[C320-list] Head smell discoveries

[Fred LEcuyer]

I just changed all hoses connecting to the tank or toilet, including the vent hose which is behind the medicine cabinet. I added a charcoal filter which I mounted to the cedar back of the closet, cut an access hole for future canister changes and the odor is now completely gone.

Fred

First Light
#926


> From: mcdonough5 at verizon.net
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2011 16:35:30 -0400
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Head smell discoveries
> 
> Jeff, Warren et al:
> 
> The mother of my children is obsessed with the head odor problem and demands 
> that I pump it frequently, which may help a little but is not the answer to 
> the problem.
> 
> When I look in the head medicine cabinet I see two anti-suction (?) hoses 
> but not the vent hose from the holding tank. Will I find that tank vent hose 
> if I actually remove the cabinet? Then, are you saying that a larger 
> diameter hose with a modified (larger) hull vent will do the trick?
> 
> Some say a charcoal filter is an added solution while others say forget it. 
> If it's worth the effort, is there room for such a filter behind the 
> bulkhead in the head?
> 
> Jack
> #947
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Warren Updike" <wupdike at hotmail.com>
> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
> Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 7:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Head smell discoveries
> 
> 
> > Jeff, when I did our holding tank upgrade I replaced the vent with a 
> > stainless model from our boat store catalog, about $25.  The old one was 
> > blocked with stuff.  Sorry, I can't tell you which one it was.  It has a 
> > ss extension that is curved downward on the inside of the hull that was 
> > 3/4" and matched the hose I used.  The tank vent fitting was 3/4" as it 
> > came from Catalina.  I've not had any trouble with odors.  I use Odor-los 
> > for tank treatment and no other additives.  I can send you a picture of 
> > the installation behind the cabinet in the head.  Let me know.
> >
> > BTW, I considered a charcoal filter. A dock mate made one with PVC.  The 
> > problem I saw is that if the tank is full and pumped, the filter becomes 
> > fouled and has to be renewed.
> >
> > Warren & Pattie Updike
> > 1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jeff Hare [mailto:catalina at thehares.com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 9:46 PM
> > To: c320-list at catalina320.com
> > Subject: [C320-list] Head smell discoveries
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > We have hull #809. Flush with fresh water and only this season after 
> > commissioning had bad smells whenever the head was flushed. Even after 
> > just one pump.
> >
> > Pulled the medicine cab, opened the compartment with the holding tank and 
> > started experimenting.
> >
> > Poured a gallon of fresh water in and pumped one time. The first area to 
> > stink was behind the medicine cab. Nothing smelled near the tank itself 
> > and the hoses themselves didn't smell.
> >
> > From behind the med cabinet you can very easily reach the vent fitting. It 
> > wasn't very loose and the hose didn't seem to be loose either but showed 
> > minor signs of leaks. I should add that our vent is the small black capped 
> > version, not the chrome fuel vent style.
> >
> > The inner nut holding the vent in is quite unusual and looks more like a 
> > 2" plastic jar lid with a threaded hole in the center. But it can't form 
> > any real seal with the rough fiberglass wall. The outside has a plastic 
> > washer but barely covered the entire hole. So, long story short, because 
> > of the covered cap, the vent was venting gasses back towards the boat, but 
> > since there wasn't much of a seal it was blowing back inside the boat a 
> > little.
> >
> > To make matters worse, the hose is about 1" OD/ 3/4 ID but the vent 
> > fitting is only 1/2", so they stuck a smaller diameter hose inside the 
> > large hose and clamped them. I bet that was part of the problem.
> >
> > Anyway, with the new vent hose left long and fed out the head hatch for 
> > testing, pumping the head left no smells inside the boat anymore. (I heard 
> > the neighbors running away outside however :)
> >
> > So the question, can I just use a small open thru-hull fitting here that 
> > has a 3/4" opening (kinda like the propane or cockpit transom drain) so 
> > that I dont have to mickey mouse the hose fittings? I can't find anyone 
> > that makes a thru hull fuel vent larger than 5/8".
> >
> > The only downside I can think of offhand is bugs making nests in there. 
> > There may be screened versions.
> >
> > Thanks for any insight here. The boss said fix it. My suggestion of a new 
> > boat wasn't the correct answer apparently so now i'm asking you guys. Get 
> > me out of jail.
> >
> > --jeff
> >
> >
> > 
>