Cleaning the bilge

[daysaver1]

Last summer when I installed the new engine in our boat I was too eager to get in the water and didn't take the time to fabricate a new drip pan under the engine. I had re-built the stainless motor mounts so the old pan wouldn't work so I merely placed an old cookie sheet under the engine. This resulted in plenty of "gook" in my 3" wide keel bilge.

One of this winter's projects is to finally fabricate the drip pan but I want to pump out the grunge in the bildge. There's not much room to get much more than a mop handle down in there so a good cleaning is going to be a time consuming task. Do you have a suggestion of what to spray/pour into the slimy mixture to help my little electric pump get the goo out?

[preaton]

Try a steam lance. That'll move it.

[Mike Rometer]

How about spraying a proprietary oil cleaner such as Jizer or, one we have here in UK, Gunk. Produced by the Granville oil Co. http://www.granvilleoil.com It softens and dilutes the oil which then disolves in water and can be washed/pumped out.

[DetroiTug]

I use Gunk engine cleaner. Spray everything down, open the hull drain and then just rinse it with a garden hose. It's clean as a whistle afterwards. Afterwards, make sure to completely dry the water and oil everything to prevent rust.

-Ron

[daysaver1]

Ron in Detroit suggested "open the hull drain"...my boat has none. Although this is a problem at times like now, it makes the increasing number of Quaga and Zebra muscle inspections, both at numerous lakes and at state inspection points easier.

[fredrosse]

My boat also has no thru-hull connections whatsoever, so when I clean up the bilges an ordinary shop vacuum is used to suck up the water. Cylinder oil and bearing oil that ends up in the bilge and sticks to everything is present. I usually wash off the engine with WD-40, it cuts the thick oil, and leaves a light protective coating as well, then I wipe all the machinery down with a WD-40 soaked rag.

I had tried all kinds of detergents and cleanars to clean up the bilge, usually with poor results, until someone at a steamboat meet recommenced "Simple Green" which is available at most US supermarkets, etc. Simple Green works very well at getting the oil off everything, bilges cleaner than ever. Spray it onto the oil laden surfaces, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off. The entire interior of my hull is epoxy coated, and thus protected from most oils and chemicals. I don't know how well Simple Green would work on an uncoated wood surfaces, but it is probably OK there too.

The only thing that I know of that could do a better job is a live steam lance (or a hot high pressure washer), however these couild easily damage to fiberglass-epoxy coating on the interior (and exterior) of my boat, and can take paint off surfaces frequently.

[DetroiTug]

Re: oily bilges, definitely need drain pans under the engines. Here in Michigan they fine for oil in the bilge water. That's one of my winter projects on the to-do list.

-Ron

[87gn@tahoe]

"Castrol Super Clean" or "Purple Power" both can be found at most automotive stores. May want to dilute them though, they're very strong

[steamboatjack]

Put some bits of oil absorbent sheets in the bilges, the type used for spills, make sure its “oil only” type, this will soak up most of the gunge.
This stuff is also ideal for use in the hotwell.
regards Jack

[steamboatjack]

Put some bits of oil absorbent sheets in the bilges, the type used for spills, make sure its “oil only” type, this will soak up most of the gunge.
This stuff is also ideal for use in the hotwell.
regards Jack