Things You'll Need:
- 1 gal. biodegradable oil-emulsifying bilge cleaner
- Wet/dry shop vacuum
- Rags
- Oil absorbent pads
- Large plastic trash bags
-
Step 1
Launch your boat, if it is not already in the water. If your boat has a float-operated (automatic) bilge pump, turn the bilge pump off. Pour 1 qt. of the bilge cleaner into the bilge for each 24 feet of boat length. The rocking motion of the boat over a period of hours will distribute the bilge cleaner in the bilge.
-
Step 2
Allow the bilge cleaner to remain in the bilge throughout the course of a day's boating activities. If your vessel is moored on a buoy or docked at a pier, allow the bilge cleaner to remain in the bilge overnight.
-
Step 3
Pump your bilge to an approved shore facility. Pumping your boat's bilges on lakes, rivers or other navigable waters is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 under federal law.
-
Step 4
Use the rags, wet/dry shop vacuum and oil absorbent pads to mop up or otherwise remove any oily water remaining in the bilge after your boat's bilge compartment has been pumped out.
-
Step 5
Remove any debris from the bilge, place the debris in large plastic trash bags and discard in an approved container. It's rare, but it happens occasionally that food--or even fish or other marine life--have found their way into your bilge and died. Neither the bilge pump nor the bilge cleaner will remove this kind of debris. Turn the automatic bilge pump back on.
