Fitting a drip tray

[HenryG]

I've just aquired an old Caribbean Broads Cruiser. I'm getting it ready for it's Boat Safety examination and struggling with the bit about needing a separate bilge or drip tray under the engine. It's a BMC 1.5. Is there a quick fix? I'm guessing that fitting a bilge sock is not good enough.

 

[TQA]

A dispsable foil roasting tin can usually be persuaded to fit underneath. Disposable nappies are cheaper than the bilge socks the swindalries sell and do job just as well.

I have an old Perkins so you can guess why I know all this stuff.

 

[chrishelen]

Hi I have just got my boat coded for passengers and one of the surveyors many quirks was a drip tray under the engine, even though the bilges are spotless.

After much thought I used a tin paint roller tray, large type, you can even make holes in the sides and suspend it from the engine ( somehow)

I was amazed when he was happy with this arrangement.
Good luck.

 

[lw395]

Cat litter tray or plant propagator base.

 

[lynall]

You can use a proper oil/water seperator filter in the bilge pump pipework

 

[SteveSarabande]

I use an old washing up bowl

 

[VicS]

A dispsable foil roasting tin can usually be persuaded to fit underneath. Disposable nappies are cheaper than the bilge socks the swindalries sell and do job just as well.

I have an old Perkins so you can guess why I know all this stuff.

Disposable nappies will soak up water.. then they don't soak up the oil. The "proper" oil absorbent socks will soak up the oil and leave the water. They can be wrung out and reused They are much better for the job.

 

[HenryG]

You can use a proper oil/water seperator filter in the bilge pump pipework

Is that compliant with the Safety Cert?

I wonder if a foil tray would be deemed tough enough and a washing up bowl would be too small. It's pretty clear that the drip trat needs to be the full length of the engine.

 

[TQA]

Disposable nappies will soak up water.. then they don't soak up the oil. The "proper" oil absorbent socks will soak up the oil and leave the water. They can be wrung out and reused They are much better for the job.

I must be lucky with my ersatz Pampers then cos they sure suck up the oil.

As for wring out and reusing I am a big believer in reduce reuse recycle but wringing out bilge waste then putting it back on my boat eeeuuuugh. Nope.

 

[Nigel-in-Oxford]

Is that compliant with the Safety Cert?

Yes as long as it's a dedicated bilge.

 

[Dave_Seager]

The BSCS Guide says that the bilge area around the engine must be separate from the rest of the bilges or an oil tray must be fitted so that oil leaks cannot spread to other parts of the bilge. If a bilge pump is fitted to an area where oil leaks might occur then a suitable filter must be installed.

It is unlikely that oil absorbers would meet this requirement.

 

[fergycool]

I've always thought that some sort of high temperature silicon tray, as is used for baking, would be brilliant for a oil drip tray. Flexible with a lip. So a few rectangular sizes would fit many different engine/bilge combinations. If I was not so lazy I'd go on Dragon's Den!

Flexible so easily removable too!

 

[abraxus]

I've always thought that some sort of high temperature silicon tray, as is used for baking, would be brilliant for a oil drip tray. Flexible with a lip. So a few rectangular sizes would fit many different engine/bilge combinations. If I was not so lazy I'd go on Dragon's Den!

Flexible so easily removable too!

Hmm, but if it did fill with oil, then the fact that it was flexible might make it difficult to remove without it flexing and spilling the oil.

I'm out

 

[fergycool]

Only for use on non leaky engines ;-)

 

[RobbieH]

I've always thought that some sort of high temperature silicon tray, as is used for baking, would be brilliant for a oil drip tray. Flexible with a lip. So a few rectangular sizes would fit many different engine/bilge combinations. If I was not so lazy I'd go on Dragon's Den!

Flexible so easily removable too!

Exactly what I use under engine sump and gearbox too (separate bilge compartments in an Arpege). Works a treat for the small weep I get from the engine. No leak from the gearbox.

 

[caperora]

I installed an approved bilge filter for the Broads, as long as you show the inspector the certification supplied with it no problem