T&T: Bilge cleaners

[Faure, Marin]

>And current holding tank issues do not appear to be a big part of the
problem. I know the 'stinky bilge lady' has a book, but I have heard
mixed reports on her and that she seems to have her way (i.e. products
which she will sell to you) and nothing else works. Can't be true.

Boats are relatively small enclosed spaces, and if you are currently
having some sort of holding tank issue I would not dismiss it out of
hand as not being a contributor to the problem.

As hard as it may be to believe, there are people in every profession
who truly do "know it all."  I'm certainly not one of them but I believe
Peggie Hall is.  She participates in several forums to which I subscribe
and there is no question that she prefers and recommends specific
products, from toilets to cleaners, that she feels work better than
others.  But the fact is that some products DO work better than others,
sometimes a lot better

It's been my observation that when offering advice to a boater on toilet
issues, odor issues, and so on, while Peggie does recommend specific
products to help resolve the problem her advice concentrates far more on
the PROCESS by which the problem can be solved.  And it's the process
that will fix your odor problem, not the label on the can or bottle
although this can often assist the effectiveness of the process.

The secret to success here is to find the true source, or sources, of
the odor.  This is often the hardest, most labor-intensive part of the
process which is why I suspect so many people keep asking for miracle
cures in a bottle.  These may mask the problem for awhile, some longer
than others, but if the true source of the odor is not discovered and
eliminated it's just a matter of time before it will be back.

Or you can just learn to love that "old boat" smell....:-)

______________________________
C. Marin Faure
GB36-403 "La Perouse"
Bellingham, Washington