How to clean out a sealed bilge?
Submitted by Josh on Sat, 2017-06-24 15:54
Hey
So I bought my first fibreglass boat, and it has a bung which appears to be made from brass. The first owner left it in the canals in Mandurah for a couple of years, so I figure it is for more long term in water use than the standard plastic bung.
When I got the boat home I got a spanner out and opened it up, and a bunch of dark old looking water came out. It doesn't smell like fuel, but just looks stagnant.
How do you clean out under the sealed deck when the only inspection port is tiny, and looks at the fuel tank? Is there some kind of detergent to fill up with?
Also is it worthwhile putting anti seize on the bung?
Cheers in advance
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
You could put some detergent in there..
...via the inspection port, and add a little clean water. get a good strong industrial type like Shell Dobatex or CT-44 Truckwash.. You don't say how large the boat is, but 4 or 5 litres or so should be enough to allow it to slosh around for a while. leave it in there, go fishing, go to sea, let the boats' pitch and roll spread it around. if their is an algal or fungal type reek to it, you could substitute some White King or Domestos for the detergent, works better on those things.
z00m
Posts: 1086
Date Joined: 10/05/14
Water
Was the water brown? Check areas where rain water could get into the bilge. Dark brown water could be a sign of rotten floors or stringers.
Josh
Posts: 283
Date Joined: 14/09/10
Cheers, I like the idea of
Cheers, I like the idea of leaving the soap in for a trip out to spread it around.
The water was fairly dark, but shouldn't be rotted timber, as apparently the boat has a 'fiber core' system, which is a one piece fibreglass stringer. Seaswirl boat.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Sounds good
Zoom is right, I forgot to mention that, the water that sits in a boat with wood rot under glass will come out brown from tannin stain. But, if there is no wood, all good . I'd go the detergent first, see how it goes. Then maybe after that is cleaned out, run a little bleach through with clean water. but I wouldn't just be mixing it up together, results of that can be dangerous, from what I have read. A thread on it here at THT, but they do mention a lot of products we dont get or see here.
www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/853030-wholly-crap-my-bilge-stinks-like.html
little johnny
Posts: 5360
Date Joined: 04/12/11
Pre mixed sugar soap
Add 2 litres then 20 of water. Put in back bung through funnel. Lower front of boat then raise front off boat ( up down) do this fair few times then drain,sugar soap kills fungus ,alg. And removes stains. And is cheap as chips.:) good luck