Cleaning bilge areas that are hard to get to

[SimonFa]

I'm a bit of an obsessive when it comes to keeping the bilges clean, but that's beside the point.

I got back in yesterday and when I checked the bilge it was full of brownish water, it didn't stink but it was definitely an ominous colour and I had a strong suspicion of what it was and where it had come from as when I'd been out I had gone far enough offshore to empty the holding tank, which I forgot to do when I can back from a trip to Studland. A quick check revealed that the macerater pump had leaked. Yuk. I suppose it hasn't been serviced in 12 years so hardly a surprise.

I cleaned up the bilges I could get to and round the macerater, and will clean the rest of that area when the service kit arrives and I take it out, finishing off with a very strong disinfectant. The problem is that the macerator is located at the stern and somehow the leak go to the main bilge compartment with the pump in without going in to accesible bilge compartments on the way. I checked that was the cause and route by pouring half a bucket of warm, disinfected water in to the area where the macerator is located and sure enough it eventually appeared in the bilge. I followed that with half a bottle of disinfectant.

So, anyone got any ideas of how to clean the bits I can't get to without removing the engine!

Thanks in advance,

Simon

PS Apologies if I've used the wrong nautical terms

 

[Tranona]

Bilgex and water then pump out.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

You need a pump with a long suction hose, I used to use my Pela engine oil pump for sucking a deep bilge dry when ever it got water or the odd splash of oil in it. Bilgex is excellent for cleaning those hard to get at areas aided by a scrubbing brush on a pole.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Wet and dry vac.

 

[johnalison]

Put some fresh water and cleaner in the bilge and go for a sail in rough water, then pump out.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

You need a pump with a long suction hose, I used to use my Pela engine oil pump for sucking a deep bilge dry when ever it got water or the odd splash of oil in it. Bilgex is excellent for cleaning those hard to get at areas aided by a scrubbing brush on a pole.

I used my Pela to remove seawater from double-skinned spaces when I had a weeping skin-fitting. Very effective, except that when I came to use my Pela for its primary purpose, oil-changing, I found that the metal reinforcement had rusted, causing leaks in several places. Luckily the manufacturers quickly supplied a replacement for about £12, AFAIR.
Next time I need to use it for H20, I'll rinse it out well and douse it thoroughly in WD40!