Have '86 Carver Mariner. Found about 2 gallons of "rotten egg smelling" bilge water under the wooden platform holding my batteries in the engine compartment (about 3 inches off floor)and a slimy, wet film on the platform itself with the platform blackened. No evidence of fire or sparks. Assume rotten egg smell is sulphur caused. All electrical working fine. Both batteries (Optima Marine AGM's) tested OK and not leaking. Trucharge charger is only 4 years old and is a 3 level trickle charger. No frayed or broken wires evident. Holding tank and piping replaced 3 years ago and not smelling or leaking. Don't know what else to check. Shower drains to pump. AC to forward bilge but water there is clear and no smell. Any clue? Is boat safe to run?
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-"rotten egg smelling" bilge water-engine room
- Thread starter bambrose
- Start date
marykhubby
Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2007
- RO Number
- 25522
- Messages
- 584
I have an '82 3607 Aft Cabin. You are getting old enough that this could involve any number of contributors depending on proximity to bilge and potential drain paths...
I have chased down multiple inputs including:
- cracked water supply lines (joints are common)
- leaking fixtures at showers and faucets
- dripping shafts or rudder seals
- leaking thru hull valves or fittings below the water line
- hot water heater, and fittings
- A/C and refrig drain hoses
- inoperable pumps in shower sumps not working causing overflows into bilge
- leaking window seals
- leaking holding tanks
- leaking water supply tanks
- leaking engine hoses
- water pump seals
- engine soft plugs
- rain runoff entering bathroom fan exhausts because they were not louvered externally to shed water
- rain entering unsealed rail post locations
- etc, etc, etc (you know your boat best)
This is one of those things where you will have to start with a fresh dry bilge and work backwards. I diagnosed as much as possible, fixed, and then started with a fresh season (ie., not filling the water tanks for first couple of weeks eliminates internal vs external potentials).
Over 3-4 years of fixes, I now have a dry boat. Only a captain knows how much work and pride exists in this reality... many just live with the water and rely on bilges.
I have chased down multiple inputs including:
- cracked water supply lines (joints are common)
- leaking fixtures at showers and faucets
- dripping shafts or rudder seals
- leaking thru hull valves or fittings below the water line
- hot water heater, and fittings
- A/C and refrig drain hoses
- inoperable pumps in shower sumps not working causing overflows into bilge
- leaking window seals
- leaking holding tanks
- leaking water supply tanks
- leaking engine hoses
- water pump seals
- engine soft plugs
- rain runoff entering bathroom fan exhausts because they were not louvered externally to shed water
- rain entering unsealed rail post locations
- etc, etc, etc (you know your boat best)
This is one of those things where you will have to start with a fresh dry bilge and work backwards. I diagnosed as much as possible, fixed, and then started with a fresh season (ie., not filling the water tanks for first couple of weeks eliminates internal vs external potentials).
Over 3-4 years of fixes, I now have a dry boat. Only a captain knows how much work and pride exists in this reality... many just live with the water and rely on bilges.
The center bilge holding area is actually part of the engine bilge area.. It is sealed from the forward bilge.. The fact that forward bilge is good is great ! You need to clean you bilge.. In this case pull you batteries pull the battery tray and planks and scrub it clean.. A bilge flush agent may be nice for the entire engine room area..