Painting Bilge

[marklo154]

I`m finally getting the engines pulled and replaced, but before the new ones go in I wanted to clean and paint the bilge. I was curious on the best way to clean it and the best what the best kind of paint to use would be.

[Lean Wolf]

I painted another boat of mine a few years back with two part white epoxy paint from Sherwin Williams. I cleaned it with TSP prior to painting it. The TSP did not work as well as anticipated but once I got it clean, the epoxy paint worked great and lasted for years.

[prowlersfish]

I like Bilge coat my self

[kallen]

Used a light gray ( oil based ) porch paint and washed with super clean then TSP.

[gettaway]

I used simple green and a long handled scrub brush, several times, then I washed the entire hull portion of the bilge (the bottom) with Soft-Scrub with bleach and a clean scrub brush and let it dry for a week with a fan in the engine bay with hatches open, then I wiped the whole thing down with thinner, let it dry and put on two coats of gray bilge coat.

[comodave]

I used Extreme Simple Green mixed 1 to 1 to clean the very dirty bilge and then used 2 coats of white Bilgekote paint. It looks great and is very light and easy to see around the engines.

[blair]

Hey marko I'm just glad to hear you are getting it all back in order. It's been a long haul for you and I wish you all the best of luck.
Just curious and I've always meant to ask...did you buy your Trojan from that guy in Windsor that was breaking up with his wife/girlfriend? The reason I ask, is that I almost drove down to look at it, but something about the "deal" seemed a little weird, to me.
Any way, I hope you get things ready in time for this season.You have had your share of bad boater's luck for sure.

[marklo154]

Yes, that is the boat Blair. It has been a learning experience that s for sure and I still have a long way to go and alot to learn but I`m enjoying myself doing it so I can`t complain.

[blair]

Well, the "learning curve" will continue, once you get things worked out and on the water. One of the things I learned last year, was not to leave stuff on the swim platform when you are underway. So far, we lost a 25' rope and a really nice set of swim fins. One end of that rope now hangs in one of our windows, as a reminder to clean the lines before departure
I'm thinking about doing my bilge this year and plan on going with bilgekote, after a heavy-duty cleaning. I'm not going to move the engines to do it, though... I've seen a thread here on painting the bilge and the results look very nice. Bright and clean when painted white.

[Paul]

+1 on the Bilgekote.

[Bubbabuda]

+2 on the Bilgekote. Cleaned first with Lestoil degreaser. Sometimes hard to find it, only place around here is Lowes, in the cleaning isle. Warm water and Lestoil witth long handle brush. Took off 32 years of grease.

[rickalan35]

Bubba - I just shuffled through the photobucket record of your restoration endeavours and wanted to throw a compliment your way, not only for the extent of the work but also for the fact that you managed to get it done and in the water. So many people begin but then fail to get them "wet". I do remember your previous posts outlining the galley makeover. When I chanced upon that tv installation, I just had to shake my head and smile, "Where does this guy stop." Very well done. Boat looks terrific.

[Cmount]

Bildgecoat...Goes on easy and stays nice. I used Gray.

[RWS]

I did mine in Bilgecoat white.

For me, it seems to hold stains and occasional mildew.

Is there anything better?

RWS

[Bubbabuda]

Rickalan35, Thanks for your kind words. I am so pleased on the results so far. My little generator just went in last week and my new 18500 a/c and heat unit is next on the list. I have alot of pics to upload. When I work on her it's like therapy for me, and it gets me out of the house.