How many vacume the bilge?

[CaseyB]

Once a week I shop vac the bilge.

[ShipShape]

My bilge (bow to stern) is spotless, unlike the rest of my boat someday the projects will end. I also vacuum my engine, which is cleaner and less greasy (none ) than my stove. I noticed a lot of ladies posted in this thread - gurls rule!

[barnakiel]

We have deep narrow bilge so vacuum is the easiest way to go.

b.

[gettinthere]

Wetvac as much of the bilge as I can. Tho not nearly as often as some here...wow!

[bobconnie]

Front to back once a week. and mop with bleach and water. A clean bilge make's for a clean ship! And it sure helps to be able to find any problems in a clean area! and you still need bilge pump screens, but they won't be full of crud ya should have cleaned out !! LOL

[banaari]

Have got an older boat and am paranoid. Keeping the bilge clean and dry as a baseline-state is the easiest way to spot problems.

[dave777]

Don't use a shop vac, which i've found isn't up to the task. I use a portable utility pump. Couple times a season at most. Would do more if I had a clone.

Also, I'd be very wary of using bleach. It's caustic to metals, things you don't want rusting.

How about Pine sol, or the cheap equivalent? Boat smells like christmas. Reminds me think of the Crazy Eddie commercials in August.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by dave777

Don't use a shop vac, which i've found isn't up to the task. I use a portable utility pump. Couple times a season at most. Would do more if I had a clone.

Also, I'd be very wary of using bleach. It's caustic to metals, things you don't want rusting.

How about Pine sol, or the cheap equivalent? Boat smells like christmas. Reminds me think of the Crazy Eddie commercials in August.

I've found the shop vac perfectly adequate, I am only pulling dust, dirt and hair out with it. I love the pss gland!!!

[sailorchic34]

Oh lordy, I don't even own a vacuum cleaner, let alone a wet dry vac. No place to store it either. I do clean the bilge by hand now and then. But then only a small portion of the bilge is accessible on my boat. The deep sump is under the engine and not really accessible at all, except via the lazzerette.

[sailorboy1]

it's a bilge, it shouldn't be super special clean