bilge cleaning tips

sail sfbay · Aug 7, 2020

The forum will have their own receipe. In my case, I start with Dawn dishwashing soap and a brush, wet vac to suck it all up then wipe it down. You can also use a bilge cleaner but depends on what the bilge is contaminated with, e.g., grease, oil, etc.

Peggie Hall HeadMistress · Aug 7, 2020

If there's any oil in the bilge, put down bilge pad(s) to soak it up BEFORE starting any cleaning. Detergents emulsify oil and once that happens you'll play hell trying to have a clean bilge. Replace pad(s) as necessary until all oil has been soaked up. Dispose of the pads in the used oil facility in your marina.

Dawn is as good as any bilge cleaner....you can use sponges, brushes and a wet vac if you want to, but it's a LOT easier to use a power washer 'cuz it can get detergent and water into places you can't reach any other way. After you've scrubbed (manually or with a power washer), it's essential that you thoroughly RINSE all the soapy water and any detergent residue out of the bilge. Would you scrub down a kitchen sink, then just walk away without rinsing? So why do you think a bilge is any different?

After you've rinsed and mopped up any standing water, let the bilge dry out for 24 hours with all hatches open to let plenty of fresh air circulate in it. NOW you're ready to paint.

--Peggie

FastOlson · Aug 7, 2020

For us - soap and water and a rinse. Next a wipe down with acetone on a rag. After sanding it all flat with 80 or 100 grit, I gel coated ours white. Many good answers to this, and anything is better than "the way it was."

dlochner · Aug 8, 2020

Since Fred's boat has an outboard, grease and oil should not be an issue. In which case a good detergent and a scrub brush will work as well as a pressure washer.

Acetone does not dissolve grease or oil very well. Try mineral spirits, it quickly dissolves grease.

thinwater · Aug 8, 2020

dlochner said:
Since Fred's boat has an outboard, grease and oil should not be an issue. In which case a good detergent and a scrub brush will work as well as a pressure washer....

The main problem is probably mildew. Borax and TSP will be the more effective cleaners, as well as killing the mildew.

Revv up · Aug 8, 2020

Simple green is pretty decent at removing gas, grease and oil and it’s a good cleaner as a bonus it’s biodegradable and non toxic

rgranger · Aug 8, 2020

Peggie Hall HeadMistress said:
... but it's a LOT easier to use a power washer...
--Peggie

I have a porter cable battery operated shop vac that I take into the boat along with my pressure washer. I do this once a year for my spring clean. I suspect any small shop vac will do... I also have a small electric pressure washer and the combo is great for getting a deep clean in the boat.

rgranger · Aug 8, 2020

Revv up said:
Simple green is pretty decent at removing gas, grease and oil and it’s a good cleaner as a bonus it’s biodegradable and non toxic

Right! What is that stuff made of anyway? I have a grease gun I use for my trailer hubs and... it got real messy. So I wiped it with simple green and it was clean again.

rgranger · Aug 8, 2020

fred1diver said:
so my bilge is all clean, thanks to all of you.
tomorrow I'm going to paint the bilge and maybe do a first coat of ablative paint on the starboard side of the hull, still need some fairing on the port side.

?
Pics

Peggie Hall HeadMistress · Aug 8, 2020

Dawn does a much better job of emulsfying grease and oil than Simple Green and costs less.

--Peggie

FastOlson · Aug 9, 2020

Perhaps I'm looking and not seeing, as the saying goes... but is there a place forward where one of the 'floors' is missing?
In general its looking real good-- a smooth shiny surface is a LOT easier to keep clean!

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