[C320-list] Offensive Odor Be Gone

[Jeffrey Kapec]

To All who have the Odor problem:

I have been there but no longer

I purchased our 320 (hull no. 718) three years ago.  The poor vessel was 
in great condition (in most aspects ) but cosmetically neglected and 
left on the hard for two years.  The former owner had other personal 
things to deal with, left the boat in the yard and placed her on sale.  
Two years later I came along. One of the things we noted in mid winter 
when we went for the survey is that the holding tank was filled with 
"stuff" and was probably sitting like that for two years.  At the time 
all of the "stuff" was frozen solid since ambient temperature was 12 F.  
The surveyor found that humorous by the way.  Well...I purchased the 
boat and set a plan for putting her back in shape. When springtime came 
it smelled bad.  I pumped the tank and flushed it several times.  I 
filled the tank with a solution of bleach and water and let it sit for 
days.  I cleaned the tank several times.  It still had an offensive 
odor.  We lived with that for the first season.  The exterior of the 
tank emitted an odor and that was it. So that winter I replaced the 
tank. Problem solved I thought.  The following spring the odor was 
present.... not as bad nevertheless, the closet and other areas still 
had "the odor."   I then decided to replace all of the hoses with the 
high grade waste hose (as I had done on my C30 several years ago since 
it solved the same problem in my former  1987 C30)  Well the problem has 
been solved in the 320 now that all is changed out, Including the vent 
hose.  A small residual odor came back until I made that final switch 
out.  Note that the black rubber factory hoses are not the highest grade 
which is less expensive per foot.   The odor  can be from the tank in 
part but more often it is the complete set of hoses that effuse the odor 
into the cabin.   To confirm this likely possibility  rub the waste 
hoses near the tank with a dry rag.  Then smell the rag.  If it has that 
odor the hoses need to be replaced with the high quality (white) waste 
hose.  I too maintain the system and only flush with fresh water and 
pump / flush the tank as frequently as possible. My boat smells sweet 
and fresh whenever we board.

Jeffrey Kapec
Petite Suite   Hull 718