Do you clean your bilge?

[SureSet]

My boat isn't all that large and it's an outboard, but I still have a closed in area under the floor and back at the transom which gets some really interesting fungi growing. In the summer I can open up the covers and let it air dry out. Unfortunatly, this time of year it's a lost cause and I'm concerned that Fungi means eventual rot in the floor and transom wood.

Any suggestions on what should I use to remedy the situation? I've thought of Bleach, Mildicide, bathroom cleaner, etc., but some of those have bad reactions to aluminum. I'm not sure bilge cleaner is what I'm after as I thought that might be more for inboards where oil and fluids were the problem.

Any help from the minds that know?

SureSet

[CAGEY]

Sureset. I have and still use clorox and water. I put the plug in and then add about five gallons of water, add a qt of clorox. Then i raise the boat up and down to get the mix throughout the boat. I have never had a mold or fungus problem and i have not noticed any damage. Iam sure there are some commercial solvents for sale but clorox is cheap and easy to do. When done, rinse with clean water. I now have a 16 foot Sylvan with the same closed transom area as you have. I also pump RV antifreze thru my bilge pumps to keep them from freezing. Been doing both of these methods for a lot of years and have not had any problems.
Good Luck, Cagey.

[Tacklebuster]

Hi SureSet,
I agree with Cagey. Give her a clorox and water bath. When I had an outboard, I did the exact same thing. The bilge cleaners will work great but the above post is just as effective and cheaper. See ya on the river........ T

[Pilar]

Yes that works good. Ordinary dish soap and hot water works too. Can you get a brush back into the spot? I have the Mercruiser and so the bilge is confined under the engine box. This place collects all kinds of stuff.

The first rule of boats is 'It's in the bilge'.

I usually clean it up every other trip. If the ocean is the culprit, its every trip. Mold wont grow on something that gets scrubbed frequently.

[Grass Hopper]

I use simple green it smells good kills bacteria and removes oily gunk in the process.