Cleaning the Bilge

risctaker · Post by **risctaker** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:44 pm

I got a closer than I wanted to inspection of the bilge in "Basket Case" (I think I found Jimmy Hoffa). Short of buying a few gallons of marine "bilge cleaner" has anyone come up with a good environmentally friendly substitute?

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:08 pm

There are some cleaners which say they're biodegradible, Simple Green, etc...with that being said, one can fill the bilge with degreaser and water, turn off the bilge pumps and go for a ride. Bumpin' and turning to slosh the cleaner around.

Then of course, you have to turn the pumps back on...

I'm gonna power wash the inside of my engine room when I pull it.

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:23 pm

Stripermann2 wrote:There are some cleaners which say they're biodegradible, Simple Green, etc...with that being said, one can fill the bilge with degreaser and water, turn off the bilge pumps and go for a ride. Bumpin' and turning to slosh the cleaner around.

Then of course, you have to turn the pumps back on...

I'm gonna power wash the inside of my engine room when I pull it.

And this really works well - I have done it on prior boats with great success.

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:08 pm

Dawn works well too !

Mine was N A S T Y when I got her. They even left the old sperk plugs down there, fasteners, wire ties, can tops, etc.

Of course the bilge pump was attached with a couple of wire nuts. . . .

priceless!

RWS

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:37 pm

Simple Green works great and so does greased lightening,

Allen Sr · Post by **Allen Sr** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:55 pm

I've used Mr. Clean before and it worked.

JGedridge · Post by **JGedridge** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:17 pm

I swear, after cleaning my bilge I have to be the bilge king LOL!!! jk

I scrubbed all bilges in my boat with dawn and other cleaners and I ended up painting the whole bilge. Thats what you might want to do after you clean the bilge. Regular light grey porch paint will work!

Clean bilge is everything when selling the boat too!!

Joe

Struts and Rudders · Post by **Struts and Rudders** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:25 pm

I have had great success with the Krud Kutter Professional Cleaner...found at Walmart on the home paint isle. Cheap and effective.

Spraying on to a dry engine room floor is the seems to be the key.

They also have great mildew and mold remover and inhibitor.

SRD
F36

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:47 pm

Whatever you can't get out with sloshing bilge cleaners and sprays, try hand cleaner with pumus and a scouring pad. Gets the most greasy and stuborn oil stains you can throw at it. When I first got the old girl the sloshing cleaner wasn't quite enough. Soon after trying bilge cleaners several times, I removed the genny for a rebuild and the holding tank. This gave me access to the bilge from stem to stern. Put hand cleaner in a dish soap bottle which made it great for squirting where I wanted it. A scouring pad, stiff brush and a whole lot of elbow grease got everything out squeaky clean. Rinced with garden hose, and wet vac to remove. Boat smelled like oranges for weeks!!

kevinz · Post by **kevinz** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:39 pm

Shop Vac is the ticket!! suck the water out, along with the wire ties, nuts, ect.. and then dump properly (wifes rose bush that gets you when you cut the lawn, neighbors pine trees, ...)

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:44 pm

JGedridge · Post by **JGedridge** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:08 pm

LOL AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 7:53 am

after some touch up paint during the refit . . . .

a little dab will do ya !

RWS

BobCT · Post by **BobCT** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:14 am

I'm amazed by how much "stuff" in the mid cabin is in the engine room on the express.... holding tank, A/C, freshwater pump, HW tank, etc.

ok, my useless observation of the day.

risctaker · Post by **risctaker** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:15 am

Thanks for all the great tips guys!. Hey RWS - looks like you have been spending some time down in the mechanical spaces. Nice clean machine! Do you sleep down there?