The quest for fresh !

[dmunneke]

I have had a problem with bilge smell. The source is no mistery ( holding tank overflow along with long standing high water in the bilge ) The offense was committed some time last year before I owned the boat ( 36 mariner )

I have scrubbed with bleach all reachable areas, plus changed out all tanks and pumbing.

There is still a smell coming from all areas not reachable with scrub brush.

I have purched a dilutable cleaner ( Dr. Phab )
and odor contro0l agent. I have put 6 inches of water in the bilge and 4 gallons of cleaner..
So far smelling very nice.. I will update as the three days progress. I am leaving the product soakk as I gradually dilute with more water.

 

[Ghost]

Let the bleach dissipate. Then go get a couple bottles of KO. It's basically the same stuff you put on pet stains and the enzymes eat all the organic nasties that you can't reach. I had the same problem once and within 2 days the KO took care of the problem permanently. Unfortunately the bleaches and detergents kill the enzymes, so it won't work unless you can flush that out of there first. My routine these days is to start with the enzymes and give them a few days to work, and THEN I go back with the detergent and scrubbing afterwards. That way, the two approaches are more compatible with each other.

 

[Vic Willman]

You can use a Shop Vac to get the water back out, but empty it quite often, don't allow the filter inside it to get wet, or it'll stop drawing anything into it (don't ask how I know).

See Mfr's. Part # 1PKO22:

http://www.boatfix.com/elec/rarclean.asp

 

[dmunneke]

I probably will have maybe 300 gallons in the bilge when I am done.. I thought I would just go to the pumpout.. That thing wil make quick work of it I think.. Vic, whatr product do you recomend for that level of volume ?

 

[dmunneke]

Ghost, You do this on a semi regular basis ?

 

[Vic Willman]

Dave, I dunnno what to recommend with that volume of water. Raritan has a detergent bilge cleaner, but it is generally mixed 1 part detergent to 5 parts water. With the amount of water you're talking about, you'd need tons of it. I think if it were I, I'd talk to someone who does boat detailing and see what their recommendation might be.

Here's the Raritan Product; it comes in 22 oz. bottles, BoatFix offers it for $3.00 under manufacturer's retail price, per bottle:

http://www.raritaneng.com/products/cleaning_maintenance/cleans_bilges.html

http://www.boatfix.com/elec/rarclean.asp

 

[stmbtwle]

several boxes of baking soda sprinkled everywhere?