Cleaning the Bilge...

[Levi900RR]

My bilge is gross, I need to clean it. My plan is to put all the plugs in and scrub it with water and Hondabrite (S100) then shop vac out the dirty water. I dont really want to drain it all out on my driveway as its pretty full of oil and other petrol products...

Anyone have a better idea? Maybe just drain it out into a 5gal bucket??

[Ndawg12]

I don't know how expensive that Hondabrite stuff is or how it works but I've had good success with regular dishwasher detergent.

[99response]

Dawn and a scrub brush is all you need, as for the oil and stuff I try and hit that first with engine degreaser and a towel, that way it says off the driveway.

[tcody]

Add water, Tide Laundry soap and a golf ball. Drive down the raod about 10 miles, speeding up and slowing down. Drain the water out and rinse out again, should be good to go.

TLC

[ShoeDad]

Add water, Tide Laundry soap and a golf ball. Drive down the raod about 10 miles, speeding up and slowing down. Drain the water out and rinse out again, should be good to go.

TLC

Similar to this approach for my black water tank in my RV I do this: 1 Gal Hot Water 2 cups water softener (Calgon -- you can find it in your laundry section -- I use powder but have heard the liquid would work as well -- this helps so stuff doesn't stick to the sides) 1 cup tide laundry soap -- 10 pounds of ice. Drive down the road for a while....instant clean.

[jk13]

As far as draining without a mess, try to put your plug in from the bottom of the boat as a test-fit. If there is no fiberglass in the way to do that, you can take your plug to a hardware store and match up the threads to a hose/pipe fitting with a nipple on the other end (or better yet threaded pipe). Then attach an appropriate hose to that and drop it in a bucket. This will keep any unwanted chemicals or oil from running along the bottom of the boat and onto the driveway.

To temporarily close the hose, fold it over and loosely vice-grip it to keep it from leaking while you are working. Otherwise, use another short piece of pipe and cap it.

[tvano]

Add water, Tide Laundry soap and a golf ball. Drive down the raod about 10 miles, speeding up and slowing down. Drain the water out and rinse out again, should be good to go.

TLC

that must be a heck of a slice you have to put a golf ball into the bilge.

[rodman]

Simple Green or dish washing soap works the best.

[eyepeeler]

Dawn and some water in your bilge. Go ski and your bilge will self-clean.

[bcochran77371]

I have read were some people will just put a bar of Lava soap in their bilge and leave it there. I have never tried it.

[tcody]

that must be a heck of a slice you have to put a golf ball into the bilge.

Just a short putt !!!!!!!!!!!

TLC

[WakingMeHappy]

First just soap and water. Then spray the whole area with 409 cleaner. Let the 409 sit for a few minutes to beak up oil residue then wash again with soap and water.

[Michigan boarder]

I bought my boat last year from a guy that never, ever cleaned the bilge. Filthy. I sprayed it with Shout, and scrubbed it with a long handled brush, underneath everything, up on the edges, in the back under the exhaust and vent tubes, etc. Rinsed liberally. I can eat off of it now. But I don't, because I keep getting hit with golf balls when I'm under there.

[Brad B]

You are not using the boat enough.

My bilge gets full of water 3 or 4 days a week from riding, ballast, wet jackets and stuff.

And then empties when the plug is pulled.

Get out there and ride harder and get wetter - its way funner than doing bilge laundry.

[Levi900RR]

You are not using the boat enough.

My bilge gets full of water 3 or 4 days a week from riding, ballast, wet jackets and stuff.

And then empties when the plug is pulled.

Get out there and ride harder and get wetter - its way funner than doing bilge laundry.

I wish I could... a 10 month old will sure cut down on your riding time!!! Good thing she's so cool

[WakingMeHappy]

I bought my boat last year from a guy that never, ever cleaned the bilge. Filthy. I sprayed it with Shout, and scrubbed it with a long handled brush, underneath everything, up on the edges, in the back under the exhaust and vent tubes, etc. Rinsed liberally. I can eat off of it now. But I don't, because I keep getting hit with golf balls when I'm under there.

I'm trying to figure out the relationship between eating off a clean bilge and getting hit with golf balls.

[WakingMeHappy]

You are not using the boat enough.

My bilge gets full of water 3 or 4 days a week from riding, ballast, wet jackets and stuff.

And then empties when the plug is pulled.

Get out there and ride harder and get wetter - its way funner than doing bilge laundry.

Have you thought about installing a bilge pump so you don't load the bilge with extra ballast? Also, I'm told that water sloshing in the bilge can lead to starter and steering cable problems.

[martinarcher]

Mine's pretty dang clean, but we ride a lot ans it always get's just a bit of water in it. Seems to keep it clean. I've heard of throwing some cleaners down there before an outing to clean it up a bit better. Not a bad idea.

What's the deal with golf balls and clean bilges?

[Brad B]

Have you thought about installing a bilge pump so you don't load the bilge with extra ballast? Also, I'm told that water sloshing in the bilge can lead to starter and steering cable problems.

Well not really full I guess and yes theres a bilge pump.

Point is theres always water in the bilge and ski locker if you're using it for boarding and such.

So its constantly being rinsed out.

I've just never been one to worry about water in the boat from use.

But I could be wrong, I've only owned boats for 35 years.

[Levi900RR]

Well not really full I guess and yes theres a bilge pump.

Point is theres always water in the bilge and ski locker if you're using it for boarding and such.

So its constantly being rinsed out.

I've just never been one to worry about water in the boat from use.

But I could be wrong, I've only owned boats for 35 years.

I dont worry about having a little water in the bilge. I just dont want my bilge to look like a chop shop floor...

I see pics like this:

(post #3)

That is what I want my bilge to look like!!

[Brad B]

Oh my bad - y'all are talkin DD.

Since its right in the middle you can't hide it like a V-drive - LOL

Yep its gotta be clean and spiffy.

[Michigan boarder]

I'm trying to figure out the relationship between eating off a clean bilge and getting hit with golf balls.

Just a joke, in response to a couple posts above mine.

Back to the topic, there are a lot of good suggestions. Once it is clean, I think a simple rinse and wipe down at the end of the season will keep the bilge looking good.