How many vacume the bilge?

[IdoraKeeper]

Yesterday, I was cleaning up after a four day trip to the San Juan's and lifted a hatch in the cabin sole..to my chagrin, there was dirt down there. So I vacuumed it out. My neighbors thought this excessive. I say, dirt and dust must go!

[Sailmonkey]

Once or twice a year here.

[DennisM]

I confess. I do it, too. In fact, I bought my wetvac specifically for that purpose.

[ctl411]

Do it all the time, gets the last bit of water out( keel stepped mast).

[Cotemar]

We vacuum clean and wipe dry once a week. No real water but a little condensation and dust

[AnchorageGuy]

Ours gets a good vacuuming about once a month as routine maintenance. It gets any water out, wet vac, and also any debris that might clog the bilge pump or air intake filter for the engine. Chuck

[tamicatana]

Vacuum AND bleach-mop, me

[Astrid]

Same here. It's part of the regular monthly routine.

[Tripod]

I definitly do. It's easy to spot problems early in a clean bilge.

[JPA Cate]

I vacuum the bilges or any drop locker when I open it and see there are crumbs or dust.

The shower sump gets a bail-out and vinegar-wipe once a week, so soap scum can't build up.

Ann

P.S. My old boat had wet bilges, and I LOVE dry bilges!

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by IdoraKeeper

Yesterday, I was cleaning up after a four day trip to the San Juan's and lifted a hatch in the cabin sole..to my chagrin, there was dirt down there. So I vacuumed it out. My neighbors thought this excessive. I say, dirt and dust must go!

I'm with you. It can mess up your bilge pump if it gets too cruddy down there.

[The Boat Galley]

It can definitely prevent problems with the bilge pump. And in case of an emergency, I want the bilge pumps working!

[Sailormantx]

Every time I lift a floorboard ans see dirt...clean, dry bilges are a necessity on a steel boat!

[Cheechako]

There was always water in my bilges. I've found the cheap shop vacs you buy now days are damaged by wet vac'ing. Never seem to be the same after doing it. So I dont do it. I do clean the bilge of debris regularly... with my hands if necessary. If the bilge was dry for a time for some reason I would likely vac it.

[Crimea Cruiser]

I like clean and dry, so I do as well.