380: Keeping the bilges clean

[Zoid]

Between my girlfriend's long hair, the dogs constant shedding, and my hair just falling out we have a lot of hairballs finding their way all over the boat. We have been doing our best to keep it clean and avoiding getting too much down into the bilge, but after living aboard for over a year now the hair is winning. I don't want them to clog the pumps or block the hoses. So we try and clean out the bilge regularly. The problem with the 380 is the bilge is VERY thin and deep. So thin and deep that I can only reach the bottom in the very center of the bilge. The forward and aft sides are too thin to reach into. Has anyone come up with any effective way to reach into those areas to keep the bilges clean?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Drowning in hair,
Zoid

[Dulcesuenos]

I sympathize, we ave a furry shedding cat We have a portable rechargeable vac, works great. Perhaps a small portable shop vac w. Long enough hose?
, otherwise shave all your hair off lol

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[Scottster]

My girlfriends hair is everywhere, bald women just don't appeal to me.
Sorry I know that won't help you, just sayin'.


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[darylat8750]

I have a small Shop Vac. with an extension and brush. Boat would be a mess without it.

Shop Shop-Vac 2.5-Gallon 2.5-Peak-HP Shop Vacuum at Lowes.com

[yardie]

Our shower/bilge strainer had finally clogged up with hair as well. I ordered one of these off Amazon the following day. Now we have less human and pet hair rolling around the floor.

Still can't figure out how to get the last centimeter of water out the bilge. I've tried dipping a rag on a stick. Sometimes only the stick comes back

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Scottster

My girlfriends hair is everywhere, bald women just don't appeal to me.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJCIVHt2hxs

[Scottster]

They are beautiful.
I work with a paediatric oncology charity and know first hand bald can be beautiful.


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[monte]

I always just threw a sponge in the bilge with a string attached, poke it around a bit with the broom handle, retrieve, squeeze and repeat. That said the only time we had any water in the bilge was because the shower door in the port hull allowed a bit to dribble outside and pass between the floorboards. Are you getting hair with water or just hair? We always just vacuumed the floors and never had excess hair under the floor so I'm wondering how it gets there? Unless when you play hide and seek with your gf and dog they like to hide in the bilge?

[MalteseFalcon]

Wet vacuum should do the trick

[Cheechako]

Vacuum

[MalteseFalcon]

Originally Posted by yardie

Our shower/bilge strainer had finally clogged up with hair as well. I ordered one of these off Amazon the following day. Now we have less human and pet hair rolling around the floor.

Still can't figure out how to get the last centimeter of water out the bilge. I've tried dipping a rag on a stick. Sometimes only the stick comes back

try a wet vac

[MarkSF]

I spilled a little engine oil down there at the last oil change. I added some detergent, smushed it around with a brush, then vacuumed the whole lot out with a wet/dry shop vac. Then disposed of it properly. Didn't want it going in the bay.

Might be a good thing to do semi-regularly.

Walmart had the best deal. Get one with plenty of capacity.

I have the same problem, deep narrow bilge.