Localized "smell"

[rwappleton]

Becky and I are finalizing putting the interior back together after a year in the yard taking care of most everything below the water line that needed TLC.

Since we have owned "SLOW AN EASY" she has been smell free except for the coat closet where the switching is located for the generator (43DC). Every time you open that closet there is a strong urine/head type odor. To the best of my knowledge all the waste water runs down the other side of the boat.

There is an access panel in this closet and there are no clues here either, clean and dry. No smell in the bilge. Close the door and the smell goes away.

Any ideas??????

Becky and Russ

 

[Vincentc]

Russ,
Our 43 has an access hatch in that closet just above the shower sump. Have you checked the sump?
Regards

 

[sgharford]

Hey Becky & Russ,
I have the exact same problem on my 43dc - open that hatch below the electrical panel and what a stench! I've cleaned that bilge area and shower sump multiple times and it still comes back. I'm resolved to notion that there is bilge water in the keel making the stench. The bilge pump located under that access panel may have been screwed down at some time and the screws were never replaced, allowing water to flow into keel section. When weather warms I'm going to drill hole in the bilge pump floor section, insert copper pipe down there with other end attached to wet dry vac and pray stinky water comes out, solving a problem that existed since I've owned boat. I think it was Magnawake that had similar problem and posted this as solution, same problem but different model Hatteras. Anyway, you could try cleaning bilge first and hope it works. Maybe somebody else will post solution here and save us both from drilling into bilge floor.

 

[rwappleton]

Good Morning Gentlemen and fellow DC owners everywhere,

Sumps are dry Bilges are clean. I am OCD for clean bilges and machinery. The closet I am talking about is on your left and the boat's port side as you walk up the stairs from the master state room. NOTHING else on the boat has any smell. You can not smell anything with the door closed it is very localized. Below the access panel in that closet is port exhaust and that is it. There is what looks like a vent hose that runs inside the closet and I have given it the close up sniff test and seems OK. I am stumped!!!!

 

[sgharford]

Aha - I assumed the other closet in main state room with main electrical panel (I didn't read close enough), I know which one you are talking about now. Well, sure hope you find it and please post if you do as I may have same odor inducing problem.

 

[bobk]

You may be able to rule out the vent hose by wrapping it in a damp rag and then wrapping the rag with saran. Smell the rag a day later. If it stinks, there you go.

Any evidence for critters nesting in the area?

Bobk

 

[Canuck Dennis]

That is very interesting, I have a similar but slightly different issue in the same area but in my case the odor is immediately upon opening the master s.r door to come up the stairs first thing in the am, there is always a very odd odor which I assumed was coming from the e/r but no, then I thought the closet etc again, no, so maybe the a/c unit for the master , seems not there either, a real puzzle, shower drain are is odor free.
AM wondering if years of minor leaks in that aft port salon window has gotten inside the interior wood and created some odd reaction thus an odor ?

 

[magnawake]

Yeah these smells can be troublesome. I had a smell coming from under my sink in the gally and no where to point the finger. I think it might be the sink drain so I poured a little chlorox down there and let it sit. Fixed it. My shower drain smells to high heaven too. I've been living on here for a little over three years. The keel issue wasn't stinking until I cut a hole in the aft sump, then I let the dogs out. I still can't figure how the water is getting ini there. Your smell has got to be keel, holding, sumps, or drains (sinks or shower). I have a strong sense of smell. Most people don't even think my boat smell at all. Some days I get a little wiff, and others nothing. It very strange.