Texas Fishing Forum

Bilge

Posted By: Stump jumper

Bilge - 05/24/20 01:57 AM

I have heard of various cleaners. Dawn, lava bar, etc.. I am thinking maybe powder laundry soap or maybe some other powder cleaner like comet. Or maybe a combination of liquid and powder. I pulled out 120' of anchor rope today and it was nasty.
Posted By: Stump jumper

Re: Bilge - 05/24/20 02:09 AM

I forget about steam cleaner stashed in the closet. It should do the job on the areas I can get to.
Posted By: Flippin-Out

Re: Bilge - 05/24/20 05:07 AM

Don't forget that Dawn detergent is used by oil-spill clean-up crews to remove oil from birds; it's quite good as it is labeled - a detergent. Definitely use liquid. You'd need any powered product to dissolve first.
You didn't say what boat, or type boat, so my suggestions are general.

Put the boat on trailer if not already.
Install drain plug.
Disconnect battery so that any automatic bilge pump won't come on.
Add hot water to the bilge. How much is your discretion, based on your hull design. You'll want enough to slosh around, but don't go overboard with it.
Put some hot water in a bucket. Add a generous amount of Dawn and stir gently to dissolve.
Add the contents of the bucket to the bilge, then go for a drive!
Make sure you take some left curves, right curves, rapid stops, and rapid acceleration starts. Maybe 15 minutes or so.
Park the boat where you don't mind a sludge mess draining, and pull the plug. You might even consider running the bilge pumps some as the hoses can have crud in them also.
Be sure the nose is high so you get a good drain.
You can add a load of tap water and go for another drive just to do a rinse cycle.
The end.
Posted By: Stump jumper

Re: Bilge - 05/24/20 11:54 AM

Thanks, Fippin-Out. Boat is in my signature. 2200 Bay Champ. I disconnected the auto bilge and added water and some Dawn. I need to get more Dawn. I have about 3" of water in it now. Maybe too much. I am going to steam clean areas I can get to.
Posted By: BillS2006

Re: Bilge - 05/24/20 12:47 PM

Before "clean and dry" I would leave a little water in the bilge after loading and put a good squirt of Dawn in and let it work on the way home. Bilge stayed clean.
Posted By: Stump jumper

Re: Bilge - 05/24/20 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by BillS2006
Before "clean and dry" I would leave a little water in the bilge after loading and put a good squirt of Dawn in and let it work on the way home. Bilge stayed clean.

With a CC, self bailing cockpit, and auto bilge pump there no reason to ever pull my plug. This is one thing I like about the CC versus the Ranger I had before. I always pull it at house if I plan to fish a different lake the next time out.
Posted By: Flippin-Out

Re: Bilge - 05/24/20 07:46 PM

I recommend you always pull the plug when it's on the trailer. If there shouldn't be water (and I do understand self-bailing cockpits), then any water exiting the bilge (that theoretically shouldn't have water in it) is a warning that something is leaking! It also assists in releasing condensation. The worst thing to do to a bilge is keep it closed up tight.

In the future, try to get the Dawn and hot water in there together, adding hot water now, and more Dawn later when the water is cool decreases the effectiveness of the process.
Posted By: forkduc

Re: Bilge - 05/25/20 01:52 PM

Be used lava for years and it works!
Posted By: Diablosandwich

Re: Bilge - 05/25/20 07:31 PM

Liquid Tide.
Posted By: Flippin-Out

Re: Bilge - 05/25/20 07:55 PM

That could be a good option as laundry detergents are low-foaming. I learned of the Dawn trick long before liquid laundry detergents were a common thing. You'd definitely want liquid as the granules won't dissolve as well without the expected agitation.
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