Advice on bilge and engine cleaning

I think you should understand that the fibreglass is not 'raw', it's just that the resin used had not been pigmented with a colour and is perfectly resistant to just about everything you throw at it. If you are worried about it you can coat it with an epoxy coating available from MB Fibreglass in Belfast 02890861992 or Aldreds in Portadown 02838333320. I use it for work on fibreglass car bodies but I cannot remember the name off hand. I'll lookup the name of the epoxy stuff for you. It comes in limited colours but can be overpainted with whatever paint you want.

To clean the engine use paraffin or 28 sec central heating oil and agitate with a brush, then hose it off with a strong jet of water. That leaves a surface you can paint over but you may want to be sure and clean further with some of the detergents mentioned on other posts.

Don't use Gunk, it stinks and leaves a scum which is well nigh impossible to remove.
 
Maybe I took you up incorrectly about the 'raw' fibreglass. Is it smooth but uncoloured or rough with the matting showing as a textured surface?

Either way it is not raw and will be virtually unaffected by most things used on it. If it was not cured properly then you do have a problem but if it is just aesthetically unpleasing then forget about it; it is still perfectly good for boat bilges which harbour a multitude of nasty chemicals and bugs.

The epoxy stuff is called Hempel Sealer 599 @ £15.00 for 750 ml. I have a half full tin in grey which you are welcome to if you would like it.
 
TheOrs said:
Inspired me, that has!
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I take that as a compliment, thank you :)

If it will help you further, next time i'm at the boat (next few days) i'll take an updated pic... that will inspire you further!! We've just changed the bellows (and what goes with it), so taking a few days off the 'usual tasks', as I know the next big job is the annual compound / polish / wax (which kills me, softly).

I'd love to just pay someone to do all of these tasks, but they'll never do it to the standard I demand. We have a simple saying in Ireland "If you want it done properly, do it yourself" (One of the quotes I live by)
 
alt said:
I take that as a compliment, thank you :)
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It was indeed a compliment...

alt said:
If it will help you further, next time i'm at the boat (next few days) i'll take an updated pic... that will inspire you further!!
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Yes please. I am hoping to follow your example and give my engine bay a really good clean up before the boat goes back in the water. I've had half-hearted attempts before but I am now going to do it properly.
 
I do like to keep a clean engine bay.
It wasn't bad when I bought the boat . But improved now after a few passes at cleaning . A little wipe over every few weeks seems sufficient to keep it in order.

I use various products for washing including 'Stardrops' which is cheap. To wipe up small oily bits and try 'Greased Lightning Showroom Shine' .


.
 
Martyn please stop posting pictures of your engine bay.....I could clean mine every week for a year and still not get it looking as good as yours.

Do Sealine generally gel coat their engine bays? Or did you do your own?

+1 for Stardrops and Greased Lightning Showroom Shine. Both excellent cleaning products.
 
sprocker said:
Martyn please stop posting pictures of your engine bay.....I could clean mine every week for a year and still not get it looking as good as yours.

Do Sealine generally gel coat their engine bays? Or did you do your own?

+1 for Stardrops and Greased Lightning Showroom Shine. Both excellent cleaning products.
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My previous S23 had a gelcoat liner as does the F33.
I don’t know whether this applies to all Sealine models – probably not. The gelcoat does make the job a lot easier .
 
SAMYL said:
Maybe I took you up incorrectly about the 'raw' fibreglass. Is it smooth but uncoloured or rough with the matting showing as a textured surface?

Either way it is not raw and will be virtually unaffected by most things used on it. If it was not cured properly then you do have a problem but if it is just aesthetically unpleasing then forget about it; it is still perfectly good for boat bilges which harbour a multitude of nasty chemicals and bugs.

The epoxy stuff is called Hempel Sealer 599 @ £15.00 for 750 ml. I have a half full tin in grey which you are welcome to if you would like it.
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Thanks mate, very helpful, im going to the fibreglass place in Newtownabbey next week to get everything I need. Not raw but textured so but misleading, sorry.
I have found a bilge cleaner/degreaser that is biodegradable and used by several big boat yards in UK and is reasonably priced. I will post pictures when I start and finsh this project.
Ron
 
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I endorse the earlier recommendation of Screwfix heavy duty degreaser. No smell, under £8 for five litres and meant to be diluted! It seems far better than various boat bilge cleaners, but make sure it is not pumped overboard into the sea.
 
Thanks guys,
All very informative and helpful.
Whats your thoughts on power washing this area? i have a small ( domestic) washer that is powerful enough but not so it would strip paint or damage anything.
I can suck out the waste contaminated water into a container to dump safely later. If i protect all electrical components, connectors, and air intake im thinking that would be great for washing the dirty engine down after degreasing. I am replacing belts so not worried about the old ones.

Anything else i should consider covering up before i tackle this?
Cheers
 
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