw water in through the same seacock, when we are underway the toilet doesn't usually get enough water to flush properly anyway, so I keep a gallon jug of water in the corner of the bathroom and use that to flush the head, instead of drawing seawater into it. Close the valve on the head and pour a few cups of fresh water, then pump it to the holding tank. When we return to port and get to washing the boat, I usually top off my water jug. :!:
 
Sidetrack,
Do you keep the boat in fresh water or salt?
I think trinity hit the answer. If you keep the boat in salt water, you are probably smelling the dead micro organisms left in the plumbing since the last flush ( I am not a biologist so I hope that makes sense ).

If the smell indeed is coming from the holding tank, the boat is not old enough to have a "permeation" problem in the hoses or tank. The deodorant solution should work.

Something I have done over the years on every boat I have owned, is flush a quart of white vinegar thru the system once a year.

Chris
 
My R25 (2008 hull #67) had the Y valve and mas pump as options. I think these may have been standard later. I have rarely rarely had odor problems even when not empting holding tank for a couple of weeks and heavy use (and before anyone says it mine does stink). I have noticed odors in cockpit or when raising engine hatch but never significant. I think several posts above are correct in that you must have a leaking seal or some other problem.
 
There have been books written on this stuff. Check out Amazon. Putting a good filter on the raw water intake side helps out. I have also heard of people closing the intake valve and pumping/draining any water out of the intake line but I think they added an additional valve for the draining.
 
Sorry, this is a little off topic.

Aren't there any laws in the PNW about discharging waste overboard?

Chris
 
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