sulphide - Forum

charlesclements
Member Topic Starter

2007-08-02T20:54:09Z

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

Spartacus 285

charles clements

Spartacus 285

Mike Edwards
Advanced Member

2007-08-03T07:06:33Z

#2

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"

Mike Edwards

Seal 28 "Aztec"

John Williams
Member

2007-08-03T09:00:24Z

#3

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

John Williams

GWENLLI

Beneteau 323

John Elliott
Member

2007-08-03T17:36:16Z

#4

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.

275/30 "Cascada"

charlesclements
Member Topic Starter

2007-08-05T13:00:55Z

#5

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

charles clements

Spartacus 285

Don Harvey
Member

2007-08-05T15:26:59Z

#6

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'

Regards

Don Harvey