In my (and all?) H31, there was a hole (until I filled it) in the low end of the pan under the engine that allowed any stuffing box and engine leaks to drain into another area. This area is under the companionway ladder that has a teak grate covering. This area ultimately drains into the bilge. Here's the issue: When I bought the boat, there was a diesel fuel leak. I am confident that there continues to be some fuel residue in the area between the "under engine" drain pan and the "under ladder" drain pan. I believe this area can hold a fair amount of fluid -- it does not totally drain. The boat smells. Any idea how to get rid of the fuel residue? Are there any products that "digest" diesel fuel?
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Easy one...
Clean the bilge. I don't mean just dump some bilge cleaner in it...CLEAN it. A strong solution of detergent and water to emulsify the all the spilled diesel followed by a THOROUGH rinse to get rid of ALL the dirty water. If the area is inaccessible to scrub by hand, use a power washer.
Clean the bilge. I don't mean just dump some bilge cleaner in it...CLEAN it. A strong solution of detergent and water to emulsify the all the spilled diesel followed by a THOROUGH rinse to get rid of ALL the dirty water. If the area is inaccessible to scrub by hand, use a power washer.
Do it with Joy!
I mean the "Joy" dish washing detergent. I found that it works great with fresh or salt water and it will replace the diesel smell with a very nice lemon fresh one. It also cuts grease and oil better than anything else thats mild and friendly to your hands. Good luck
I mean the "Joy" dish washing detergent. I found that it works great with fresh or salt water and it will replace the diesel smell with a very nice lemon fresh one. It also cuts grease and oil better than anything else thats mild and friendly to your hands. Good luck
cleaning diesel
Simple green also works great, really cleans the diesel, leaves a nice minty smell, and it's biodegradable
Simple green also works great, really cleans the diesel, leaves a nice minty smell, and it's biodegradable
Not that easy.
Greg: I am sure that you have cleaned up the obvious diesel in the three different areas (engine bilge, companionway bilge and the main bilge). This should clean up easily with most common cleaning products. I think the problem you are having is the fact that you may have diesel fuel trapped in between the liner and the hull. There is no way to actually clean this out. I would suggest that you try the dish detergents, simple green etc. that everyone has suggested. Mix up a solution of these products and pour it in the limber hole (Yes the one that you plugged up). You may want to try pouring it aft of the engine pan too. The water from the thru hull actually flows under the liner on some of the boats. I would use very hot water and what ever cleaner you find that works. You may also want to add some food coloring to the soapy mixture so you can see where it is entering the bilge. If you can take the boat out for a sail or a moto cruise it should help break up this stuff too. If this does not work you will need to try some other products (Orange cleaner or some other bio-degradable oil cleaners). You should really remove the fuse from your bilge pump when you do this because you may be discharging an oily mixture into the waterway. You can just pump the dirty water into a bucket and dispose of it properly. I would also suggest that you place an Oil-sorb pad under your engine. I always keep on there regardless if I have a leak or not. The pads allow water to pass through them but they trap the oil. You should do this now and alway have one there in the future.
Greg: I am sure that you have cleaned up the obvious diesel in the three different areas (engine bilge, companionway bilge and the main bilge). This should clean up easily with most common cleaning products. I think the problem you are having is the fact that you may have diesel fuel trapped in between the liner and the hull. There is no way to actually clean this out. I would suggest that you try the dish detergents, simple green etc. that everyone has suggested. Mix up a solution of these products and pour it in the limber hole (Yes the one that you plugged up). You may want to try pouring it aft of the engine pan too. The water from the thru hull actually flows under the liner on some of the boats. I would use very hot water and what ever cleaner you find that works. You may also want to add some food coloring to the soapy mixture so you can see where it is entering the bilge. If you can take the boat out for a sail or a moto cruise it should help break up this stuff too. If this does not work you will need to try some other products (Orange cleaner or some other bio-degradable oil cleaners). You should really remove the fuse from your bilge pump when you do this because you may be discharging an oily mixture into the waterway. You can just pump the dirty water into a bucket and dispose of it properly. I would also suggest that you place an Oil-sorb pad under your engine. I always keep on there regardless if I have a leak or not. The pads allow water to pass through them but they trap the oil. You should do this now and alway have one there in the future.
I have a dumb question...
Well, I can't suggest anything new regarding the diesel, but I have a question that you might be able to help me with. On my H31, the area beneath the teak grate actually does not drain anywhere. I can see that it is probably supposed to drain to the bilge, but it accumulates water that goes nowhere. I was wondering what the diameter, length and trajectory of the drain from that area was on your boat. I can see a hole, but it is either thoroughly plugged, or was a defect during the manufacture of this particular hull (1987). Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Well, I can't suggest anything new regarding the diesel, but I have a question that you might be able to help me with. On my H31, the area beneath the teak grate actually does not drain anywhere. I can see that it is probably supposed to drain to the bilge, but it accumulates water that goes nowhere. I was wondering what the diameter, length and trajectory of the drain from that area was on your boat. I can see a hole, but it is either thoroughly plugged, or was a defect during the manufacture of this particular hull (1987). Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Draining
Steve's advice is right on. There is no way to clean it by hand or powerwash. In terms of how the water drains from the "holding area" under the teak grate, the answer is that it does and it doesn't. If the water gets high enough, it drains into the bilge at the forward end of the pan (I think there are holes on each side of the forward end.) The annoying part is that a little water does not drain. It stays in a sunken area of the pan surrounding a keel bolt. The really annoying part is that you can't really sponge it out because it continues to seep from the space below the engine plan -- not enough slope, I guess. All the more reason to keep a dry boat and to plug the hole in the engine pan area.
Steve's advice is right on. There is no way to clean it by hand or powerwash. In terms of how the water drains from the "holding area" under the teak grate, the answer is that it does and it doesn't. If the water gets high enough, it drains into the bilge at the forward end of the pan (I think there are holes on each side of the forward end.) The annoying part is that a little water does not drain. It stays in a sunken area of the pan surrounding a keel bolt. The really annoying part is that you can't really sponge it out because it continues to seep from the space below the engine plan -- not enough slope, I guess. All the more reason to keep a dry boat and to plug the hole in the engine pan area.
If you can get detergent into the area,
you can also get clean water into it to rinse it all out. That's the advantage of using a power washer--it gets detergent and water, followed by clean water, into spaces you can't reach any other ways. Ok...so there will be some water left when you're done that can't be removed...but it'll be clean water, not smelly dirty water. Over time, trapped clean water does get dirty and stinky again...just flush it all out and replace it with clean water again. If you can't dry out an area, replacing all dirty water with clean water is the most important part of the job.
you can also get clean water into it to rinse it all out. That's the advantage of using a power washer--it gets detergent and water, followed by clean water, into spaces you can't reach any other ways. Ok...so there will be some water left when you're done that can't be removed...but it'll be clean water, not smelly dirty water. Over time, trapped clean water does get dirty and stinky again...just flush it all out and replace it with clean water again. If you can't dry out an area, replacing all dirty water with clean water is the most important part of the job.
oil pads
Don't forget oil pads collect an odor too. Once they get oil or diesel on them store them in an outer locker; I have a propane locker that works until I get to port. Whtever diesel touches smells for a long time.
Don't forget oil pads collect an odor too. Once they get oil or diesel on them store them in an outer locker; I have a propane locker that works until I get to port. Whtever diesel touches smells for a long time.
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