Bilge smell

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dragonfly
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Bilge smell

It seems that there is always a little water in the bilge and it develops quite a stench over time. Does any one have a suggestions to cover up the smell without creating something that smells worse like chemical cleaners ? Leaks have been limited to mast and dripless, but cannot seem to stop them.

Greg

Dragonfly
1522

pierview (not verified)

Seems to me if its smelling over time, something besides rain water coming in is causing it. I assume you've checked your holding tank lines (in and out) for tiny leaks? Nothing is slowly draining into the bilge? And I asume you've cleaned the blge when it wasn't filled with water so there is no mold or growth on the sides of the bilge or up under the floor boards?

I never did it but people have said if you draw clean rags over those lines, if you get any smell the smell is coming from that hose then you'll know to replace it.

As far as getting rid of the smell, some people put a tablespoon of bleach in their fresh water tanks to eliminate tha holding tank smell. Since its such a small quantity and doesn't damage those tanks, I can't imagine it would hurt your bilge or bilge pump if you tried that.

All that aside, something besides rainwater has to be leaking into the bilge to get a really bad smell.

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Steve Frost
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If you have a dribbiling stuffing box and are in salt water, the micro oraganisms smell pretty foul as they run out of oxygen in the stagnent water.
You can tell if it is salt water by tasting it, but just in case the septic side of your system is leaking it is safer to have a freind do this.
Or you could just dry the bilge carefuly and watch what direction the water is coming from, if the aft sections of the bilge get wet first it is most likely your stuffing box.

Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas

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TomSoko
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Posts: 978

Greg,
If you have a smelly bilge now, I'd suggest REALLY cleaning it first. I got a small garden sprayer, and filled it 50/50 bleach and water. I sprayed up into all the nooks and crannies under the cabin sole, under the v-berth, under the engine, everywhere I could see and couldn't see. I let it sit for a while, and then used a water hose full strength into the same nooks and crannies. Any standing water that didn't make its way into the bilge and get pumped out, I sponged out. Open everything up on a warm sunny day and dry it out. It was amazing how much better the boat smelled after I did the "big clean"! On a regular basis, I now put a tiny bit of bleach into the bilge, and it seems to help a lot.

Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT

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stu jackson c34
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[QUOTE=dragonfly;1133]... a suggestions to cover up the smell... [/QUOTE]

Greg,

Tom's right, you need to CLEAN it. The WORST thing you can do is try to cover it up. Coverups rarely work, do they? Would you do that in your house? I doubt it. Clean it thoroughly. Many folks have dry bilges. I don't, and cleaning it is the best thing you can do. The saltwater is making the smell.

Tom's idea about the 50/50 mix for cleaning and using bleach is a good one that I'll try.

Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)

dragonfly
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Thanks for all the comments. I did not know it was safe to have the bleach in the bilge, so I had not tried that 50/50 mix with rinse. I had tried water rinse only and sprayed under floor and then dried it. It just seemed to be stinky so early in the season that is just beginning ( if it ever stops raining !). I will try the mix with a rinse and dry. I might try the few drops of bleach if water persists. I had not tried bleach due to all the fear with premature failure of rubber seals.

I have tried the cap full of bleach in the water tanks and that seems to work great for those other nasty smells that can occur. I am hopeful this takes care of it.

Thanks

Greg

Dragonfly
1522
Annapolis

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Jimmy
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Posts: 75

Keep it dry. I dry mine out everytime I leave the boat. It should be dry if there is not rain. If not you have a leak.

The smell comes from marine bacteria in the water. Sinks right!

Bleach in Bilge is just masking the problem and that makes it worst. I would not put bleech in my bilge. It will eat the the keel bolt caulk making the problem worst.

Jimmy,
Secondwind
Hull No. 2058

MRV
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Joined: 8/4/10
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Could it be that the water is never completely pumped out of the bilge in the first place? Most of the bilge water comes back into the bilge after my pump stops. I've heard that a check value is not a good idea.

Mark Villano

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plaineolde
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Posts: 753

I get a sweet odor throughout the boat; not sure if it's coming from the bilge or not. Had the same smell on my 88 C30. My solution is to spray Tilex (or similar) into every compartment, similar to what TomSoko does with the garden sprayer. Under the forward birth, around the holding tank, under the galley, anywhere that isn't sealed from the bilge. This has worked great. I occasionally put bilge cleaner in the standing water as well, but that doesn't seem to get the odor as well as the Tilex. I always have a bottle stored by the head through hulls.

Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay

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baysailor2000
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Posts: 218

Check the bilge in the head - for the shower. I found mine to be at this location. Fill with fresh water and turn on the bilge pump. Then dry the area with sponge.

Haro Bayandorian, 1999 C36 MKII, Sail La Vie #1787, M35B,
Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA.

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