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Black tank on ferretti

Discussion in 'Ferretti Yacht' started by Allythefox, Jun 13, 2014.

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  1. Allythefox

    Allythefox New Member

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    Mallorca
    The owners cabin on our boat has always had a slight smell, does anyone else have this problem- the black tank is under the bed-!!!!! Crazy! Are there any chemicals to completely clean all pipes and the tank??? Can anyone help?
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I would spend my time making sure the vent and vent filter are clear and that there is nowhere on the holding tank or fittings that air or fluid is leaking from.

    That kaneberry gel (spelling) is really popular for odors.
  3. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    Besides the venting line, do you have access to the tank to look at flange gaskets?
    straub couplings etc. Any dry residue around inspection ports ? Get a light down on the tank the best way that you can and visually inspect all the fittings. If all else fails than disconnect the vent line and block it with a wet rag and use a soapy water solution on all your fittings and have someone flush the heads a couple of times and see if you have an air leak thats causing the odor but make sure not to block the vent all together and over pressurize your tank.
  4. Delfin

    Delfin Member

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    In addition to looking for specific leaks, blockages, etc, if you want to invest in Denso tape, I have used it to wrap sanitary flexible hose that has begun to smell and it pretty much eliminates it. Denso North America - Petrolatum Tapes

    It sticks to anything, so you could even coat the tank itself. Pretty odd place to put a black water tank, but I guess it's better than a whining gyro I saw installed there on another thread.
  5. ddw1668

    ddw1668 Senior Member

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    There is a product called 'Happy Camper' that will solve your problem. I have used it on three boats since 1999 with excellent results. My current boat has the black tank in the same location and we have no issues. Google 'Happy Camper Holding Tank Treatment' for dealers.
  6. Allythefox

    Allythefox New Member

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    Thank you - will try it.
  7. Allythefox

    Allythefox New Member

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    Thank you -
  8. Allythefox

    Allythefox New Member

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    Thank you
  9. Dave Stranks

    Dave Stranks Member

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  10. ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

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    Probably useful to use some "stuff" (you pick) to treat waste water... but I'd guess if you can smell it there's maybe a mechanical issue involved.

    Loose hose fitting or cracked/split hose, permeated hose, expired vent tank filter (or maybe the filter vent is too near -- do you only smell that odor at flushes?), cracked/split tank (yuck!), and so forth. If there's a mechanical issue, no amount of "stuff" will fix that perfectly.

    And then there's also the part about being sure what the odor source is. Could be head-related... or could be shower sump, stagnate AC condensate, standing raw (or rain) water in a bilge... so pinning down the source can be especially useful.

    -Chris
  11. Dave Stranks

    Dave Stranks Member

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    I agree you have to go thru the entire system first check everything.
  12. dennismc

    dennismc Senior Member

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    Fix it do not hide it, sewer gas is dangerous to life and limb.
  13. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    how??????
  14. ddw1668

    ddw1668 Senior Member

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    Simple Captain J...........your wife will kill you if the head smells bad. :D
  15. dennismc

    dennismc Senior Member

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    Can be explosive and poisonous.
  16. Dave Stranks

    Dave Stranks Member

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    There have been deaths from hydrogen sulfide gas coming back into the passage cabins in the past . But he says slight smell .
    I have a pump station under the masters bedroom that had the same problem after removing the bed and the sub floor I found about one hundred dryer sheets hanging from every place available. I think maybe someone else found the problem before me never fixed it but covered it up.
    Smell was coming from old hoses and small spills that had happened over the years. First fixed all leaks even old leaks that had sealed themselves I redid and resealed then cleaned up the area and sprayed it down with an disinfectant QUAT cleaner like Lysol but it was a non fragrance one in a trigger spray bottle .
    Make sure you wet everything down with the stuff ;all hoses' floor area' pump mount' and fittings and let it air dry and then close her up again.
    After I did all this I treated and cleaned the hoses on the insides by adding a treatment down the toilet.
    I have had no problems 5 years since but treat the pipes still every 6 months.
  17. nilo

    nilo Senior Member

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    Check also the structure of the tank

    When I owned the Ferretti 68 I had a similar problem. It was not just the fittings, but there were cracks also in the fiberglass. So, you have to have a really through check...
  18. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    If the smell is bad enough to be explosive and poisonous I highly doubt anyone would sleep in the stateroom. The source of the issue would also be very obvious. For sewage gases to be explosive and poisonous you'd have to be talking about standing above an open 100,000 gallon tank at a sewage treatment plant.

    The OP has a "slight" smell.
  19. Dave Stranks

    Dave Stranks Member

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    Larger older systems which used gravity toilets were bad for this. Most passage carrying ships now a days are normally under vacuum .There are many a freighter carrying passengers that are still not vacuum but if they have a MSD usually it has air injection for treatment that doesn't let the gases collect.
  20. Ron Eisenberg

    Ron Eisenberg New Member

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    I own a 2016 80 ft Ferretti (Hull #29). We bough the Yacht new, although it is 2 years old. It was never sold and is under full factory warranty. We immediately noticed that the Black Water tank would fill up within 18 hours, with 4 passengers on board (not including crew). We live in South Florida and sail in South Florida and the Bahamas. Most marina's do not have pump out facilities, or if they do, not on weekends etc etc. The tank is 89 gallons and appears to be way too small, or is using far too much water per flush. This Yacht has 4 staterooms and 3 crews quarters. That tank wouldn't last 12 hours with all staterooms occupied.

    Has anyone else with a similar sized Yacht had the same issues? I believe that Ferretti manufactured the boat with a tank that is way too small. There is a similar sized Grey Water tank, but most of that water passes overboard, and the capacity is not an issue. Can anyone provide some insight on how they solved this issue? I have been offered a very expensive "Sea Hunter" system that allows you to pump overboard anywhere within US Waters. I would prefer not to go this route.