[C320-list] Head smell discoveries

[Warren Updike]

Jack, the cabinet and upper panel, the one with the AC outlet, must be
removed to access the vent hose and thru-hull.  Both are just below the
deck.

Fred's approach, route hoses to the hanging locker and mount the filter
there is the only approach I would use if mounting a filter.  Having to
remove the stuff in the head to replace a filter is unacceptable to me.

Assuming your hoses are not emitting any odor, were you to replace the vent
with a 3/4" or larger hose and thru-hull, and flush only with fresh water,
you should be well on your way to an odorless head.  Which brings me to the
matter of additives.  Several years ago we switched to Odor-los rather than
any deodorant type products.  Without anything scientific to back up my
claims, I believe it has vastly helped our odor problem.  Masking the
situation with deodorants isn't attacking the issue.  Odor-los and other
enzyme products that encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria are far more
effective, IMHO, than deodorants.  This problem can be solved!

Warren & Pattie Updike
1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"

-----Original Message-----
From: Fred LEcuyer [mailto:fred.lecuyer at live.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 4:43 PM
To: Catalina320list Catalina320list
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Head smell discoveries


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
> >
> >
> > 
>