2 Bilge Mysteries!

[luriesd]

Hi all,

My 280 SS suddenly stinks like sewage. I just bought it, so I know WE have never "pooped" in it, but can't say on prior owner. It has a macerator option and holding tank waste pump out on the rear transom. My questions are two:

1. I tried to find the stink, and opened the engine hatch. It smelled in there, and the bilge had water in it that seems to match the color of the holding tank treatment I used. Then I noticed that there are two holes (clearly meant to be there, about 1.25 inches in diameter, about 18 inches down from the entry, on the forward wall of the engine room. They were dripping (VERY SLIGHTLY) that same liquid. Are these an overflow for the tank? Could my stink be an overfull tank? (The indicator in the head says I am still on "LOW" for the tank level.


2. Where is the holding tank? The stench is concentrated in the CABIN, not the bilge, so my theory in #1 seems suspect.

Could this be as simple as Pump Out - Fill with fresh water - pump out again??

I really appreciate any insight into those two holes, and this issue.


Steve

 

[Nate]

I would start with a pumpout, if you do it yourself you will be able to tell if it was empty or not. My 280 used raw water to flush the head, in my case that was salt water so odor was a constant issue. There is a vent filter in the engine compartment, if I recall correctly it's in the location you described, maybe someone removed it and never put a new one back in?

One more place that you can get some nasty smelling water is in the hidden bilges under the carpet in the storage area under the steps, there are 2 and they tend to get water in them and there isn't anywhere for it to go.

 

[tpenfield]

The 2 holes at the bottom of the main bulkhead are for drainage from the forward mini-bilge(s). There are drain lines that run along the keel of the boat and go right under the fuel tank. You should find the mini-bilges in the cabin floor and possibly in the storage area that is behind the steps to the cabin. The waste tank should be under the main cockpit area, right above the fuel tank.

Keep bleach on the boat at all times. Feed the mini-bilges some bleach and make sure the lines are not clogged. I also feed the toilet some bleach (or you can use the toilet treatment stuff). Additionally, you may have a 'shower sump' box located right up near the main bulkhead (engine bay). That gets drainage from the sinks and shower (head compartment) and pumps it into the waste tank. Often the sump pump stops working and then the stuff in there stinks.

Here are a couple of pictures from my 330 SS, but the 280 should be similar . . .

 

[luriesd]

Thank you both! Yes, that is exactly what is happening here. I also discovered a small pinhole leak in the bilge pump hose, so I was not getting that overage out of there efficiently. This weekend I pumped out, added water and a little bleach, pumped out again. Smell is gone!

Thank you both for your help.....