Oily Bilge

[alb40]

I read in another post somewhere that leaked engine oil is no good for the wooden hull. Whats the score with this - good or bad?

I have a 27' Johnson and Jago crusier - although it has a tray under the engine the bilge is coated with oil and diesel spills. can anyone recommend a way to clean the bilge out to get rid of the oil as it makes the boat stink!
All oil and diesel leaks have been sorted now so i need a way to clean it then it should stay clean!

Thanx in advance



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[Gordonmc]

I did this job when the oil filter decided to dump the contents of the sump into the bilge.
Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be an easy fix without unacceptable practices which would make you unwelcome in any marina/harbour/river. As much of the offending goop has to be removed physically which means a hand pump to lift oil in the bilge water, then lots of disposable nappies, cotton waste, rags and anything else that will absorb the offensive gunge. These should go straight into poly bags for proper disposal. Only when all is left is a film should you start using an emulsifier. Gunk is OK but smelly and should be used sparingly. Generic bilge cleaner is more expensive but is easier on the nose. Again, pump out the rinse-water for disposal rather than put overboard.
I have a wooden hull so after all the above I took the boat out to sea and threw in a few buckets of the briny and pumped through.
Use barrier cream on your hands, take lots of hand clean-wipes, wear coveralls and cancel social life for the weekend. Good luck with it.

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[Peterduck]

When I bought my old ketch Swallow, there was a thick deposit of oily gunge in the bilge. It looked as though the previous owner had just pulled the sump plug out and let the oil run. Worse than the oil, though, was the thick mixture of oil and dirt which had to be scraped out and dumped into a plastic bag. I agree about the smell; it compares with rotting carcases and paper-mill effluent for stomach-turning foulness. Several gallons of decreasing fluid later, all [if not all, then most]is now sweetness. Definitely one of the worst jobs available.
Peter.

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