Stus-List Re: Smelly bilge water
I felt sort of the same when I drilled my first garboard drain hole. 1/2 inch bit following an 1/8 inch pilot hole from the lowest part of the bilge outward and slightly downward. Do it every fall then in spring clean the hole with the 1/2 inch bit washed pulling acetone soaked rag thru hole short plug from the outside fill the hole from the inside with thickened epoxy. Let cure remove plug and fair with a gob of lightweight car body filler. Works great and what a pleasant difference to interior during the window. Also let port and starboard ports open under a tarp. Ventilation is very important. I keep all my cushion onboard year long. Been doin it for 10 or more years upholstery looks good as new. On Mon, Mar 15, 2021 at 9:29 AM David Knecht via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > Thanks for all the thoughts on smelly bilge. I will add some detergent or > bleach when it warms up and leave it there for a while and hope that cleans > it out. As to garboard drains, I have considered it, but the thought of > drilling another hole in the bottom of the boat just fills me with dread. > It is not that big a problem to need that solution. As to dehumidifiers, > sounds like a nice idea, but there is no power near the boat where it is > stored this winter, so that is not an option. I doubt it would help given > the amount of water that comes down the mast in heavy rains. Dave > > David Knecht > S/V Aries > 1990 C 34+ > New London, CT > > > Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with > the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks > - Stu -- Sent from Gmail Mobile Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Stus-List Re: Smelly bilge water
I was fortunate to have a little drain tube come out of the mast base, which I put a tube onto with a string of felt up it, and in the winter I poke it out through a removed transducer, finally bone dry! In the summer, I take that tube and run it into a plastic fridge pan. I just try to get down there enough so I can drain the pan B4 it overflow, this also keeps the bilge dry. If you mast is on one of those C aluminum castings, you can drill a hole into it , and 1/8" NPT and put a little barb on it. Bill Coleman Entrada, Erie, PA From: David Knecht via CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com] Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 8:29 AM To: CnC CnC discussion list Cc: David Knecht Subject: Stus-List Re: Smelly bilge water Thanks for all the thoughts on smelly bilge. I will add some detergent or bleach when it warms up and leave it there for a while and hope that cleans it out. As to garboard drains, I have considered it, but the thought of drilling another hole in the bottom of the boat just fills me with dread. It is not that big a problem to need that solution. As to dehumidifiers, sounds like a nice idea, but there is no power near the boat where it is stored this winter, so that is not an option. I doubt it would help given the amount of water that comes down the mast in heavy rains. Dave David Knecht S/V Aries 1990 C 34+ New London, CT Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Stus-List Re: Smelly bilge water
David, When I worked for Edson they were marketing a microbial bilge cleaner. We found two things to be true: the microbes needed oxygen to work, as in agitated water. Once the microbes finished feasting on organic matter in the bilge, they die, leaving a residual order that was unpleasant. Bilge water was free of oils ,etc but needed to be pumped overboard. The microbial pads had a service life of about 1 month once they got active in dirty water. They would not be effective if it froze. Also, cleaners like bleach, simple green and any emulsifier products would kill the microbes, which means the bilge pads wouldn’t do what they were designed to do if you mixed bilge cleaners. Just a bit of insight regarding odors in the bilge. Chuck Gilchrest Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 15, 2021, at 8:29 AM, David Knecht via CnC-List > wrote: > > Thanks for all the thoughts on smelly bilge. I will add some detergent or > bleach when it warms up and leave it there for a while and hope that cleans > it out. As to garboard drains, I have considered it, but the thought of > drilling another hole in the bottom of the boat just fills me with dread. It > is not that big a problem to need that solution. As to dehumidifiers, sounds > like a nice idea, but there is no power near the boat where it is stored this > winter, so that is not an option. I doubt it would help given the amount of > water that comes down the mast in heavy rains. Dave > > David Knecht > S/V Aries > 1990 C 34+ > New London, CT > > > > Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with > the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Stus-List Re: Smelly bilge water
