Ralph Thomas wrote:

Hi,
Just purchased a 43' Gulfstar sloop. Need to clean out the bilge as
completely as possible. I don't think it's ever been done. The bilge pump
pumped out all it would, lots of oil under the engine, scooped up sludge
around the mast. In the engine room it looks like the bilge slopes down
into the keel - 5'. There is a recessed circular 'whatnot' about a foot
from the bottom toward the rear of the keel. Could that possibly be a way of
draining the keel completely? If so, what would be the procedure; I need to
insure that oil does not empty onto the ground. If it's not a drain, please
reply so.

Is the boat currently on the hard? If so, shouldn't be too hard to
catch the bilge water in a barrel.

However...soaking up the oil first with bilge "pillows" may be the
best--though not the fastest--way: add some water--but do NOT add any
detergent, bilge cleaner, Simple Grean or any other cleaning
product...they emulsfy oil, preventing the bilge pillows from soaking it
up. Replace as necessary--disposing of 'em in approved oil disposal
sites--till what's left is just dirty water.

Now you can use a detergent...lots of it--followed by thoroughly
flushing out ALL the dirty water. I'd use a pressure washer...none of
the models sold for "home" use are powerful enough to damage gelcoat or
fiberglass...beats the socks off scrubbing by hand and also gets into
places you can't get to by hand. I wouldn't be without one--not only
for bilge and boat "spring cleaning," but for a whole bunch of jobs at
home too. I've had a 1,000 psi for 10 years that I bought to clean up
the bilge (and everything else) in an old boat I'd bought that had been
sitting for 5 years...just replaced it last week with a 1600 psi that I
found at Sams for $127.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1