Your Stinking Holding Tank

Asureyez

Asureyez

New Member
Apr 22, 2007
1,535
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.
Boat Info
Sea Ray 460 Sundancer Hardtop 2001 - SOLD
Engines
Cummins 450 Diesels
OK, It's that time of year where we are getting a lot of questions about holding tank odors.

Here is one of the slickest threads on saving money and reducing the unplesant malodorus aspect of life aboard. Ken has layed this out in Vacuflush for Dummies fashion and it is a great service to SR owners.

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=849&highlight=Charcoal+Filter

This thread illustrates how to convert your existing Sealand Holding Tank Vent filter to a rechargeable filter, using a few PVC fittings and a bucket of activated charcoal for aquariums. SLICK and it will save you a $100.00 a year and spare you having to run these filters down.

So stop stinking up the place!
 
How do you politely tell a nearby boater that his boat stinks? We have a boat that puts out a big green cloud (figuratively) whenever someone flushes. No one will tell the owners, too embarassed to bring up the subject.
 
In my most affable stye, I'd bring over two two beers, and offer him one. Then suggest to him that the filter on his head system has run it's course. Hand him a print out of how to recharge his system or where to buy a new filter and ask him to take care of it as it becoming a problem for his friends. Even offer to help him change it out if he doesn't know how.

If he refuses hit him with your beer bottle!

I've a friend with a Crownline and he does not have a filter at all. He would frequently raft to me and after the second time, I gave him a beer and told him flat out he had to fix his head as he was becoming a foul smelling friend. He told he had no filter on his vent and I offered to help him if he didn't know how to install one. Damn he'd take out the filter and replaced it with a length of garden hose to straight vent the tank ... Done by a previous owner or by my friend I suppose.

Came on deck and told him he'd was short sighted and he'd have to raft down wind until he replaced the filter.

Sometimes my friends call me Grumpy, go figure.
 
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jrcinnh said:
How do you politely tell a nearby boater that his boat stinks? We have a boat that puts out a big green cloud (figuratively) whenever someone flushes. No one will tell the owners, too embarassed to bring up the subject.
Click to expand...


I would not sit by and say nothing. If the filter is wet the smell is terrible.

It’s possible, actually, it’s likely this boater does not understand that there even is a charcoal filter and that once wet it needs to be changes or serviced as explained in the above link.

I’d print the instructions on the attached link, go have a chat with them, possibly with fresh cold beer in hand offered to them and with tact say you have detected this strong Oder when they flush and you can help them eliminate this issue via these instructions.

Best of luck and let us know how it goes.
 
It happens especially when rafted together..what I do is when he flushes I just acknowledge the smell and say "whoa..Is that coming from my boat? nope...maybe it's yours? I know this great stuff you can use to help with the smell" It usually works..
My wife who is much more animated will just give the person a bottle of the treatment to use and says simply "your boat stinks"
Works most of the time..
 
cruiser said:
It happens especially when rafted together..what I do is when he flushes I just acknowledge the smell and say "whoa..Is that coming from my boat? nope...maybe it's yours? I know this great stuff you can use to help with the smell" It usually works..
My wife who is much more animated will just give the person a bottle of the treatment to use and says simply "your boat stinks"
Works most of the time..
Click to expand...


hmmmmmm......

Ever since Gary’s post questioning why we were using holding tank chemicals with a vacu-flush system we stopped using the blue holding tank additive.

With our dry fresh charcoal vent filter, the smell is exactly the same with our without this chemical, none at all.

When my vent filter was wet, we got a terrible smell even with the holding tank chemical.
 
Always used the blue stuff regardless..Makes the waste a nice looking blue when it passes through the site tube while pumping out.. ;-)
 
Presentation said:
hmmmmmm......

Ever since Gary’s post questioning why we were using holding tank chemicals with a vacu-flush system we stopped using the blue holding tank additive...
Click to expand...


I guess we have all heard about curiosity and the cat...but how did you add the blue chemical? Where? :huh:

Just dump it down the head?

Thanks
 
Any Walmart will have chemicals to add to your vacuflush. Check their RV section. Really helps with the smell and is inexpensive.
 
Pseudomind said:
I guess we have all heard about curiosity and the cat...but how did you add the blue chemical? Where? :huh:

Just dump it down the head?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I don't use "THE BLUE STUFF" in my Vacuflush as its un necessary. I really dislike the blue stuff as it stains badly if it gets on anything organic as its made with Formaldehyde.

If you are going to use it, here is the Gold Standard Method:

Put about a half a bowl of water in the china, unseal the bottle and take bottle right to the surface of the water and slowly invert the blue stuff intil it runs into the water, keep the drop to a fraction of an inch. NO SPLASHING.

REcap the blue stuff bottle right in the china bowl and dispose of.

Now this is important: open the bowl flush very slow so the vacuum starts sucking the fluid slowly to avoid splash back. Once the bowl is empty allow a lot of water to rise the blue stuff away.

Blue Stuff in a Vacuflush .. naw ... Save your money for more beer.
 
I made the mistake long ago to buy it in the 1 gal jugs, saves some bucks, but the drips or spills could make a mess not to mention measuring and having to rinse it till the blue was gone. This is 1 time I believe in paying more for packaging, as Chad sais get the small bottle and throw it away.
 
I made one of those filters as described above. Very simple process. I had already purchased a new one from WM but was interested in trying it. It's sitting in my basement waiting for a trial usage once the current filter stops working.
 
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My holding tank was pretty bad last year. But being my first year with the boat I wasn't sure what to do. I read the thread about "rebuilding" the filter, bought the fittings, charcoal and mine is as good as new! No stink, no embarassment at the next raft up! The only thing I would add is that the little foam filters on the ends of mine were rotted away. I was struggling with what to replace them with until I looked on my bench and saw a scotchbrite pad. Cut two circles out of that and it works perfect. Give it a try and you will be happy with the results.
 
The chemicals also help break down the waste - the odor control as mentioned is usually a side benefit. Some of the products in the RV section will contain Formaldehyde so I'm not sure that is safe for anyone who can actually dump off shore.
 
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