How to clean bilge area of boat

[livemusic]

I suppose 'bilge area' is apropos for the section of the boat where the gas tank and batteries are? I have a 1999 model 19 ft fiberglass ProGator with 150hp Merc with a 24v Minn Kota troll motor, so, three batteries back there. I've also had water deep in the bilge area at least once. I know that because I did it; forgot to put the plug in. Water sloshed around back there. And when I bought it, it was pretty grungy back there. How could I clean this? Anyone ever done this and have any advice? As for the scrubbing itself, I really need to find a tiny person (kid?) small enough to get to it well! I wish there was something like oven spray you could just spray on and rinse off, lol. I wonder what all that dark, grungy stuff is? From batteries or just what, I dunno. Now, I have been in some grungy lakes, too!

 

EDIT:  I find this link -- cleaning bilge area -- so, there is hope!

[Captain Phil]

Simple Green

[A-Jay]

There's no real secret or trick to cleaning that space.

Most any suitable de-greaser with do the job.

However, it's all about Access - rarely is it easy.

My aluminum rig allows it but I have to be willing to dismantle a fair amount of my decking.

Lots of hardware to remove & replace but it's doable, just very time consuming. 

A Glass rig might be a different story.

A-Jay

[Ski]

Remove everything possible, take to a pressure wash station, spend some time draining and wiping. Allow to air dry or use leaf blower.

Clean all connections, lubricate where needed, reinstall equipment.

Just my thoughts.

R/Ski

[Jigfishn10]

18 minutes ago, livemusic said:

 I wish there was something like oven spray you could just spray on and rinse off, lol.

Hahahah...yeah, that might be a good idea to avoid using...at least you're thinking...?

[Way north bass guy]

My boats have all been pretty clean so I’ve not had to worry about it, but I’ve read many times about putting a bar of soap in the bilge with several gallons of water, and then towing it down the road a bit to swish it all around, then Jack up the front end and rinse it out. Seems like something that might work. 

[Deephaven]

Foam cannon with soap and degreaser, wheel woolie to reach areas that are harder to scrub, tire brushes, and a high pressure rinse.  If you can foam/scrub with hot water it will be even easier.  Regrettably hot water pressure washers are spendy.

 

I would personaly di-electric all your electric connections and clean up any wiring first....but this you should do upon buying any boat right away IMO.

[Shimano_1]

Any rig I've ever had I had to remove the batteries etc and it can be done. Kinda tricky but do able. Pretty sure we used simple green as well last time and a scrub brush and then just rinsed it all out good while the front end was higher and let it drain good and air dry!

[GreenPig]

Get empty water, poke a small hole in the cap, and fill with Simple Green. Spray the area you want clean and can access. Scrub with your choice of brush and rinse. Repeat until you're happy with the results or too tired to continue.

[HenryPF]

I always just let some water get into the bilge and threw some dawn in there and let the agitation of towing or driving the boat around do the work for me (with plug in).

[Way2slow]

Spray Nine and a pressure washer with the boat tilted up enough the water runs out the drain plug.  I don't take anything out, it all gets washed.  I don't worry about any crud that might be under the batteries, that gets cleaned when I change batteries.

Just wear safety glasses and be willing to get wet, more than once it's going to blow back in your face.

[livemusic]

2 hours ago, Way2slow said:

Spray Nine and a pressure washer with the boat tilted up enough the water runs out the drain plug.  I don't take anything out, it all gets washed.  I don't worry about any crud that might be under the batteries, that gets cleaned when I change batteries.

Just wear safety glasses and be willing to get wet, more than once it's going to blow back in your face.

 

I have never heard of Spray Nine. Do you soak the area with that before you use the pressure washer or just how do you do it? What about the gas tank... any precautions there or just get after it with no concern? And batteries/connections, wash them or stay away?

[E-rude dude]

When I cracked a battery once, a jumbo large box of baking soda, garden hose, and a scrub brush cleaned up my bilge nicely. I still vacuum out about a Tbsp of baking soda every year, so it’s still scrubbing it clean

[Way2slow]

I've been using Spray Nine since about 1970.  It's about the best all purpose cleaner/degreaser I've come across.  When I was in the Air Force, it was hard to find in a lot of areas, so we ordered it five cases at the time from the manufacture.  That was the minimum they would ship.

 

Check Home Depots cleaning supplies, if they are not out, they carry it.  The problem is, it's about 99.5% effective antibacterial so they are out of it a lot.  Kroger's and some other large chains carry it.  It's in a white bottle with yellow label.  Just be careful on some painted surfaces that have cheap paint, it will may take some of it off.  The white lettering cars us on the plastic/rubber knob, it can melt some of those also, but it cleans the crap out of the goo buildup on the steering wheels and arm rest. 

I was everything, if your batteries have caps, just be careful you don't blow the caps off, which shouldn't be a problem if they fit tight.  If the oil tank is in there, be a little careful around the top of it.  Gas tank should only have one hole and that's outside where you put gas in it.  If the spout is on the inside, put a heavy plastic bag, like a ziplock freezer, over it and tape it down.  My pressure washer is 3,600 PSI @ 4.0 GPM, so it doesn't play around.  Get it too close and it can rip wood up. 

It also does a great job on vinyl, but don't put it on your boat seat.  Marine vinyl has a UV protective film on it that strong cleaners can take off.  Loosing your UV guard layer.