Typhoon Bilge

[Bob Chamberland]

The renovation of Typhoon # 336, Half Hitch, is almost completed. A rainstorm the other night with the boat completely open of course resulted in water in the bilge. The water I pumped out of the bilge was black with the ages accumulation of crud. My question is this. Is there some product that I can put in the bilge with a few gallons of water to slosh around for a couple of days the end result being a less loathsome bilge without destroying the hull?
Thanks, Bob Chamberland



cha62759@traverse.com

[Glenn Rountree]

I have used bilge cleaner in both my mahogony runabout, as well as occaisionally on my CD270 for a number of years now and it seems to work. What I do is pump the bilge dry if there is any water in it, then put a cup or two, plus a gallon or two clean water, then go for the bounciest ride I can find. When done, just pump it out (i usually hose a little more water in to rinse as well) it's biodegradable. Smells pretty good, kills the crud, and even breaks up any oil or grease. A quart costs $4-5, most boat supply stores have it (I get mine from West Marine lately).

Glenn CD270 #8

The renovation of Typhoon # 336, Half Hitch, is almost completed. A rainstorm the other night with the boat completely open of course resulted in water in the bilge. The water I pumped out of the bilge was black with the ages accumulation of crud. My question is this. Is there some product that I can put in the bilge with a few gallons of water to slosh around for a couple of days the end result being a less loathsome bilge without destroying the hull?
Thanks, Bob Chamberland

rountree@rountree-inc.com

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Captain Chanberland,
Try a product called "Grease Off". Comes in a spray bottle, and if you spray it on, let it sit a few minutes, wash it off with a hose, and you're done! If I were doing a Typhoon, I'd suck the dirty water out with a wet/dry vaccum cleaner. It really cleaned the bilge on Hanalei!

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei

[dan]

i read somewhere that a cup of laundry detergent down the bildge with fresh water works well...fill it up at the begining of a days sail and pump out at the end...

dan

[Jim Sullivan]

The renovation of Typhoon # 336, Half Hitch, is almost completed. A rainstorm the other night with the boat completely open of course resulted in water in the bilge. The water I pumped out of the bilge was black with the ages accumulation of crud. My question is this. Is there some product that I can put in the bilge with a few gallons of water to slosh around for a couple of days the end result being a less loathsome bilge without destroying the hull?
Thanks, Bob Chamberland

The black material you pumped out of the bilge was more than likely an accumulation of mildew over the years. Less likely would be grease or other petroleum product. I routinely clean the cabin area on my Ty each fall with a soap (liquid dish detergent) and bleach solution (1 part bleach + 3 parts water--about 1 fl.oz. of detergent to a gallon of diluted bleach. The black spotted areas of mildew in the cabin area particularly beneath the cushions quickly disappear with the soap/bleach solution. I rinse the areas thoroughly with fresh water. You might try testing a small area of the bilge with the solution described--if the blackened areas quickly become colorless, it is a pretty good indication of mildew. From my experience, it appears that soap/dilute bleach is not harmful to fiberglass and is very effective as a cleaner and mildewcide.



atea@att.net