I recently purchased a 1991 Gibson 50' Houseboat (offically referred to as a 'Cabin Yacht').



I visited the boat several times prior to purchase and didn't notice
any problem smells (of course the boat was open and aired out when
these visits took place).



Now I notice that when it is closed up a substantial 'waste like' smell
seems to be present. I can usuall get it out by opening all the windows
and airing things out. Also, it seems like the smell comes through the
airconditioner vent in the stateroom.



From what I've read in this forum, it sounds like I need to replace the
waste lines and possibly the tank itself (it is aluminum).



I should also note that the boat sat for several months with a very
full holding tank. I pumped it out and rinsed it 3 times, but that
didn't solve the odor problem.



I'd appreciate any comments or possible other solutions. If the
replacement is my only option, does anyone have a feel for an
approximate cost?



Thanks.

Easy way to find out if the sanitation hoses are the culprit: wet a rag
in HOT water...wring it out and wrap it around low spot in the hose.
When the rag cools, remove it and smell it...if you can smell the same
odor on the rag, the hoses have permeated. Replacement is the only cure.



Cost of replacement: the best hoses on the planet--16x more resistant
to odor than ANY other hose--is AVS96, made an Australian company. It's
the same hose that SeaLand originally sold exclusively in the US as
their brand name "OdorSafe," now sold here direct by mfr--and for a LOT
less than SeaLand's price. It's now only $5.50/ft, cut to any
length. (They have a warehouse in Ohio, btw..you're not looking
at shipping from Down Under).



Aussie Globe's website is at
A.G.S. Australian Global Services



Unless you see signs of moisture around the tank seams, fittings or on
the floor next to it, I don't think you have to replace the tank...yet.
However, you will have to sooner or later, so if your budget can stand
it, replacing it at the same time you replace the hoses would be a good
idea....get it all done at once. Your best source for a tank is Ronco Plastics: http://www.ronco-plastics.com



If the hoses aren't the culprit, molds and fungi in your AC ducts may be. This stuff will take care of that:
Gelair



And before you start this project, you might also want to check out the _link_ in my signature.




peghall38509.5829282407

Thanks much for all the good info, and FYI, I've already ordered your book.



Thanks again.

You might also check the bilge for water.  I had a gibson 50 and when I would leave it for a week or two the water that sat below the bilge pump in the bow of the boat would get rank and smell.  I would add a little bleach to it and it would kill any odor pretty quickly.

Not the best thing to do...especially if you have an aluminum hull,
because bleach is HIGHLY corrosive. Nor does it really do that
much good...it gets rid of the odor temporarily, but chlorine
evaporates within about 24 hours, so any new water just requires
another dose of bleach.



Nobody (except maybe a broker or a dealer hell bent on selling a boat
no matter what he has to say) ever said that maintaining a boat
requires no physical labor, or even ANY effort. If you don't
leave any water in the bilge, it can't turn into a smelly primordial
soup...so the best way to deal with those few gallons of water the
bilge pump leaves behind is a wet vac or (gasp!) a manual dinghy bailer
pump, bucket and sponge.



(Edited to correct typo--should be 24 hours as corrected, not 14 as originally posted)


peghall38520.4350810185

I've done all that Peggy suggests in her last post and it does make a difference. I changed out all my waste hoses this spring and did have a small effluent spill when the pump out hose was disconnected. Very little odor as previous winterizing pump out and rinse was very thorough but with some heat, I am sure those nasty little microbes would start multiplying and producing the soup Peggy spoke of. Almost all of the clean up was done with pail, sponge or rag and something like 409 cleaner. Got into all the nooks and crannies with a tooth brush and made the bilge area around the waste tank and every other accessible bilge area sparkle. Lots a work but, but not a single unpleasant odor present on "Suite Retreat".

If you call Gibson and try to find out if the hoses have been secured to stringers or other solid places, they may tell you that no clamps have been used. "B as in B, S as in S"!! I have several additional access ports in my aft head deck, aft head vanity floor , galley deck, storage area deck, and under the forward port bed. These waste lines are clamped to stringers and two people are necessary to remove and replace them. Again, it's not an easy job and the next time it must be done, maybe two hours at the most, instead of two full Saturdays. This is just part of removing offensive odors and a chore which must be done. We don't gotta like it, but it's necessary.