Bildge cleaner alternative
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clean bilge
I have used dawn dish detergent, but if you have a lot of oil, you may want to lay in some mats to absorb as much as practical before. Once clean, i then use the chlorox tablets broken in half to keep things tidy.... all the best, btw if you are in a marina and run a bunch of water through with soap and oil that leaves a sheen, they may fine you or let the authorities know. Be careful with overboard discharges. dave
I have used dawn dish detergent, but if you have a lot of oil, you may want to lay in some mats to absorb as much as practical before. Once clean, i then use the chlorox tablets broken in half to keep things tidy.... all the best, btw if you are in a marina and run a bunch of water through with soap and oil that leaves a sheen, they may fine you or let the authorities know. Be careful with overboard discharges. dave
Polypropylene Fluff
Worst Marine and other chandleries sell 'oil boom' material ... the same material used to contain oil spills. These are made of rolled-up polypropylene fibers which are absorbtive for oil and soak up a LOT of free oil. Otherwise, you can use a highly concentrated detergent to emulsify the oil, and 'sop-up' the remaining 'free' oil with the polypropylene 'pillows'. Emulsification with detergent is not always such a good idea as the (dissolved) oil will be carried into the environment (but with NO 'sheen' on the water.) http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|10918|309314|311479&id=106252 If you have an oil leak its always better to use such oil boom material in the bilge as the oil will 'stick' / absorb to the material rather than the surfaces of the bilge.
Worst Marine and other chandleries sell 'oil boom' material ... the same material used to contain oil spills. These are made of rolled-up polypropylene fibers which are absorbtive for oil and soak up a LOT of free oil. Otherwise, you can use a highly concentrated detergent to emulsify the oil, and 'sop-up' the remaining 'free' oil with the polypropylene 'pillows'. Emulsification with detergent is not always such a good idea as the (dissolved) oil will be carried into the environment (but with NO 'sheen' on the water.) http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|10918|309314|311479&id=106252 If you have an oil leak its always better to use such oil boom material in the bilge as the oil will 'stick' / absorb to the material rather than the surfaces of the bilge.
i use the oil soak pillows
i keep one under the engine in the pan. it absorbs oil and keeps the bilge clean of any overflow. these are available from W.W. grainger at a fraction of the cost at marine stores. you can buy a whole case for about the cost od a couple from the marine stores. if some oil film over flows to the bilge simple green works pretty good. S/V Que Pasa?
i keep one under the engine in the pan. it absorbs oil and keeps the bilge clean of any overflow. these are available from W.W. grainger at a fraction of the cost at marine stores. you can buy a whole case for about the cost od a couple from the marine stores. if some oil film over flows to the bilge simple green works pretty good. S/V Que Pasa?
Any detergent will emulsify oil
Engine degreasers, available from any auto parts store will even soften up oil that's turned into "bubble gum" enough to get it off with a scrub brush. However, as others have said, just emulsifying it and sending it overboard is a no-no. The pads won't work if the oil has been emulsified, so before adding any detergent, use pads or pillows--changing 'em as many times as necessary--to soak up all the oil...disposing of 'em as you would used oil (marinas should have a special disposal site). Once all the oil has been removed, use a strong solution of any liquid detergent or degreaser to clean the bilge. Really CLEAN the bilge, and rinse ALL the dirty water out. You wouldn't just dump some Dawn into a sinkful of greasy dishwater, or some Scrubbing Bubbles into a bathtub full of dirty water, then pull the plug and expect to have a clean sink or tub...you can't end up with a clean bilge that way either. Never use bleach or chlorine tablets in a bilge...it's murderous to rubber, including hoses and rubber parts in bilge pumps.
Engine degreasers, available from any auto parts store will even soften up oil that's turned into "bubble gum" enough to get it off with a scrub brush. However, as others have said, just emulsifying it and sending it overboard is a no-no. The pads won't work if the oil has been emulsified, so before adding any detergent, use pads or pillows--changing 'em as many times as necessary--to soak up all the oil...disposing of 'em as you would used oil (marinas should have a special disposal site). Once all the oil has been removed, use a strong solution of any liquid detergent or degreaser to clean the bilge. Really CLEAN the bilge, and rinse ALL the dirty water out. You wouldn't just dump some Dawn into a sinkful of greasy dishwater, or some Scrubbing Bubbles into a bathtub full of dirty water, then pull the plug and expect to have a clean sink or tub...you can't end up with a clean bilge that way either. Never use bleach or chlorine tablets in a bilge...it's murderous to rubber, including hoses and rubber parts in bilge pumps.
