bilge smells

[Jim Pohl]

I recently bought an 84 Catalina 36. There is a strong smell coming from the bilge. It seems to be worse when the engine is running. Had a complete inspection of the exhaust which is what I thought the problem was. I have been cleaning the bilge with Pinesol and have pulled buckets of black oily water out. I believe there was a major oil or diesel leak around the motor in the past. My problem is access to this area. There are two channels under the engine mount that are filled with hoses and wires. It is difficult to thouroghly clean this area and the smell persists. Could you use a power washer in this area? I know that would be drastic but I am desperate. It is making my son sick and is effecting the comfort of the cabin. I pulled the sole up around the engine and the underside is black in some areas leading to my confirmation of a fuel or oil leak - most likely diesel. Where can you buy sheets of sole material to replace these sections? I am new to boats this size and any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks. Jim Pohl

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Power washer isn't drastic...

A commercial pressure washer (upwards of 10,000 psi) would be, but a 1,000-1500 psi power washer (around $200 at Home Depot) is an invaluable tool..in fact, I dunno how anyone maintains a boat without one. And it's the perfect solution for your oily bilge. First, you need to soak up all the oil with oil absorbent bilge pads, which may be hard to do after you've emulsified it with bilge cleaner or PineSol. Once you've soaked up as much of it as possible and disposed of the pads, disable your bilge pumps and use a STRONG solution--and plenty of it--of a real degreaser/bilge cleaner. Get it EVERYwhere and let it soak for an hour...go sailing and tack a lot to slosh it around into every "nook and cranny" of your bilge. Then rinse with the power washer until the water coming out your bilge pumps is clean enough to drink. Get the last of the water that the bilge pumps leaves behind with a hand pump or shop vac and sponge. Then leave all the hatches open to let the entire bilge dry out completely. If you haven't damaged the sections of sole you pulled up, you can clean them pretty much the same way: lots of detergent/degreaser, lots of rinsing, get 'em good and dry in the sun.

 

[Jim Pohl]

Thanks

I was having nightmares about never getting this smell out. It is going into winter here in Michigan so I will not be able to do this until spring. It puts my mind at ease a little anyway. Thanks again.

 

[Steve Dion]

Clean it up now.

Jim:I would try to get a hand on this ASAP. There have been too many posts regarding diesel smells getting into the upolstery and fabrics on the boat.I would get some hot soapy water into this area and clean it the best you can now. Once the warmer weather is upon us you can do some detail cleanup.

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Steve's right...do it now

Your boat will be closed up all winter, sitting in the sun when there is any. Even in freezing weather, solar heat through hatches and ports can warm up the inside of the boat, releasing odors to permeate all your soft goods. Bundle up, put your foulies on, and do whatever it takes clean up the bilges now, or you'll wish you had next spring.