Thanks for all the thoughts on smelly bilge. I will add some detergent or bleach when it warms up and leave it there for a while and hope that cleans it out. As to garboard drains, I have considered it, but the thought of drilling another hole in the bottom of the boat just fills me with dread. It is not that big a problem to need that solution. As to dehumidifiers, sounds like a nice idea, but there is no power near the boat where it is stored this winter, so that is not an option. I doubt it would help given the amount of water that comes down the mast in heavy rains. Dave David Knecht S/V Aries 1990 C 34+ New London, CT Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Stus-List Re: Smelly bilge water
David, There are different reasons for the cause of smelly bilge water. Question(s): How long between water changes in the bilge? When the bilge water is drained and the bilge cleaned, does the smell persist? The reason why I ask these questions is that I have a memory of a stinky 6 year old C 33 MKIIin 1991 we were getting a just newly acquired 1985 33 ready for a Marblehead to Halifax race. The bilge stunk...after several cleanings and a Javex bleach flush flush, let to dry out, it still stunk. Why? Turned out there was a cavity in the bilge/keel joint filled with Styrofoam that was water soaked and holding bacteria. The only solution was open the space, dig out the Stryofoam and fill with resin. No more stink. Maybe others here might have had a similar issue? But that was not done until after the Marblehead - Halifax race, so we relied on bleach until then for relief. Good thing as I slept on sails on the main cabin sole. Hopefully your issue is not as invasive, but just one of my experiences with a smelly bilge. Robert Abbott AZURA C 32 - #277 Halifax, N.S. On 2021-03-14 1:01 p.m., David Knecht via CnC-List wrote: I was at the boat yesterday and pumped out the water that had accumulated in the bilge due to rain over the winter. I used the hand pump into a bucket and noticed that the water was really smelly. I have an oil treating pad in there (Clean Waters Microbial Bilge pad) but that was from last spring so likely beyond its usable lifetime. I am wondering if the smell is likely from bacteria/algae growing on some oil in the bilge water. I have not been putting a cleaner/detergent in the bilge because I was afraid it would interfere with the action of the Bilge pad. I probably should have put some Simple Green in the bilge in the Fall when the boat was moved to the hard. What do others do to prevent this kind of odor? Dave S/V Aries 1990 C 34+ New London, CT Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Stus-List Re: Smelly bilge water
Do you have a garboard drain On Sun, Mar 14, 2021 at 1:02 PM David Knecht via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > I was at the boat yesterday and pumped out the water that had accumulated > in the bilge due to rain over the winter. I used the hand pump into a > bucket and noticed that the water was really smelly. I have an oil > treating pad in there (Clean Waters Microbial Bilge pad) but that was from > last spring so likely beyond its usable lifetime. I am wondering if the > smell is likely from bacteria/algae growing on some oil in the bilge > water. I have not been putting a cleaner/detergent in the bilge because I > was afraid it would interfere with the action of the Bilge pad. I probably > should have put some Simple Green in the bilge in the Fall when the boat > was moved to the hard. What do others do to prevent this kind of odor? > Dave > > S/V Aries > 1990 C 34+ > New London, CT > > > Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with > the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks > - Stu -- Sent from Gmail Mobile Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Stus-List Re: Smelly bilge water
We have a small dehumidifier on the galley countertop and it drains right into the sink. Works great all year around, particularly in the summer with our 98%+ humidity in SW Fl. TedS/V Ten-Ten. 40-2 Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android On Sun, Mar 14, 2021 at 17:29, Tom Buscaglia via CnC-List wrote: Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Stus-List Re: Smelly bilge water
+1 on the dehumidifier. I have a 30 pint dehumidifier on all winter. It keeps the boat around 40%. No spring black mold any more. Tom Buscaglia S/V Alera 1990 C 37+/40 Vashon WA P 206.463.9200 C 305.409.3660 > On Mar 14, 2021, at 1:02 PM, Fred Hazzard via CnC-List > wrote: > > Using an oil absorbing pad under engine and detergent in the bilge helped > with smells, but the best thing was running a dehumidifier. It lowered the > humidity to 55 percent and improved the smell dramatically. > > Fred Hazzard > S/V Fury > C 44 > Portland Or > > Sent from my iPhone > >>> Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Stus-List Re: Smelly bilge water
