does anyone have experience of the following problem
whenever the heads are flushed using sea water through the inlet seacock for the first time after say a couple of days there is a very strong smell of sulphide. Subsequent use and flushes are ok. It is just the first one.
It is as if sea water trapped on inlet side is being changed during the rest period. I keep the seacocks closed when not using the boat.

the boat is only 1 year old Parker 285

grateful for any suggestions

charles clements

charles clements

Spartacus 285

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Hello
By Sulphide I presume you are referring to a "bad egg" smell.
I have had the same in the past, but have not noticed it of late.
Does your boat sit in soft mud?

Mike Edwards
Seal 28 "Aztec"

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Hi Charles

I've changed my sanitary hoses for the impermeable type. Made by VETUS I think. If you have the corrugated hose they are known to smell as bits get stuck in the grooves and decay. The impermeable type is smooth inside so less chance of bits sticking.

John Williams
275/60 CRYSTAL

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Apparently the pong is caused by anaerobic bacteria which do not need oxygen to do their work.
An article I read in a US magazine recommended VERY thorough flushing with salt water followed by a final flush with fresh, so that the water left in the hoses when the seacocks are closed is fresh.

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hi thanks for your replies

mike
yes 'bad eggs' is hydrogen sulphide
and the boat does sit on soft mud
is that relevant?

john
thankyou for the suggestion of smooth hoses. i will look into it.

john
i have been doing lots of flushing with fresh water but that would only deal with the outlet side i think?

regards
charles

charles clements

Spartacus 285

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Charles

From what I have read the main problem is with the input pipe and not the output and comes from the seawater itself, so no amount of flushing (with sea water) will stop the smell.

I have a gizmo that is fitted in the input pipe which has a small refillable container of some fluid that is supposed to cure the problem (though I haven't got around to fitting it).

Another alternative I've seen (I think it was on Many Moons) where a T-junction had been fitted just above the input seacock. This enabled one to flush with seawater as normal, but prior to leaving the boat one could move the tap on the T-junction to take water from the other input which was a pipe fed by a bucket of fresh water (with a little detergent I suppose). I understand this cured the problem.

Regards
Don Harvey
Web Master
Parker 325 'Calypso'

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Hi Don

thanks for the suggestions.
I have ordered a Freshwater Flushing Kit 01957 from Lee Sanitation Ltd
The problem is well recognised and information is available on their website
www.leesan.com 

regards
charles

charles clements

Spartacus 285

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Charles - that is exactly what I saw. I might get one of these too.

For anyone else interested - go to

http://www.leesan.co.uk/parts_b..._water_flusher_=_hts.pdf 

Regards
Don Harvey
Web Master
Parker 325 'Calypso'

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I have one of these...

http://www.compass24.com...p.pl?nummernliste=787101 

It does the job well....stains the bowl a bit blue...but smells nice and should last a season.

But I also moor in fresh water half the time....and also she is on her trailer a fair bit...

Paul Burton.

Parker 235/ 40 Lady Penelope...

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hi
just to say i fitted the fresh water system as mentioned in prevoius email.
Successful...no more hydrogen sulphide.

charles

charles clements

Spartacus 285

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