Best way to clean a bilge in a small Sports Cruiser?

Seahope said:
Just lost my previous post - server error!

Any recommended methods of cleaning the bilge without causing marina pollution? Any specific products worth their cost?
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Are you talking about engine bilge or general bilge area?

A nice new cruiser like yours shouldn't have much going on in the engine area. If its only a minor mess, lay flat on your stomach and wipe out with a few rags, put straight into a waiting garbage bag. Often a bit tight, but if you are fussy, worth it.

Edit: A clean bilge also shows any developing issues occurring.
 
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AndieMac said:
Are you talking about engine bilge or general bilge area?

A nice new cruiser like yours shouldn't have much going on in the engine area. If its only a minor mess, lay flat on your stomach and wipe out with a few rags, put straight into a waiting garbage bag. Often a bit tight, but if you are fussy, worth it.

Edit: A clean bilge also shows any developing issues occurring.
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Yes, I should have been clearer. The engine compartment is very clean and the engines still sparkly. Between the engines is the bilge with the automatic pumps. This area seems to be retain some stagnant looking water with a small amount of some sort of growth and a little oil film on the surface. I will struggle to reach to the end of the bilge.

Someone also decided to fit the automatic fire extingusher behind the starboard engine which means it can't easily be serviced so at some point I will need to install a new system :mad:
 
Is the water just fresh (rain and condensation) and a bit of algae?

Does the shower have its own separate sump and discharge or does the grey water end up in the engine bilge?

What about rags/nappies and a boat hook for hard to get at places?
 
AndieMac said:
Is the water just fresh (rain and condensation) and a bit of algae?

Does the shower have its own separate sump and discharge or does the grey water end up in the engine bilge?

What about rags/nappies and a boat hook for hard to get at places?
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I have no idea whether the water is fresh and don't fancy tasting it to find out. I guess a lot is fresh as I've noticed that water runs out of the sound insulation when I open the engine bay. I haven't figured out how it got there. It is irritating as it flows over the port engine which could cause me problems with rust in future.

I've just treated the canvas with water proofing stuff and removed the sodden cockpit carpits and will cover the engine hatches with a groundsheet to try to prevent water it getting in.

I have no idea where the water from the shower goes. I've found the waste pump under a hatch in the main cabin. When we start using the boat I will be able to tell if the shower fills the holding tank or whether this is just for the head.
 
Seahope said:
I have no idea whether the water is fresh and don't fancy tasting it to find out. I guess a lot is fresh as I've noticed that water runs out of the sound insulation when I open the engine bay. I haven't figured out how it got there. It is irritating as it flows over the port engine which could cause me problems with rust in future.

I've just treated the canvas with water proofing stuff and removed the sodden cockpit carpits and will cover the engine hatches with a groundsheet to try to prevent water it getting in.

I have no idea where the water from the shower goes. I've found the waste pump under a hatch in the main cabin. When we start using the boat I will be able to tell if the shower fills the holding tank or whether this is just for the head.
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I don't know enough about the sort of cold you guys experience during the winter months, but the condensation thing might come into play.
When the weather warms a little more and drier, think about a form of spray on protector (Inox or Lanolin based) for the engine.
Usually grey water can be discharged overboard.

Your days will start getting longer soon, and the season won't be too far away. :)
 
An engineer told me to use brake cleaning fluid to finish off wiping down and get it sparkling (not for general bilge water, of course).
Word of warning.. this stuff is pretty flamable, so dont render yourself unconscious, and make sure its all dried off and thoroughly ventilated before you explode your engine bay.
Maybe its not such a great idea, but I would say it works damn well !!
 
One of those litter picking tools that the council lengthsmen use are very useful for getting at those " hard to get at" places - you can get them from ARCO or Greenhams.
Disposable nappies have been mentioned but I find the large "Always" overnight incontinent pads are just the right shape for the bilge area between the engines. Just so long as you are not embarrased about picking them up from Asda or Tesco's:o
 
On my boat there are drain holes on the lip of the engine compartment cover. If they get blocked, water can run into the compartment itself and over the back of the engine which is definitely not good. I use a super absorbent sponge to dry the engine bilge out, this seems to manage to suck all the water out, even from the back of the bilge which is out of reach.
 
Vileda magic mop does the job a treat.

Only trouble is it is bright pink!!!!! (not good when you leave it on the anchor locker lid to dry out whilst cruising)
 
Nappies etc is our choice and then modified stick or wire to feed them around hard to get areas.
Brake cleaner fluid, I understand, is basically dry cleaning fluid and hence is great for removing dirt & grime.
 
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