Diesel smell

[samuel]

On a particularly rough passage from Ijmuiden we took on some water plus spilt about 2 litres of fuel in the bilge.
The bilge of my yacht is very shallow so some fuel/water mixed & covered every thing inc clothes bedding & floorboards.
The resultant stink caused 2 of us to be violently seasick ( Dangerous considering the sea state ) plus every thing was slippery. We could only move about below by sitting & sliding across the floor. It was like ice.
Any ideas for removing the diesel from the floorboards plus from the bilges & lockers ?The water mix just seems to have spread a thin film over everything. (I have tried washing up liquid + loads of water but this does not work.)
The boat is now laid up but I cannot see how leaving the hatches open a bit will do any good in the inaccesible spots. Some of the floorboards cannot be removed as the chart table etc. has been constructed over them.
This was a point I had not noticed before & access to the pump boxes means 20 mins with a screwdriver getting some of the floor up. A pretty poor design flaw if you ask me!!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Justisla

 

[Evadne]

I've had some diesel problems over the years and I find the stuff is difficult to get rid of but :
1) the absorbent rolls (made by 3M) you leave in your bilges to absorb oil will not cope with a serious spill.
2) various bilge cleaners (Bilgex etc.) seem to work, and smell better than diesel. They are probably just very styrong detergent plus perfume. I put some in, let it swill around a bit then remove (pump out if at sea or scoop out with a bailer, teacup and sponge). I then use washing up liquid and disposable nappies to wash all the surfaces beneath the sole that I can reach.
3) I use a household spray ("Mr muscle") on the floorboards, spray on then remove with a damp cloth. It gets rid of the slipperiness on the surface.
4) When it is looking clean, put in an absorbant roll in the bilge and let it pick up any residue next season.

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[Talbot]

Mr Muscle on the floorboards, a solution of caustic soda into the bilge (with appropriate safety precautions) agitate, and pump out, rinse, repeat if necessary.

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[GSCrawford]

There was a a post on this a while back, Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner worked for me and it really shifts the grease and ingrained muck at the bottom of the bilge, the previous post suggested that it would be possible to glass onto the cleaned surface but I have not tried that yet.
I also obtained some mega nappies that also absorbed the residue, courtesy of a
charity shop (house clearance provided a load of these) that did not know what to do with them.
Graham

<hr width=100% size=1>Growing old is enevitable, growing up is optional

 

[vyv_cox]

Toilet Duck is excellent at removing the smell of diesel. I first picked this up from my son when he worked as a flotilla engineer for Sunsail and have used it myself after several spills. It is highly effective on GRP surfaces and can even help on fabrics.

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[rich]

Swarfega make a liquid solvent, i use it on the forcourt for diesel spills, works well, just wash down with water, comes in handy on the boat too, "don't tell the boss."

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.jersey-harbours.com

 

[Gunfleet]

Vyv.... welcome back nm

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[samuel]

Re: Vyv.... welcome back nm

Many thanks for suggestions
Will give them all atry
Regards
SGL

<hr width=100% size=1>Justisla

 

[gandy]

This may not be strictly relevant, but I have been told that kneading bread dough is a sure way of getting the smell of diesel off your hands.

Tony S

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[stevebrassett]

Makes the bread taste 'orrible, though.

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[samuel]

If you think I am going to roll around the bilges with a dollop of dough you have another think comming !!

<hr width=100% size=1>Justisla

 

[powerskipper]

This works may be bit different but does work,

for any area were you need things soaked up or dried up use

Disposable Nappy's, cheapest you can get your hands on . great for all spills or drying bilges etc

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://powerskipper.mysite.freeserve.com/>http://powerskipper.mysite.freeserve.com/</A>
Julie

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: Vyv.... welcome back nm

Thanks John. Not a particularly auspicious first posting in the context of Yachting, but it filled in a spare moment now we're back from 6 months cruising.

Vyv

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[Gunfleet]

Re: Vyv.... welcome back nm

Welol, the smell of diesel is pernicious if not auspicious. Tell us about the cruising when you get the chance.... most of us would love to get 6 months at a time.

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