I need some suggestions on getting my stinky old bilge clean. I bought my 1971 Ericson 29 3 years ago and I don't think the PO ever cleaned the bilge. It now smells and is a mess. Looking at water there appears to be old diesel or oil in there so it is more than just dirt. I want it clean. I have tried flushing it out 3 times now with fresh water and soap. The last time I used a liberal amount of degreaser to try and break up the oil. Every time the water came out completely filthy. Do I just have to keep doing this until the water comes out reasonably clean or does anyone have a better suggestion.
Dirty Bilge
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If You Leave...
...the detergent in the bilge, it will tend to reek in a short time. So it must be cleaned out thoroughly after you start to clean. I'd suggest that once you have the cleaner in there, go out for a sail and let it slosh around a bit, also. This might help get to the spots that a brush may not reach to easily. Also, try to determine the source of the filth. Maybe it continues to add mess to the bilge and you don't realize it. And then take the proper measures to get it stopped.
...the detergent in the bilge, it will tend to reek in a short time. So it must be cleaned out thoroughly after you start to clean. I'd suggest that once you have the cleaner in there, go out for a sail and let it slosh around a bit, also. This might help get to the spots that a brush may not reach to easily. Also, try to determine the source of the filth. Maybe it continues to add mess to the bilge and you don't realize it. And then take the proper measures to get it stopped.
gotta get dirty
Hi, To the best of my knowledge, there is only one way to really clean the bilge. You need to add detergent (I use a West Marine enviromentally approved cleaner), water, mix it well, and then SCRUB the bilge with a brush, scubby pad, sponge, etc. After you have done that, rinse well with lots of water. Then get the bilge totally dry. Use the pump to get most of the water out, then use a hand pump, or something else, and finally use a sponge to get all the water out. Leave the bilge open to air out. When it is dry it will be clean. Keeping it clean is another story.... My old boat had a dripless shaft and dekc stepped mast and the bilge stayed dry (except after a big rain). My new boat has an old fashioned shaft log that drips and I can't keep the bilge dry. It also has a keel stepped mast so I get rain water in (coming in through the mast). It's been my experience that just adding water and detergent, then pumping it out will not do a thorough job of cleaning the bilge. Last comment - make sure you check under the engine to make sure you don't have a nice pool of oily greasy liquid in there. I learned the hard way that under the engine was a sort of small pool. Leaking oil, etc. would collect there. When I got the boat that pool was filled with oily water that would slosh out when the boat heeled. I cleaned it well and put a bilge pad in to collect anything that spilled. Twice a year I would clean that out and that kept the bilge clean. Good luck, Barry
Hi, To the best of my knowledge, there is only one way to really clean the bilge. You need to add detergent (I use a West Marine enviromentally approved cleaner), water, mix it well, and then SCRUB the bilge with a brush, scubby pad, sponge, etc. After you have done that, rinse well with lots of water. Then get the bilge totally dry. Use the pump to get most of the water out, then use a hand pump, or something else, and finally use a sponge to get all the water out. Leave the bilge open to air out. When it is dry it will be clean. Keeping it clean is another story.... My old boat had a dripless shaft and dekc stepped mast and the bilge stayed dry (except after a big rain). My new boat has an old fashioned shaft log that drips and I can't keep the bilge dry. It also has a keel stepped mast so I get rain water in (coming in through the mast). It's been my experience that just adding water and detergent, then pumping it out will not do a thorough job of cleaning the bilge. Last comment - make sure you check under the engine to make sure you don't have a nice pool of oily greasy liquid in there. I learned the hard way that under the engine was a sort of small pool. Leaking oil, etc. would collect there. When I got the boat that pool was filled with oily water that would slosh out when the boat heeled. I cleaned it well and put a bilge pad in to collect anything that spilled. Twice a year I would clean that out and that kept the bilge clean. Good luck, Barry
A power washer can be very useful
Use plenty of detergent and water, no bleach....go sailing and tack a lot. After a few hours the detergent has done about all it can do to emulsify the primordial soup in your bilge. If you don't want to scrub, or there are places you can't get to by hand, a power washer is the answer (about $125 for 1600 psi most places) Flushing ALL the dirty water out is the most important step. You wouldn't just dump detergent into a dirty bathtub or kitchen sink, swish it around a while, then just pull the plug and expect the tub or sink to be clean...so why do so many boat owners think that's all they have to do to have a clean bilge? If you want a clean bilge, you gotta CLEAN and then RINSE it thoroughly, same as any other tub or sink.
Use plenty of detergent and water, no bleach....go sailing and tack a lot. After a few hours the detergent has done about all it can do to emulsify the primordial soup in your bilge. If you don't want to scrub, or there are places you can't get to by hand, a power washer is the answer (about $125 for 1600 psi most places) Flushing ALL the dirty water out is the most important step. You wouldn't just dump detergent into a dirty bathtub or kitchen sink, swish it around a while, then just pull the plug and expect the tub or sink to be clean...so why do so many boat owners think that's all they have to do to have a clean bilge? If you want a clean bilge, you gotta CLEAN and then RINSE it thoroughly, same as any other tub or sink.
