Remove sludge in bilge

[rucamana]

Hello everyone, Im trying to clean up a  lot of sludge in the bilge of my 225 Explorer. My guess is that the PO spilled some oil before I bought it and was never cleaned.
I use a product called Heller Glanz bilge cleaner which help a lot but it ran out pretty quick and I still need more, the only bad thing is that cost $20 a gallon + almost another $20 for shipping.

Is there any other chemical out there that can help?

Thank you,

[seabob4]

Try this.  Put the garboard drain plug in, shoot a decent amount of Dawn in the bilge, fill about 1/3 of the way full from the hose, then walk away and have a beer.  Let the Dawn do it's thing.

1/2 hour later, pull the drain plug, and continue to hose down the bilge.  Keep it up after most of the water drains out, you'll still have a lot of suds in there.  Keep hosing it down until the suds have gone away.

You'll be surprised what Dawn can do.  One of the reasons most boat builders have cases of it on hand...

[rucamana]

Thank you for the prompt reply,
I thought about Dawn bc when the oil spill in the Gulf they showed on TV using it to clean some animals and specially the birds.

I have not been out for at least 3 months, will take it out for a warm up this weekend and will use the Dawn before leaving the dock on my way back home, by time I arrive it should be better, then a good wash

thanks again

[Circle Hooked]

Welcome ruca, what year is your Explorer?

I second the Dawn it's good stuff and cheap  

It's also a great dog shampoo, kills fleas on contact.

[GoneFission]

Put the Dawn (or other cheapo dishwashing soap) in the bilge with some water - then take the boat out and run it around a bit.  Jump some wakes, make some tight turns, etc.  What you want to do is get that stuff sloshing around in the bilge.  The sloshing is what breaks up the grime and sludge.  Then pull the boat out and drain the bilge.  Usually comes out clean and even smells nice!  

[rucamana]

The Aqua is a 2000, with a Johnson 200, I have been out boating for a few years but this my first own and I love it. I dont think 200hp is enought for it when you have over 4 people but it gets me where I need to go..

I was hoping to do the Dawn wash-up this weekend but plans changed and was not possible, maybe next weekend, will keep you folks posted.

[Circle Hooked]

I have a 200 on my 97 and i agree, more the 4 people is pushing it both power wise an room wise but I have done it many times, trim tabs are a must to get it up and going with alot of people, when the day comes to re power I will put a 250 on her.

[GoneFission]

I have a 200 on my 97 and i agree, more the 4 people is pushing it both power wise an room wise but I have done it many times, trim tabs are a must to get it up and going with alot of people, when the day comes to re power I will put a 250 on her.

You may want to play around with propping a bit.  My 200 Merc 2-stroke pushes my 22-2CCP pretty well - 43-44 MPH at 5300RPM top end and good hole shot.  I am running a 5-blade Quicksilver 19 pitch that really made a difference compared to the 3-blade I was running before.

[rucamana]

I wonder how one of the new eTec 300 will move the Aqua....

[seabob4]

I wonder how one of the new eTec 300 will move the Aqua....

She was rated for 300, offered back then in the form of twin 150s.  She'd be better with twin 200s.

With twin 150s, we saw mid 50s on her sister, the 225 Osprey.  The Explorer obviously weighs more, but a single cuts down on drag.  I'd guess 47 with a single 300 Etec...

[Capt Matt]

For sale 300 etech with 2 yrs of warranty left,
drop me a PM if interested
Capt Marr

[rucamana]

I'm concern about the weight with twin 150's, plus I need to add more rigging, dual control, cables, change my new instrument panel, etc...its more security for the boater out there with twins for sure but I dont go out to far from shore, a single 300 will do the job and if it stops working BoatUs will do the rest...