Bilge day, today

[Chris Nowell]

In an effort to acquire a bilge that rivals those of Dennis and Todd, I have declared today to be "Bilge Day" on our boat. My goal is to get it clean enough to take pictures that are worthy of posting. I don't know where all the cruddy water comes from in the forward part of the bilge just forward of the pump. There's not even enough in there to make it over the ridge and into the pump area, but what's in there is mighty gross.

 

[mygirl]

Little thing I do to clean bilge is to pour degreaser full strength in bilge. Maybe 6ounces and mix with fresh water in bilg. Not enough to trigger the auto pump out. I then take a ride on boat and have the solution splash around abit. Get back to dock and with a soft brush wipe down bilge and everything gets removed nicely. Fill bilge with fresh water until auto pump out comes on. Keep water running until al solution is pumped out. You now have a grease free clean bilge. And you tested your automatic pump out. Good luck.

 

[IanBat]

Did mine yesterday.

I had a couple of oil leaks (repaired) and noticed a slight slick around the boat when I was out.

So purchased a 20L wet dry vac. A cheap mop, and good quality bilge cleaner.

Sucked all the crud out. Mixed a strong solution of degreaser and water, half a bucket.

Then mopped it, I could get right down under the engines etc with the mop. Then I vacuumed it out again. Poured the remaining clean bilge cleaner into the bilge pump sump. Got the hose out with a pressure nozzle and hosed the complete bilge out, I wanted the bilge cleaner to run through the pump and the outlet hose as I figured I would have some contamination residual in there. And yes the bilge cleaner is seawater friendly.

Result, one immaculate bilge again


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Westie]

I just pour some dish soap in the bilge followed by a bucket of hot water. Then get a toilet brush and scrub away. pull the drain plug and get the hose with a nozzle on it and rinse the soap out and I'm done. Only works when the boat is on a trailer though.
My bilge is never really dirty put after my long trip did have a little oil in it. Dish soap works quite well on oil.

 

[Chris Nowell]

Finally done;

Got all the cleaning supplies;



Then got the wet/dry vac;



And the final result;



Couldn't quite reach the far starboard corner,,,, obviously.

 

[mwph]

Nice & clean.
On a side note......MAN at all that room.

 

[IanBat]

What is all that space!!

 

[ziekman@cox.net]

Nice work!

 

[Crushin It]

Looks good - Don't forget to install your other engine before taking off.

 

[wyrman]

Looks good. You should fix the romex on your water heater. The sheath needs to be in the connector.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Looks like you got the appropriate "tools" to the job!

Welcome to the club, Chris. :smt001

 

[Chris Nowell]

Looks good. You should fix the romex on your water heater. The sheath needs to be in the connector.

Got it. Surprised neither of us picked up on that, both having worked in the electrical trade for a number of years. Thanx. Strange though, how you guys call it "romex" and us Canucks refer to it as "loomex". Weird language up here,,,,, eh?

 

[Chris Nowell]

What is all that space!!

That's what "fuel savings" looks like :smt043

It's a handy spot to have a sleep halfway through the tune up. Huge treat from the '86 21 M/C.

 

[Westie]

You need to add some coolant to that overflow bottle. There should be a mark on it that says cold. Fill it up to there.

 

[Chris Nowell]

You need to add some coolant to that overflow bottle. There should be a mark on it that says cold. Fill it up to there.

Thanx. The dealer just installed the closed cooling system and when I went to top off the a/f I noticed it was not the usual green stuff that I have from the previous boat. I have to phone them today to find out what it is, as well as what kind of gear oil they used. Went to top that up too and the "premium" stuff ain't the same color as the stuff in there; I'm guessin' they use high performance stuff in the B II's maybe?

BTW, welcome back. How was your trip? Can't believe it's been three weeks already.

 

[islandhopper00]

Looks awesome Chris. Clean boat is a happy boat.Now I need to do mine.

 

[Bob & Sue]

Looks good, when you top off the coolant there should be a bleeder valve on the thermostat housing if you don't bleed it it will not fill all the way just like a brake system if it's like mine.

 

[FootballFan]

Wow. I am inspired.

 

[bport]

Don't mix the green coolant with the orange coolant (sounds like a movie line). For real - they are not compatible.

 

[Woody]

I just cleaned up mine a couple weeks ago. I have twins and little room...barked up my shins and drew some blood but it looks good. Like in that far corner I squirt the cleaner on and let it soak a couple minutes, then spray it with the 'jet' stream of my nozzle. Mine comes off when I do that. It looks like you have a leak in that corner...see the vertical streaks?