Before reading on, please take a moment to fill out this week’s survey so we can share your knowledge and experiences with the Cruising Compass family. Thanks.
Do you have a seasickness remedy that works for you and that you can recommend to others?
Thanks to evryone wgho sent in replies to last week’s survey on head odors. Not surprisingl;y 68% of those who replied have had to deal with offensive odors. For remedies, 56% have replaced the head’s plumbing, 43% have replaced the head itself, 18% have replaced the holding tank and 8% have replaced the thr-hull and pump-out fittings. For who who have not dealt with head odors by changing gear, several have less invasive remedies. Here’s a good sample:
Started using an enzyme holding tank product. We have found a product called Happy Camper. It’s so good California has banned it. We get it through out of state family members.
Treat them before they start by fully flushing the system after each use at sea and empty and flush holding tank ASAP in inshore waters.
We add tea tree oil after each flush
After a restoration/refit with entirely new head/plumbing and holding tank, I keep things smell-free with an oversized air vent in the holding tank, and running a little fresh water into the toilet and pumping it through whenever we leave the boat. Inevitably the raw water sea strainer smells of sulfur if we haven’t used the boat for a while, but it’s not the dreaded holding tank smell.
Use the correct materials for plumbing [e.g., schedule 40 PVC and/or Raritan Sani-Flex or Trident Marine 102/101] Use quality T-bolt band clamps for any hose connections. Dual vents- each led to a different side of vessel [e.g., port and starboard] provide redundancy as well as cross air flow to help mitigate a stinky anaerobic holding tank.
We double rinse after pump outs. We use PortaPacs in the head and holding tanks. When we leave the boat, we put a pac in the head and fill the head with water and flush most of the treated water into the lines so the treated water scents the hoses and Venus bladder.
Chlorine dioxide CL02 this chemical mitigates all orders and cleans the head hoses of all bio film a 100% solution.
We only use freshwater flush on our electric main head, second head pump only and rarely used.