Power Washer - not too strong
I think I would advise you that if you use a power washer, NOT to use a strong one. As Peggy suggests, a 1600psi (or so) would do the job. My feeling is that if you use a powerful one, you may cause more damage (and mess) than you intend to do.
I think I would advise you that if you use a power washer, NOT to use a strong one. As Peggy suggests, a 1600psi (or so) would do the job. My feeling is that if you use a powerful one, you may cause more damage (and mess) than you intend to do.
I just used a 1650psi power washer on mine....
...and it is very clean. I used some bilge cleaning solution that I happened to have and then just washed the bilge with the powerwasher. It removed all the dinginess and all areas are nice and bright. No brushing or scrubbing. Surprisingly, there was not any significant spray up into the main salon from the powerwasher. This was the first time I had used a powerwasher in the bilge in nine years of use. I will admit that the bilge was not oily, just dingy and dirty.
...and it is very clean. I used some bilge cleaning solution that I happened to have and then just washed the bilge with the powerwasher. It removed all the dinginess and all areas are nice and bright. No brushing or scrubbing. Surprisingly, there was not any significant spray up into the main salon from the powerwasher. This was the first time I had used a powerwasher in the bilge in nine years of use. I will admit that the bilge was not oily, just dingy and dirty.
To enforce you point, Paul
You want to use a "consumer" POWER washer, not a pressure washer. I bought my first one--1000 psi--in 1995 specifically to clean the bilge of the "project boat" I'd just bought. Paid almost $300 for it on sale! Turned out to be one the handiest tools I ever owned...I not only used it to clean the bilge, but to wash winter off the boat each spring...wash my dock finger (keeping it clean tracks less dirt onto the boat)...at home to clean my driveway, deck, deck furniture, the eaves on my house...never had any damage and can't imagine what I'd do without one. When I finally wore that one out last year, I replaced it with 1600 psi from Sam's for $119. No damage using it either, just makes the jobs even easier than the first one. I wouldn't recommend jamming the nozzle directly up against something in the bilge or your gecoat and holding it there...but used with a little common sense, you'll wonder why it took you so long to get one.
You want to use a "consumer" POWER washer, not a pressure washer. I bought my first one--1000 psi--in 1995 specifically to clean the bilge of the "project boat" I'd just bought. Paid almost $300 for it on sale! Turned out to be one the handiest tools I ever owned...I not only used it to clean the bilge, but to wash winter off the boat each spring...wash my dock finger (keeping it clean tracks less dirt onto the boat)...at home to clean my driveway, deck, deck furniture, the eaves on my house...never had any damage and can't imagine what I'd do without one. When I finally wore that one out last year, I replaced it with 1600 psi from Sam's for $119. No damage using it either, just makes the jobs even easier than the first one. I wouldn't recommend jamming the nozzle directly up against something in the bilge or your gecoat and holding it there...but used with a little common sense, you'll wonder why it took you so long to get one.
I two word
Scabbing Bubbles.... I won't use a power washer... Pump all the water you can out of the bilge. Then you have to towel or sponge dry it. If you see water coming in from the keel bolts remember, "all keel bolts leak"; then move on. Spray the bilge down with lots of Scabbing Bubbles and scrub away until it smells good. The smell in the bilge water come from sea life or bacteria that has dies. The best way to keep it smelling nice is clean it every weekend when you leave the boat. PS: My keel bolts don't leak. Well at least not now. They will!
Scabbing Bubbles.... I won't use a power washer... Pump all the water you can out of the bilge. Then you have to towel or sponge dry it. If you see water coming in from the keel bolts remember, "all keel bolts leak"; then move on. Spray the bilge down with lots of Scabbing Bubbles and scrub away until it smells good. The smell in the bilge water come from sea life or bacteria that has dies. The best way to keep it smelling nice is clean it every weekend when you leave the boat. PS: My keel bolts don't leak. Well at least not now. They will!
TIDE
Pour a bunch of powdered tide in there, go sailing. Flush. Repeat. Whenever you feel like cleaning or sailing, repeat again.
Pour a bunch of powdered tide in there, go sailing. Flush. Repeat. Whenever you feel like cleaning or sailing, repeat again.
What is the problem with men? Cleaning is
cleaning. There is a simple and time honored method for cleaning that which needs cleaning. It involves water, detergent and elbow grease! Anything else is a cop out and a man thing! If I sailed Bietzpadlin hard enough to get all of the bilge clean I would have to spend the rest of the week putting everything back in the proper places. Just pull up the sole and roll up your sleeves and scrub out the mess. Or if you want to follow Waffle's advise then scab out the mess.
cleaning. There is a simple and time honored method for cleaning that which needs cleaning. It involves water, detergent and elbow grease! Anything else is a cop out and a man thing! If I sailed Bietzpadlin hard enough to get all of the bilge clean I would have to spend the rest of the week putting everything back in the proper places. Just pull up the sole and roll up your sleeves and scrub out the mess. Or if you want to follow Waffle's advise then scab out the mess.
