Bilge Oil?

Jul 25, 2010
10
ABbott Abbott22 Lorain, Ohio
Water clear from onboard ice melt following last March 2019 sailing. Floating slimy jelly stuff does not stick to surfaces nor skin nor has any strong odor. Leaves no typical petroleum coloration when skimmed off. Easily pumped through portable transfer pump. Only clear waster puddle on ground with no coloration. Using Simple Green clean up. Assuming it’s not oil but dirt congealed maybe some mold. What do you folks think please so I don’t get in trouble.
 
Dec 2, 1997
8,709
- - LIttle Rock
Sailm8 is right...Bilge water is a stagnant primordial soup that left alone can make make a whole boat smell like a swamp or even a sewer. Most common sources are fridge and shower drains and AC condensate. Regular cleaning with detergent and water--REAL cleaning, not just detergent dumped into the bilge to slosh around in the soup is the right way to deal with it...rerouting drains and condensate into a sump reduces the amount of bilge cleaning necessary. Sumps need regular cleaning too, but sumps are a lot easier to clean than bilges.

--Peggie
 
May 24, 2004
7,129
CC 30 South Florida
You can clean the bilge all you want and all you will have is a clean bilge; the swampy water will remain trapped in the hull stringers only to be released under heavy rolling or yawing.