Tide
I use Tide in mine. Of course I get as much as possible out with mats first. Then be liberal with the Tide. Down here in cajun country, you will see some of the shrimpers buying Tide by the case. I don't think they are very interested in anything except not getting caught leaving a sheen on the water.
I use Tide in mine. Of course I get as much as possible out with mats first. Then be liberal with the Tide. Down here in cajun country, you will see some of the shrimpers buying Tide by the case. I don't think they are very interested in anything except not getting caught leaving a sheen on the water.
thanks Peggy re: chlorine tabs
that explains a lot, although I had a clean bilge, the PO had used the tablets in the shower, the bilge and sink... all of the hoses were in poor shape, but had been replaced just a year prior. thanks for the info, I stand corrected and more educated dave
that explains a lot, although I had a clean bilge, the PO had used the tablets in the shower, the bilge and sink... all of the hoses were in poor shape, but had been replaced just a year prior. thanks for the info, I stand corrected and more educated dave
Pressure washer?
Anyone had any luck using a pressure washer to help clean the scum out of their bilge? I'm not so much talking about oil as the scum that seems to form over time in the last 1/2" of water that I can't seem to get rid of. I have a pretty rich culture going down there. BTW - never underestimate the attraction of clean bilge as a selling point for a used boat.
Anyone had any luck using a pressure washer to help clean the scum out of their bilge? I'm not so much talking about oil as the scum that seems to form over time in the last 1/2" of water that I can't seem to get rid of. I have a pretty rich culture going down there. BTW - never underestimate the attraction of clean bilge as a selling point for a used boat.
I wouldn't be without one
Bilge cleaning, hull cleaning, driveway, house, driveway...my 1600 psi power washer STAYS busy...best tool I ever bought. But notice I said POWER washer. Those are made for "consumer use." A commercial pressure washer has about 10x the amount of pressure...too strong for most applications on a boat. As for that last 1/2" of water...whaddaya mean you can't get rid of it??? You've never heard of a turkey baster or a manual dinghy bailer pump, a bucket and a sponge??? Or a wet vac and a sponge??? The last thing I did every single weekend before closing up my boat was suck out that last bit of water, then mop up with the sponge and leave the hatch open so it could dry out. But that extra 5 minutes of manual labor seems to be more effort than most owners are willing to do these days.
Bilge cleaning, hull cleaning, driveway, house, driveway...my 1600 psi power washer STAYS busy...best tool I ever bought. But notice I said POWER washer. Those are made for "consumer use." A commercial pressure washer has about 10x the amount of pressure...too strong for most applications on a boat. As for that last 1/2" of water...whaddaya mean you can't get rid of it??? You've never heard of a turkey baster or a manual dinghy bailer pump, a bucket and a sponge??? Or a wet vac and a sponge??? The last thing I did every single weekend before closing up my boat was suck out that last bit of water, then mop up with the sponge and leave the hatch open so it could dry out. But that extra 5 minutes of manual labor seems to be more effort than most owners are willing to do these days.
a phrase from my mom
I looked for some magic formula to take care of all the bilge gunk left by the PO of my boat. What eventually worked was a lot of good old fashioned "elbow grease."
I looked for some magic formula to take care of all the bilge gunk left by the PO of my boat. What eventually worked was a lot of good old fashioned "elbow grease."
Pressure wash bilge
Yes, if you have a real scummy bilge, take in the pressure washer. YOu will be surprised how little volume of water a 1000PSI washer uses*. I took out the sole boards, pressure washed, clean up with some soap and water and it looked almost new-and smelled fresher too! *(a 600gph bilge pump had no trouble keeping up with the water flow-but you probably want the battery charger on)
Yes, if you have a real scummy bilge, take in the pressure washer. YOu will be surprised how little volume of water a 1000PSI washer uses*. I took out the sole boards, pressure washed, clean up with some soap and water and it looked almost new-and smelled fresher too! *(a 600gph bilge pump had no trouble keeping up with the water flow-but you probably want the battery charger on)
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