Holding tank odor after cruising

[ezwoo]

After completing a two hour cruise we had holding tank odor in the salon upon arrival. There was no spillage from the heads. The heads were not used during transit. The holding take was not very full at all. Aired the cabin out. Then used the heads for three days, no problems, no odors in or outside of the boat. Same trip back with the holding take over half full. Same sewage odor on arrival. Used the heads thereafter, no problem or odor.

On both trips we had to slow down to almost a stop to cross large wakes that tossed the boat pretty well (up and down). Could this movement force odor out of the filter and then be sucked back into the nearby engine vents thus entering the cabin via the engine room hatches in the floor of the salon? Any ideas of other causes or sources?

I am going to replace the fart filter (its time) regardless but am worried about some other issue.

 

[msiroi01]

you likely got the filter wet at some point with stuff from the holding tank. I bet replacing the filter will fix the issue.

 

[Sum Escape]

After completing a two hour cruise we had holding tank odor in the salon upon arrival. There was no spillage from the heads. The heads were not used during transit. The holding take was not very full at all. Aired the cabin out. Then used the heads for three days, no problems, no odors in or outside of the boat. Same trip back with the holding take over half full. Same sewage odor on arrival. Used the heads thereafter, no problem or odor.

On both trips we had to slow down to almost a stop to cross large wakes that tossed the boat pretty well (up and down). Could this movement force odor out of the filter and then be sucked back into the nearby engine vents thus entering the cabin via the engine room hatches in the floor of the salon? Any ideas of other causes or sources?

I am going to replace the fart filter (its time) regardless but am worried about some other issue.

My bet is that it is your shower sump. Put some bilge cleaner down the shower drain once in a while and especially before a cruise. And you may want to open the sump box and clean it (every few months....not a fun job but it dioes make a difference) if the bilge cleaner doesn't work.

 

[Skuza]

I have been noticing the same thing. I have always heard the waste hoses start to absorb the smell and will emit the odor. I'm thinking this is starting to happen on ours and the heat of the engines in the bilge helps to cook that smell out of the hoses. Once cooled down all is well. Your boat isnt as old but that's not to say the hoses couldn't be developing this issue. Just another thought!

 

[Jack380AC]

.....I am going to replace the fart filter (its time) regardless but am worried about some other issue.

Check out those great guys at BetterBoat Products. Their filter is half the price of ones at the stores. :thumbsup:
PM me for more info.

 

[Jack380AC]

It is not likely a problem with the filter because that would cause oder outside the boat, not in the bilge/cabin.

You might look for lose or damaged hoses and fittings throughout the system. Also, you said in the cabin but does it also smell in the bildge? If not in the bilge, then you likely have a problem at the head itself. Does the bowl go dry (no standing water in the bowl)? If so, your seal may be bad and oder is coming back from there.