Bilge Cleaning
Peggy..Head Mistress My engine leaked some oil into the bilge. I've been told if you pump oil thru the bilge pump it will ruin all the seals, and ruin the pump. When u say rinse, How do I rinse a bilge like mine that's in an integrated keel at least 5 ft deep, without pumping it out thru the bilge pump? Any suggestions?
Peggy..Head Mistress My engine leaked some oil into the bilge. I've been told if you pump oil thru the bilge pump it will ruin all the seals, and ruin the pump. When u say rinse, How do I rinse a bilge like mine that's in an integrated keel at least 5 ft deep, without pumping it out thru the bilge pump? Any suggestions?
Thanks All!
Thanks for your comments everyone. Sounds like what I have been doing is what I need to keep doing. Water, soap, scrub, rinse, repeat. I wanted to ask because I always have this sneaking suspicion there must be a better way. I guess now this time. Fair winds.
Thanks for your comments everyone. Sounds like what I have been doing is what I need to keep doing. Water, soap, scrub, rinse, repeat. I wanted to ask because I always have this sneaking suspicion there must be a better way. I guess now this time. Fair winds.
Tide
Tide is in our bildge. If you get tired of the fragrance, change the flavor. The old detergent is evaculated whenever we pump the water out.
Tide is in our bildge. If you get tired of the fragrance, change the flavor. The old detergent is evaculated whenever we pump the water out.
JB, if that were true...
Bilge pumps would have an average lifespan of about a month...'cuz almost all bilges have at least a little oil in 'em, even if it's only the accumulation of drips from the dipstick. Bleach is far more damaging to bilge pumps than a little oil. However, pumping oil overboard IS illegal and environmentally harmful. There is no bilge cleaner that can turn oil into an environmentally friendly product...bilge cleaners and detergents only emulsify it (break up the molecules), causing it to sink instead of leaving an oily sheen on the water. So it doesn't matter whether the bilge cleaner is "biodegradable/environmentally friendly" or not...once it mixes with the oil, it's not. I'm always fascinated by the number of people who practically have a spasm at the thought of toilet waste going into the water, but who think it's ok to just pour some detergent or bilge cleaner into an oily bilge and just let the bilge pump put that overboard whenever and wherever the the pump comes on. If there's oil in the bilge, use oil absorbent bilge pads to soak it up BEFORE using any bilge cleaner or detergent...'cuz once bilge cleaner is in the water, the bilge pads won't work. So, JB, the answer to your question is: first remove all the oil you can with shop vac or dinghy bailer and a bucket. Soak up the rest with bilge pads. THEN clean your bilge and flush ALL the dirty water out through the bilge pumps.
Bilge pumps would have an average lifespan of about a month...'cuz almost all bilges have at least a little oil in 'em, even if it's only the accumulation of drips from the dipstick. Bleach is far more damaging to bilge pumps than a little oil. However, pumping oil overboard IS illegal and environmentally harmful. There is no bilge cleaner that can turn oil into an environmentally friendly product...bilge cleaners and detergents only emulsify it (break up the molecules), causing it to sink instead of leaving an oily sheen on the water. So it doesn't matter whether the bilge cleaner is "biodegradable/environmentally friendly" or not...once it mixes with the oil, it's not. I'm always fascinated by the number of people who practically have a spasm at the thought of toilet waste going into the water, but who think it's ok to just pour some detergent or bilge cleaner into an oily bilge and just let the bilge pump put that overboard whenever and wherever the the pump comes on. If there's oil in the bilge, use oil absorbent bilge pads to soak it up BEFORE using any bilge cleaner or detergent...'cuz once bilge cleaner is in the water, the bilge pads won't work. So, JB, the answer to your question is: first remove all the oil you can with shop vac or dinghy bailer and a bucket. Soak up the rest with bilge pads. THEN clean your bilge and flush ALL the dirty water out through the bilge pumps.
Ross, are you making fun of my
Spelling? It is funny!! How you doing. We had our shake down cruise last week! It feels so good to be back in the water!
Spelling? It is funny!! How you doing. We had our shake down cruise last week! It feels so good to be back in the water!
Use a shop vac
The bilge on my C30 is spotless. I use a portable blige pump to pump out most of the water and debris. Then I use a wet vac to take up everything else. In the spring while the boat is up on land I'll flush the bilge with bilge cleaner. Simply filling and pumping isn't enough because as the water level goes down the oil will coat the sides of the bilge. A wet vac will suck out the oil as if floats on the surface. Once it's clean, keep it clean and you won't have any problems.
The bilge on my C30 is spotless. I use a portable blige pump to pump out most of the water and debris. Then I use a wet vac to take up everything else. In the spring while the boat is up on land I'll flush the bilge with bilge cleaner. Simply filling and pumping isn't enough because as the water level goes down the oil will coat the sides of the bilge. A wet vac will suck out the oil as if floats on the surface. Once it's clean, keep it clean and you won't have any problems.
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