heads, pongs and thoughts........

[ean_p]

I've generally accepted that the 'rotten eggs' smell that is often associated with small boat heads is caused by the decay of algae etc in the inlet line to the toilet. having just perused the 'for sale' section and seen the fresh water flush kit for sale there got me to thinking. Why does no one ever associate / find that same smell originating from other seawater inlet lines ie, engine cooling ( often stagnant for long periods), Sink sea water lines ( again often stagnant) and finally cockpit drain lines.........?

 

[FWB]

I sometimes get that smell from engine cooling water when left for a longish period.

 

[PaulRainbow]

The sea water galley tap on my previous boat smelt awful if not used, which was all of the time as i didn't use it.

 

[thinwater]

Also the seawater inlet shares a double acting pump with the waste, inoculating the seawater; there is always cross leakage and the cyclinder wall is shared, one reason freshwater flush systems must be properly installed.

 

[cpedw]

Is it because it's closed off - until you use it?

 

[roaringgirl]

Our galley sink drain, and the salt water tap smell of rotten eggs when unused for a while

 

[billyfish]

I've found last flush before we leave the boat with fresh water does the trick

 

[VicS]

The "rotten eggs" smell is the result of bacterial action in anærobic conditions on sulfate in the water producing hydrogen sulfide.

Fresh water contains very much lower concentrations of sulfate.

.