Using an oil absorbing pad under engine and detergent in the bilge helped with smells, but the best thing was running a dehumidifier. It lowered the humidity to 55 percent and improved the smell dramatically. Fred Hazzard S/V Fury C 44 Portland Or Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 14, 2021, at 9:59 AM, CHARLES SCHEAFFER via CnC-List > wrote: > > > Presently on the hard, the mast is out and I wetvac the bilge dry in the fall > and cover w a tarp. The bilge stays bone dry. > > When I keep her in the water through winter, I wetvac the bilge every six > weeks or so and leave some panels open to ventilate. Solar fans move the air > enough to keep odors down. > > In the past I used biodegradable Tide to clean the bilge. Pour a capful in > once in a while and let the rocking of the boat mix it around. > > Chuck S > >> On 03/14/2021 12:01 PM David Knecht via CnC-List >> wrote: >> >> >> I was at the boat yesterday and pumped out the water that had accumulated in >> the bilge due to rain over the winter. I used the hand pump into a bucket >> and noticed that the water was really smelly. I have an oil treating pad in >> there (Clean Waters Microbial Bilge pad) but that was from last spring so >> likely beyond its usable lifetime. I am wondering if the smell is likely >> from bacteria/algae growing on some oil in the bilge water. I have not been >> putting a cleaner/detergent in the bilge because I was afraid it would >> interfere with the action of the Bilge pad. I probably should have put some >> Simple Green in the bilge in the Fall when the boat was moved to the hard. >> What do others do to prevent this kind of odor? Dave >> >> S/V Aries >> 1990 C 34+ >> New London, CT >> >> Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with >> the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use >> PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu > Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with > the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Stus-List Re: Smelly bilge water
Presently on the hard, the mast is out and I wetvac the bilge dry in the fall and cover w a tarp. The bilge stays bone dry. When I keep her in the water through winter, I wetvac the bilge every six weeks or so and leave some panels open to ventilate. Solar fans move the air enough to keep odors down. In the past I used biodegradable Tide to clean the bilge. Pour a capful in once in a while and let the rocking of the boat mix it around. Chuck S > On 03/14/2021 12:01 PM David Knecht via CnC-List > wrote: > > > I was at the boat yesterday and pumped out the water that had accumulated > in the bilge due to rain over the winter. I used the hand pump into a bucket > and noticed that the water was really smelly. I have an oil treating pad in > there (Clean Waters Microbial Bilge pad) but that was from last spring so > likely beyond its usable lifetime. I am wondering if the smell is likely from > bacteria/algae growing on some oil in the bilge water. I have not been > putting a cleaner/detergent in the bilge because I was afraid it would > interfere with the action of the Bilge pad. I probably should have put some > Simple Green in the bilge in the Fall when the boat was moved to the hard. > What do others do to prevent this kind of odor? Dave > > S/V Aries > 1990 C 34+ > New London, CT > Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help > with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu > Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Stus-List Re: Smelly bilge water
Could it not just be stagnant fresh water?Not a problem here as the boat is covered and any water would be solid, but maybe a box of baking soda dumped in the bilge in the fall would change the ph enough and make any accumulating water unfriendly to bacteria. I change the oil absorber every two seasons or so, and I keep a layer of the oil absorbing sheets under the engine.A few times during the season I set the oil sponge aside, and I half-fill the bilge sump (it holds around 5 gal or more) with fresh water andsplash In Some detergent. I scrub it with a brush with a suitable-length handle, pump it out.When I leave the boat, I lift the floorboard above to sump to maximize air movement.Hope this helps. Other Dave 33-2Sent from my iPhoneOn Mar 14, 2021, at 12:01 PM, David Knecht via CnC-List wrote:I was at the boat yesterday and pumped out the water that had accumulated in the bilge due to rain over the winter. I used the hand pump into a bucket and noticed that the water was really smelly. I have an oil treating pad in there (Clean Waters Microbial Bilge pad) but that was from last spring so likely beyond its usable lifetime. I am wondering if the smell is likely from bacteria/algae growing on some oil in the bilge water. I have not been putting a cleaner/detergent in the bilge because I was afraid it would interfere with the action of the Bilge pad. I probably should have put some Simple Green in the bilge in the Fall when the boat was moved to the hard. What do others do to prevent this kind of odor? Dave S/V Aries1990 C 34+New London, CT Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - StuThanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
