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 Cleaning the Bilge		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts
Initially Posted - 01/26/2009 :  11:35:05  Show Profile  Visit Prospector's Homepage
The posts about bilge pumps got me thinking about the times I have used ours. so far its only been to clean out the bilge at spring commissioning.

Last season i wasn't very happy with the way the bilge stayed sticky and smelly from the antifreeze we poured in to keep it from freezing in the event of a leak over the winter. Does anyone have suggestions to make the bilge a nicer place? is there anything that cuts the residue left by antifreeze in there?

This winter I hinged the bilge plate so that it will be easier to open and fix stuff/clean/access. Would dumping a bucket of water with dish soap in and then pumping it out help clean it? How about vinegar? Bleach?
"Iris"
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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1788 Posts
Response Posted - 01/26/2009 :  12:12:32  Show Profile
My fall routine over the long New England winter is to simply sponge dry the bilge (mine only ever has water from window/hatchboard leaks) and then I put a tarp on her or more recently have had her shrink wrapped. I have never used anti freeze in the bilge and would be concerned about other damage it might cause on keelbolts, etc. Is there a reason you have used antifreeze? If I used such a substance in the bilge over the winter months, when I cleaned it in spring I would use a bilge soap and rince, pump repeatedly until all was clean and not sticky
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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts
Response Posted - 01/26/2009 :  12:57:31  Show Profile  Visit aeckhart's Homepage
I can't imagine that you'd get enough water in the bilge over winter that, when frozen, would cause any damage. So long as the ice has room to expand it souldn't be a problem.
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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts
Response Posted - 01/26/2009 :  13:11:09  Show Profile  Visit Prospector's Homepage
Funny - everyone in our club puts antifreeze in the bilge, and runs a little through the bilge pump - just in case.

Maybe next year I'll forego this step.
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clayC
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts
Response Posted - 01/27/2009 :  09:28:40  Show Profile
Someone on this forum one time suggested using cheap rum as an antifreeze. I can see a new launch tradition....Shots from the bilge all around!
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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts
Response Posted - 01/27/2009 :  09:47:53  Show Profile
Instead of a sponge I use disposable diapers to pick up rain water in the bilge. Turn them inside out, and they soak up lots of gunk. Easy to grab and throw away.
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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts
Response Posted - 01/27/2009 :  11:35:04  Show Profile
<font size="1">Quote" Someone on this forum one time suggested using cheap rum as an antifreeze. I can see a new launch tradition....Shots from the bilge all around!"</font id="size1">

VODKA! Doesn't leave a residue nor a smell once pumped out. Get the really cheap stuff - about two gallons worth and a small orange juice. Pour yourself a shot, add orange juice just to prove that it is really bad stuff and then pour the two remaining gallons into the bilge.

My C25 was dry as a bone when on the water. Put her on the hard, and yes some water would accumulate. Covers in place every New England winter... Dunno... BUT what I do know is that the one winter it froze up in the bilge I was concerned about stress cracking as it was full and actually buckled the floor a tiny bit.

sten
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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1788 Posts
Response Posted - 01/27/2009 :  12:36:08  Show Profile
Maybe the vodka should be used to clean up after antifreeze -- one part to the bilge, one part to the crew. The bilge may not be as clean or dry as you might want, but by time the job was "finished" the crew -- and skipper -- could care less! Just a thought from up here in cold New England . . .
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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts
Response Posted - 01/27/2009 :  12:39:30  Show Profile
I hope you guys use RV antifreeze and not auto antifreeze. I like the vodka idea better. Does the alcohol evaporate out over the winter? If I lived way up north and got that concerned about ice, I'd be thinking about storage under a full cover, like those portable garage things (10'x20'white tarp on poles - I've got our C-22 under one here at home but maybe not too practical in a heavy snow/ice area) or inside a building. Last year there was a beautiful C-25 for sale in Colorado. That guy had a terrific idea; he was able to put his boat inside an enclosed, presumably heated, airplane hanger during the winter months. Of course, that requires a trailer. My C-25 stays in the water with a modified powerboat cover over the cabin house.
Edited by - dmpilc on 01/27/2009 12:42:56
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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts
Response Posted - 01/27/2009 :  13:22:41  Show Profile  Visit delliottg's Homepage
I guess we've been lucky, our bilge stays dry even in the monsoon-like rain we had late last year. About the only time we get water into the boat is through the main hatch, and that's usually from me hosing the boat off too vigorously. We also will get water into the boat via our extension cord which is routed through the hatch/drop door joint. I forgot to put a drip loop in it when I routed it, and the boat went through our 2' of snowfall and the melt water ran down the cord into the aft berth, soaking one of our mattresses a bit. I've since routed the line down to the sink so if it does get inside, it goes out the sink drain. I also make sure there's a drip loop immediately outside the hatch. I have the parts to put an AC line into the boat, just haven't gotten to it yet.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.