Cleaned my ER bilge

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Lou_tribal

Lou_tribal

Guru
Joined
Jan 20, 2016
Messages
4,375
Location
Canada
Vessel Name
Bleuvet
Vessel Make
Custom Built
I just cleaned my two bilges (damned dirty job), my aft bilge that received shower drain as well as shaft seal drip and my ER bilge that receives, well junk like oil etc (yes my engine ha a small oil leak from the oil pan).
One question for you... what are you doing with water waste from cleaning bilges?

For my aft bilge, no issue it is just water containing soap residues and river water so nothing bad.
For my ER bilge as it contains a mix of water and oil this is collected put in a can.
My marina has no facility to recycle anything like that so I bring that home and go to the recycling deposit.
WHat are you doing ?

L.
 
Gaston, I can see you're not bucking for the citizen of the year award!
Your/Our environment needs all the help it can get, so why not keep a couple of oil absorbent diapers in the bilge, and dispose of them properly when they get filled?
Don't know about you, but I have grandchildren whom I would love to have the chance to enjoy nature the way I have, but the future looks bleaker every time someone pulls a stunt like that.
 
gaston said:
I go for a run down the river and hit the bilge pump when no one is watching
Click to expand...

Yeah I was doing the same until I got chase by CG helicopter for wild disposal of toxic waste.
Of course I am joking as I guess you too :)

L.
 
Greetings,
Mr. L_t. I use oil diapers in the bilge as well and on occasion, when I have vacuumed out a wet area with oil contamination, I have put a diaper in my wet-dry vac both of which are disposed of in a responsible manner. Usually at a marina or facility that accepts oil contaminated products.
 
RT Firefly said:
Greetings,
Mr. L_t. I use oil diapers in the bilge as well and on occasion, when I have vacuumed out a wet area with oil contamination, I have put a diaper in my wet-dry vac both of which are disposed of in a responsible manner. Usually at a marina or facility that accepts oil contaminated products.
Click to expand...

Good idea to put a diaper in the shop vac, thank you Mr RTF!

L.
 
Try putting oil absorb ant rag in contaner and get it to absorb the oil.
 
My bilge water isn't all that oily, it's just gross. Miscellaneous slime, dirt, shower sump goo from before I fixed both aft and forward shower sumps so they operate properly, probably some battery acid bits from when I wire brush the battery posts. Dead bugs who get trapped in the engine compartment during winterization and freeze to death in January. A few bits of plastic wire ties that shot off to some inaccessible location as I clipped the ties after a wiring job, and then they trickle out later. All sloshed around in a soup of rain and river water that trickles into the bilge somehow. It's just a few gallons a year, but still gross.
 
kthoennes said:
My bilge water isn't all that oily, it's just gross. Miscellaneous slime, dirt, shower sump goo from before I fixed both aft and forward shower sumps so they operate properly, probably some battery acid bits from when I wire brush the battery posts. Dead bugs who get trapped in the engine compartment during winterization and freeze to death in January. A few bits of plastic wire ties that shot off to some inaccessible location as I clipped the ties after a wiring job, and then they trickle out later. All sloshed around in a soup of rain and river water that trickles into the bilge somehow...
Click to expand...
Yum! Worth bottling!
The IG came with ss trays under the engines,they help keep the bilge cleaner.
 
kthoennes said:
My bilge water isn't all that oily, it's just gross. Miscellaneous slime, dirt, shower sump goo from before I fixed both aft and forward shower sumps so they operate properly, probably some battery acid bits from when I wire brush the battery posts. Dead bugs who get trapped in the engine compartment during winterization and freeze to death in January. A few bits of plastic wire ties that shot off to some inaccessible location as I clipped the ties after a wiring job, and then they trickle out later. All sloshed around in a soup of rain and river water that trickles into the bilge somehow. It's just a few gallons a year, but still gross.
Click to expand...

Strain out the wire tires and other hard stuff and pour it down the toilet. Nothing in there that the sewage treatment process can't handle.
 
Greetings,
Re: Post #10. If the "soup" is, in fact oil free, vacuum and dump it over the side. Mr. kt. IF you decide to add some sort of soap or cleaning solution to the "soup" then it would probably not be a bad idea to put it down the toilet.
 
rt firefly said:
greetings,
re: Post #10. If the "soup" is, in fact oil free, vacuum and dump it over the side. Mr. Kt. If you decide to add some sort of soap or cleaning solution to the "soup" then it would probably not be a bad idea to put it down the toilet.
Click to expand...



#2 :)
 
I bottle it up and dip my fishing tackle in it. Fish love it.
 
We always have a brush pile from yard clippings ,tree branches , etc. A few days before the big burn I'll throw anything remotely combustible on it, including oil soaked rags ,oil-contaminated water, spent racor elements, diapers ,bilge socks & the like. The water evaporates & after a liberal dose of used engine oil, one match and it's all disposed of!
One word of caution. Marshmallows roasted in this fire have a slightly off taste....
 
"A few days before the big burn"

In some states burning yard waste is illegal.

CT is one , dont ask how I know!
 
I leave an oil absorbing sausage about 3" x 4' in the bilge all the time. It only absorbs oil so it floats and any minor spill is gone in a day. When replaced I burn it in my wood stove as long as there isn't much diesel in it. When I clean the engines and bilge, I use Super Clean that breaks down oil and sludge. And when I'm well offshore, I pump it overboard.
Commercial fuel docks usually have a place for oily waste, filters, rags, etc.
 
Isn't there another thread on this topic on here somewhere, "unintended consequences?"
 
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