Degreasing deep bilges

[jerryat]

A friend of mine just popped in for a chat and asked if I knew of some magic potion that would clean his bilges.

Apparently his boat bilge is around 4' 0" plus deep and have a fuel tank plonked on top of part of it. The previous owner had let the oily water slop about, made little attempt to clear it up and it now smells. He's tried Bilgex and a variety of other gunges, but the real problem appears to be getting the stuff onto the surfaces under the tank and other bits, then keeping it there to work its magic.

Off the top of my head I suggested making a simple metal deflector to clamp on the lance of his 'jet-wash' (which is too long to get 'down and under') to squirt a mixture of 'X gunge' up under the tank and other protrusions.

Never really thought about this before as, like many others these days, my bilges are relatively shallow and easy to get at.

Any other bright ideas out there please? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[sailorman]

there was a post this week about TFC (traffic film cleaner) that goes in pressure washers & car wash plants.
a concentrated Detergent

 

[trying]

TFR, traffic film remover, sprayed on with a flexible type garden sprayer then washed off with a hose.

 

[jerryat]

Oh yes, I read that thread! Trouble is I don't think he'd want to 'splash' out on such a large quantity though! Still, I'll let him know. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[sailorman]

it will be available in 5 lts

try good builders mechant or hire shop

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Had the same problem a long time ago the answer is as above use a strong detergent or degreaser and in my case a pressure washer with a flexible / directional jet. The problem nqwadays is getting rid of the washings which depends on your environmental conscience and or credentials the last bits have to be sucked out with something like a pella oil extractor. Then use bilgex to take care of any residual aroma which will quickly dissapate.

 

[jerryat]

Hi Pete,

Thanks for that. Neither my friend nor I have a flexible lance which is why I thought of clamping a temporary deflector to the end of a fixed one. Seems to be the best way so far.

His boat's ashore so pumping out into a container will be easy. Just hope all the crud comes out with it!

Cheers /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Jerry

 

[johnneale]

My bilge is 4' deep. Slosh around with strong detergent , pump oily mixture into old coke/water bottles then mop out with babies nappies (on a long stick) - we get funny comments in the supermarket, but its better than buying incontinance pads.

 

[covenanter]

Avoid chemical degreasers as the fumes will linger in the boat for weeks. Use clothes washing detergent mixed with hot water.

 

[footsoldier]

No use for de-greasing in these circumstances, but I'm reminded of a trick someone once showed me to keep the bilge clean and sweet-smelling. When motoring back in - on the level - he used to half fill the bilge with water then add a good squirt of Toilet Duck. After it had sloshed about for half an hour, emptied it out with the bilge pump. Pristine bilges.