Freedom 30 1988 holding tank oder

Fresh/Waste Water Systems, Watermakers, HVAC, Refrigeration...
Echo Star
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Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:34 pm

Freedom 30 1988 holding tank oder

Post by Echo Star »

Last summer I purchased an excellent condition Freedom 30. I sailed all summer and used the holding tank. Being a beginner I did know how full the tank was until I saw the contents spitting out the hull vent on the port side after one of my children was pumping it. I immediately took it to a pump out station and got to work. However, every time I get on the boat there is a strong oder and I do not know where to begin to eliminate it. Could I have damaged the hoses by the continuous pumping of a full tank? I see no apparent sign of seepage anywhere. I cannot go through another sailing season with this smell. It is embarrassing! any suggestions? By the way this this an outstanding boat and so easy to sail. Thanks. Frederick

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Castaway
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Location: Lerwick, Shetland Isles

Re: Freedom 30 1988 holding tank oder

Post by Castaway »

Was there a filter in the vent pipe? Often an activated carbon filter is used to control odours vented through the pipe, and it will tend to disintegrate if wetted. You might then be left with a slurry of carbon and poo collected in the filter holder, which will continue to smell until it is washed out and the filter replaced. There speaks the voice of bitter experience! If there is no filter, then perhaps fitting one will solve you problem. Check also that nothing has leaked inboard from the (usually dry) vent pipe junctions.

Good luck!
Gerald Freshwater,
s/y 'Castaway', (UK F35 cat ketch, centreboard, 1987)
Lerwick Boating Club
Shetland Isles, Scotland

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Michel
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Location: Zaanstad, the Netherlands, EU

Re: Freedom 30 1988 holding tank oder

Post by Michel »

Over here they say that you have to replace all the hoses - even if it's sanitation hose - every so many (10?) years. My 1981 US built boat has exhaust hose on the black water tank, so I have some smell too.
Michel Capel, Freedom 44 #4 1981 'Alabama Queen', NED8188, cat ketch with wishbones, home port Enkhuizen, the Netherlands, 52*42.238'N 005*18.154'E.

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GeoffSchultz
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Re: Freedom 30 1988 holding tank oder

Post by GeoffSchultz »

I would agree with Michel, but if there was a correlation between the smell appearing and the tank overflowing, I would suspect that you either had a leak and/or still have a leak somewhere.

-- Geoff
BlueJacket
1997 Freedom 40/40
http://www.GeoffSchultz.org

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Michel
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Location: Zaanstad, the Netherlands, EU

Re: Freedom 30 1988 holding tank oder

Post by Michel »

I remember something else.....if you have the yellowish rotation molded plastic tanks (polyetylene or polyethene) like I have... of my forward holding tank, the vent connection fitting (molded onto the tank) broke off. Did you check all external connections? And the hose clamps?
BTW my holding tanks are designed in a very wrong way with the exit hose connection near the bottom of the tank. A small leak there will result in a slowly developing unpleasantry. Under the European CE regulations, all holding tank connections have to be on the top of the tank, so a leaking connection will only result in odor, not a black water leak into the bilge. Usually they use one large round flange on the top of the tank with all the necessary hose connections in it. The pump out connection has a pipe extending almost to the bottom of the tank.
Michel Capel, Freedom 44 #4 1981 'Alabama Queen', NED8188, cat ketch with wishbones, home port Enkhuizen, the Netherlands, 52*42.238'N 005*18.154'E.

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hxschiller
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Location: Mull 28 - "Impulse" on NW Creek in New Bern, NC

Re: Freedom 30 1988 holding tank oder

Post by hxschiller »

Sounds like a motivation to switch to a composting toilet. Herm

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GeoffSchultz
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Re: Freedom 30 1988 holding tank oder

Post by GeoffSchultz »

You may want to read this post: http://www.freedomyachts.org/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=10251 I was smelling something malodorous in my aft cabin and it ended up being pin holes in the aluminum vent loop.

-- Geoff
BlueJacket
1997 Freedom 40/40
http://www.GeoffSchultz.org

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numbknots
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Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:38 pm
Location: Sunny Florida

Re: Freedom 30 1988 holding tank oder

Post by numbknots »

So when you start your refiting of the head system make sure you purchase connectors that fit easily into the new hoses. The grey pvc ones always seem just a bit to large. This will cause unbeleivable aggravation while your crammed into the space where the tank is. The white semi clear really made job easier. Another good piece of advice is to install 2 vents in the holding tank this really seems to help with that bacteria growing in tank. There is much more I learned about replacing all hoses and vents but I really dont want to be reminded of that job. Good luck! Numbknots
... currently experiencing performance anxiety..,

chandler
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Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2010 11:52 am
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Re: Freedom 30 1988 holding tank oder

Post by chandler »

Anybody try an "airhead"?

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Michel
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Re: Freedom 30 1988 holding tank oder

Post by Michel »

What's an airhead? I feel like I have one after a bottle of whisky (or Scotch, if you prefer to call it that).
Michel Capel, Freedom 44 #4 1981 'Alabama Queen', NED8188, cat ketch with wishbones, home port Enkhuizen, the Netherlands, 52*42.238'N 005*18.154'E.

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