DWABoat
Well-Known Member
- Aug 13, 2019
- 1,012
- Boat Info
- 2001 280 Sundancer
1989 220CC Cuddy Cabin
- Engines
- Twin 4.3 w/Alpha Ones
5.7 Mercruiser Alpha One
I recently purchased 2001 280DA.
Vacuflush, Genset, a/c, twin 4.3s.
Everything works fine. New duckbills. System holds vacuum. I stopped timing after 15 minutes due to time constraints.
When I got the boat, I was cleaning and noticed the nasty condition of the shower sump under the steps going into the cabin. I removed it. Cleaned it up. Resealed the screw holes. Re-installed it.
The holding tank was about half full because the PO has never used it when he bought it two years before me. I pumped out the tank at a marina, got home filled it about halfway with tap water and treated it with a healthy helping NoFlex Digester. I can tell the NoFlex is working because it actually looks cleaner from the outside of the tank when I shine a light through it. Been about a month sitting in there.
My question. I have been detecting a “chemically” tainted odor when I raise the step for the sump area. It has maybe a little similarity to gas fumes but not quite the same. I have no gas fumes in the engine room and all my fuel lines and vents appear fine. The gas tank is completely separated from the cabin area. I only detect this odor in the sump area. I do not smell the odor in the head.
Is it possible for this smell to be related to the treatment of the holding tank? Is it possible for fumes from the holding tank/head system to 1) Smell “chemically“ when cleaning the holding tank using NoFlex; 2) if 1, then can those odors migrate up the sewer line, under the toilet, and over to the sump area?
The other possibility is the solvent base of the sealant I used on the screw holes for the sump. I used Hylomar. Great stuff, by the way. It has a solvent base that off-gasses and leaves the polyurethane sealer. I did this in September of last year. I think the solvent would have evaporated by now. However, some of you will know more about that process than me. Will being enclosed in a small area slow the evaporation of the Hylomar solvent?
I am sure this odor is not gasoline but it smells slightly similar. I just had both the engines out and have been crawling in that engine room for a month. No gasoline fumes at all the entire time. (With the layout of the 280, I can see the gas tank from the engine room by looking under the generator.) If the gas tank were leaking, the fumes and liquid would be in the engine compartment, for sure.
Ideas, please?
Vacuflush, Genset, a/c, twin 4.3s.
Everything works fine. New duckbills. System holds vacuum. I stopped timing after 15 minutes due to time constraints.
When I got the boat, I was cleaning and noticed the nasty condition of the shower sump under the steps going into the cabin. I removed it. Cleaned it up. Resealed the screw holes. Re-installed it.
The holding tank was about half full because the PO has never used it when he bought it two years before me. I pumped out the tank at a marina, got home filled it about halfway with tap water and treated it with a healthy helping NoFlex Digester. I can tell the NoFlex is working because it actually looks cleaner from the outside of the tank when I shine a light through it. Been about a month sitting in there.
My question. I have been detecting a “chemically” tainted odor when I raise the step for the sump area. It has maybe a little similarity to gas fumes but not quite the same. I have no gas fumes in the engine room and all my fuel lines and vents appear fine. The gas tank is completely separated from the cabin area. I only detect this odor in the sump area. I do not smell the odor in the head.
Is it possible for this smell to be related to the treatment of the holding tank? Is it possible for fumes from the holding tank/head system to 1) Smell “chemically“ when cleaning the holding tank using NoFlex; 2) if 1, then can those odors migrate up the sewer line, under the toilet, and over to the sump area?
The other possibility is the solvent base of the sealant I used on the screw holes for the sump. I used Hylomar. Great stuff, by the way. It has a solvent base that off-gasses and leaves the polyurethane sealer. I did this in September of last year. I think the solvent would have evaporated by now. However, some of you will know more about that process than me. Will being enclosed in a small area slow the evaporation of the Hylomar solvent?
I am sure this odor is not gasoline but it smells slightly similar. I just had both the engines out and have been crawling in that engine room for a month. No gasoline fumes at all the entire time. (With the layout of the 280, I can see the gas tank from the engine room by looking under the generator.) If the gas tank were leaking, the fumes and liquid would be in the engine compartment, for sure.
Ideas, please?
