stinky head

[teetor]

Let''s just say last weekend''s guests were somewhat mortified by the stench that occurs when the pump is employed. Landlubber jokes aside, any suggestions on odor eaters (bleach? vinegar?) would be appreciated.

[SailorMitch]

Chances are it''s bacteriological growth in the inlet hose caused by organisms from the sea water trapped in the hose, waiting for the next flush to assault your nose. The first couple of flushes will be really bad, then it should lessen after that to barely detectable. There are two basic fixes for the problem: (1) use fresh water to flush (either plumb in a new, small fresh water tank for the head inlet, or simply pour fresh water into the toilet bowl from a gallon jug.) Not necessarily the easiest solution, but folks say it takes care of the problem. Or:

(2) install an in-line treatment system like the Earth Safe one on page 534 of the 2001 West Marine catalog (item # 568592.) This employs a tablet that treats the incoming water to kill bacteria. It also turns the water a nice blue color. I have one of these on my boat and it works pretty well. A couple of tablets last me all season. Even with this installed, I still flush the head a couple of times when I first get on the boat to get some fresh water/chemicals flowing in the lines, especially if I''m going to have rookie guests onboard.

[Denr]

Sailormitch

Have you tried sailkote in your msd? If so what were the results?

[tsenator]

Go here -- >
http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/pegreflib.tpl?fno=31

This has a reference library of maintenance and repair for Heads and fresh water systems for boats. It is very thorough, I think you will get most of your questions answered there.

[SailorMitch]

Denr,

First, great to have you back after your week off cruising Lake Michigan. The only thing you missed is that you don''t want a Cape Fear 38 for cruising...........maybe.

Believe it or not, OF COURSE I use Sailkote in my head (errrr......that''s in my marine head, although maybe a shot of it would clear up my nose.) Just this past week I rebuilt the head, and the handpump was working very hard after I reassembled it with new parts. A squirt of Sailkote into the cylinder made it all better, and it works great now.

I even brought the can home and sprayed it on some noisy door hinges. Not as greasy as WD-40. Last year I sprayed some on the stern to help reduce the black moustache from the engine exhaust with pretty good results. This weekend I need to pull the knotmeter paddlewheel to recoat that with Sailkote, which is the best thing Iknow to keep the wheel clean for more than a week or two.

Yep, Sailkote lubes up just about anything. Don''t leave home without it. It''s even recommended by Dr. Ruth.

[tondelayo29]

"Stinky Head" "Stinky Head"
Yep....thats the reason we haven''t been inviting guests out with us.
When we purchased Tondelayo last September, I asked the seller all the pertinent questions. Holding tanks, valves, discharges.....you know the drill. He took me through all of it step by step and how to pump out the holding tank.
A couple of weekends later I tried to pump the holding tank and found it was empty???? I was guilty of illegal discharging....straight overboard and into the Pacific. I figured out the proper valve configurations and solved that one. But everything still worked hard...pumped hard bowl drained poorly. I contacted the prior owner by e-mail with some questions and.....He said "I din''t quite know.....we never used the head, we brought our "Porta Potty". Six years, Two trips to Hawaii and one trip to Alaska and they used a Prota Potty!!!?

Well thanks to the "Stinky Head" post I tackled the problem yesterday. After taking apart the "Y" valve and finding it 1/2 clogged with sealent and then rebuilding the hand pump and the liberal use of "Sailkote" along the way. It now works like a dream.

John

[CISCOJOE]

i use two raritans products in conjunction that have served me well. "k.o" which is designed to be added to an empty holding tank. and "c.p" which we add to the head before and after each use. if you decide to go this route, do not add vinegar or bleach, it will render the organic product useless. i still add a tablespoon of olive oil to the head for lubrication. raritan said that the small quantity of oil will not affect the effectiveness of the products.

so far so good.

[tsenator]

Hmm,

Peggy Hall (the Head Mistress - Who sold her business to Raritan) Says that adding vinegar won''t be harmful to KO or CP, she does advise its use. Though bleach or chemicals will render KO useless.

Check her archives She says
"after you''ve flushed the fresh water through, follow it with a cup of white vinegar. Don''t rinse the vinegar out.

NEVER use bleach...nor any chemical bowl cleaners, ammonia, Lysol, pine oil cleaners, solvents or anything containing alcohol or any petroleum products. These not only are harmful to rubber, neoprene and Lectra/San electrodes, they break down hoses."

Here is the web link - http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/archive-peghall.tpl?sku=2001099081051.91&forumabr=hhh&fno= 31&archyear=99&homefno=31

[bcarli]

Hi
replace your discharge hoses for the head it really is that simple. you won''t believe the build-up inside the hose.
bill

[tondelayo29]

You said it bcarli......I just got back from changing all three hoses and that made the difference.
Now I have a rebuilt pump, which works like new and sealed off new (non-leaking) hoses. Yes I found a hidden leak in a discharge hose. I mini-dripper caused by a 1 1/2" hose stretched where a 1 7/8" should have been used. When I pulled that hose off the stench was almost enough to make you loose your cookies. My dog even wanted to go on deck.
The job....now done and the area sanitized. Hope stinky head is now gone......but will not be soon forgotten.

John