Black stuff in bilge

[Connie]

I have an 87 C30 and as far as I know the last time the bilge was cleaned out was in 1999 when it was hauled out. Since getting the boat we really cleaned up the bilge and the bilge pump which was fouled with lots of black goo. After the clean up we added West Marine bilge cleaner and there is now sooty looking water in the bilge, not oil and not slimy. Is this normal and where does it come from.

 

[Lauraine]

If you left the bilge cleaner in the bilge, it's

probably the residue from the goop you cleaned out. The glass pattern in the bottom of the bilge has lots of little nooks and crannies for that stuff to hide. The bilge cleaner is probably soaking the rest of it off.