Cleaning of bilges

bigboy · May 03, 2009, 19:46:45 CET

Guys as you have noticed i have purchased another boat to replace my small 12 footer.

We will be taking the engines out for a good service and maybe spray. What do you suggest u should use to clean the bilge areas undernethe the engines ??

Thanks verymuch.

shanook · May 03, 2009, 20:03:47 CET

There are quite a few Bilge cleaners available on the market. If u dont want to spend that much use diesel to clean and then soap (dishwasher liquid) and water.
Once it is clean u can paint it with danboline, i found that it is very durable and can take some rough handling.
GOOD LUCK with ur new boat mate happy fishing.
I dont know what u guys do but when we have a new boat the first fish we catch we bleed it and spread the blood all over it..........

ramio · May 03, 2009, 21:48:59 CET

Yeh! First you spend hours cleaning the bilges and the surround, then you mess it all up again!!! Funny but thats what I ended doing myself, although not on purpose. We caught an alunga, and it came off the hook inside the boat before I could get my hands on it. I tell you its easier catching them in the water than from inside a boat!!

bigboy · May 03, 2009, 21:58:06 CET

Shanook with no doubt i will be spreading some blood around the boat

Thanks for the info regards bilge cleaning

rammx · May 04, 2009, 08:21:15 CET

mela use the lidl sgrassatore LOL

The_Gaffer · May 04, 2009, 08:55:32 CET

Tidhaq xejn rammx, ghax tajjeb hafna dak!
Bigboy, get a good degreaser, and mix with water and give the bilges a good scrub. Then just rinse with soap and water. That wayn you remove all the sludge and leave no oil residue which could prevent any paint from bonding to the surface of the bilges.

camkev · May 04, 2009, 12:26:48 CET

Is hamerite paint good to paint near the bilges?

shanook · May 04, 2009, 14:18:51 CET

hammerite isnot good, it is a porous type of paint. Better use a good quality paint under the engines as once done u need to leave it for quite sometime. same goes for bilges u need water proof paint as u always end up with water in the bilges.

benri · May 04, 2009, 14:45:06 CET

I had bought some very good bilge paint for my previous boat from Camilleri marine in gzira (next to A1 bar and RLR). I'm not sure whether it was Epifane or Veneziani.

The_Gaffer · May 04, 2009, 16:15:30 CET

You either paint (2 or three coats) your bilges with Gelcoat, Damboline or a reputable bilge paint.

camkev · May 04, 2009, 17:30:36 CET

Tks guys.

ramio · May 04, 2009, 20:47:13 CET

Best I found when cleaning very dirty bilges is to remove all liquid and sludge that easyly comes off, then use a spray applicator to spray a film of undiluted degreaser all around the bilge. Leave for an hour, then wash with degreaser and water using a scrubber (those green ones), repeat the spraying if necesary. That's how I cleaned mine of the 10 year accumulated sludge deposited in the out of reach portions of the bilges, when I removed the whole floorings.

Regarding bilge paint. Once cleaned, sand well and apply a propper bilge paint its worth all the money you spend.

A good hint when boat is in the water, occasionally, put some fresh water with degreaser in the bilges, and leave to splash about on the moorings. Keep in mind not to bilge out with the bilge pump unless its a gear pump, as the parafin in the degreaser will damage the pump, and don't dispose in the sea as it polutes.

mellieha · May 05, 2009, 09:21:58 CET

this week a salesman came into my shop promoting a product that is a greese preventer. This is sort of a wax/oil (if diluted) that is applied on the bilges so that any liquid that is accumulated can slide easily out into the pump. This is applied after paint and it claims to protect the paint and be sort of a lubricant between the paint and oils.

I do not know if it works since I did not try it but after reflection I said to avoid oil I am adding oil myself.
I do not know if it is worth it,

Cleaning of bilges

bigboy

bigboy