Boat cleaning

[dmksails]

I'm doing a major clean on the inside of my boat - areas under sink, storage in head are very dirty.

Is it ok to rinse into the bilge then pump overboard, assuming no oily water involved? Or would that cause other problems?

[Sailmonkey]

That's what we did when we bought our boat. Remove everything that wasn't bolted down, and attack the inside with soap/water/scrub brushes.
After done cleaning and pumping and rinsing, the dehumidifier and air conditioner were left in for a week to dry everything out.

No more weird smells!!

[GeneM]

Re: overboard - The US Clean Water Act says nothing is allowed to go into the water unless it is on the State Managed Permit. Ships sign on to the federal Vessel General Permit, which allows them to discharge normal operating things. The dividing line between ships and boats is 79 ft LOA. Under 79, for now, you are exempt from the Clean Water Act except for oil and sewage (the States control this, so check). I say for now, because a "Small Vessel General Permit" is in the works. However, I'm pretty sure the current Administration is not pursuing it.

[a64pilot]

Since you can buy some very effective bio degradable cleaners like simple green, Id go with ones that are.