Stuff for getting oily stuff out of bilge

N

Nanook

New Member
Joined
14 Jun 2006
Messages
4
Visit site
I was reading the May issue of Boat owner, but now have lost it. There was someone advertising some material-type stuff that you float on the surface of your bilge water in your boat, and it absorbs all the oil, but not the water. I definitely need this: can anyone remember the name of the product/advertiser - or recommend something similar that I could also use?
 
you can buy oil absorbing kit from chandleries but they are fairly expensive. i have a local PIRTEK who sell oil absorbing
pads mainly in commercial quantities ie 100+. you can usually get smaller amounts if you ask, for about a pound per pad.- thay work brilliantly.
 
Funnily enough, the disposable nappies seem to work well, and a lot cheaper than the absorbant mats from the chandlers.

If you suspend one with a bit of wire old coat hanger, or sumfin, so that it's half-in and half-out the oily water, then we find that the oil, being lighter, seems to rise into the nappie.

Haven't tried proper organic cotton ones yet.
 
If its a big spill then nappies work well, though as said they will absorb water as well. I would bale out as much as you can, into a container if necessary, then wipe dry with nappies, then scrub with a strong detergent of your choice (Bilgex, teepol or whatever), then wash with a bit of water and bail out again.
There are some things that we refer to as bilge dogs, which sit in the bilges all season and (in theory) absorb any minor amounts of oil but not the water. One made by 3M is basically a rolled up mat which absorbs the oil, another called biosok contains a substance which, they claim, breaks down the oil/diesel as well as absorbing small amounts. I've tried both and though they work they are not intended for dealing with spills or cleaning up oily bilges, IMO. The biosok one ponged a bit as well when it was given a good dollop of engine oil to deal with.
 
Thankyou everyone for all those suggestions. I'm going to start with the "Stuarts Oilpads" and try the nappies if that fails. Either way, lots cheaper than the 25 quid odd ad I saw :-)
 
Nappies work fine. I had an annoying oil leak last season and the nappies kept the engine sump clean by absorbing the oil drops. - Just roll them up when full and dump in the oily waste bin.
--------------------
hammer.thumb.gif
"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
I brought some oil absorbant sheets from compass24.com. They are a little expensive but do the job well. They only abosrb the oil and leave clean water behind. I leave a couple under my engine all the time and change them over once every 6 weeks.
 
Just a warning on the nappies. I got a bag of these from a certain shop, where everything costs 100p, and left one immersed in the bilge. It disintegrated after a couple of hours, leaving globs of gooey nappy-filler stuff swimming around in the bilge water. It was a bit of a git to clear up as well.
 
I prefer to use new ones rather than "Used" ones /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I know running boats is an expensive pastime but, really, I do draw the line at using used nappies. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
--------------------
hammer.thumb.gif
"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
Please take care of any absorbent material in oil or diesel. If it is not flame retardant then all you are doing is providing a great big wick.

I met one boat that was absorbing a diesel leak with a nappy. Diesel is hard to light in a cup but add a tiny piece of tissue and it lights easily.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top