Bilge Configuration

[wndsr]

Over the weekend a low oil pressure sending unit that is mounted on the interior wall of the stb engine room failed. Allowing approx 3 gallons of oil to be pumped into the bilge before I knew it was happening. The oil was contained to the area of the bilge that is inboard of the innermost engine stringer. However, the oil then ran over the center fuel tank (under the hallway floor) and ended up in the port engine room bilge in the same area. My question is, where can this oil continue to flow? Can it end up in the aft stateroom bilge? The only access I have found to the center bilges is the hatch for the fuel gauges.

 

[Nonchalant1]

The center fuel tanks and center water tank is glassed into the hull and prevents a straight run at the keel to the aft stateroom bilge. However, there are channels from the rear ER water bilge under the floors of the hall and sb stateroom that can carry water back to the aft bilge. However, it sounds like it didn't cross over the stringer into the water bilges so it will only be on and around the fuel tanks. There should be two hatches for the fuel tanks. One at the aft end of the ER passageway for the forward tank gauge and one in the hall between the mid-head and mid-stateroom. That area could let oil get on the underside of the hall floors and around the fiberglass work there.

Just some thoughts..........
There is some kind of bacteria used for big oil spills that eats oil. I wonder if you could get that and put them in your fuel tank area?
Also, oil floats on water....I wonder if you put water in there would it float the oil up where you can sop it out with paper towels (the boaters best friend) and then dry out the water afterwards?

Doug

 

[yachtsmanbill]

On the HATT TRICK Ive been using oil sorbs -- they are 3M and only soak petro stuff-- not water. They come in a box of sheets, on a roll or tubular in shape--At the power plant we called them elephant kotexs and tampoons.One tube ( 4" x 48" ) will soak up about 5 gallons of oil-- just let them float on the water; maybe tie a string for easier retreival. They do get heavy and sloppy so have a 5 gallon bucket at the ready. I buy mine through grainger for convenience, but shop around and gettem cheaper !! ws

 

[Genesis]

The Coop here has 'em for about $50/bale (100 sheets); they make great bilge diapers under the engines as well.

 

[captbuddy]

I buy these bales here in Warner Robins, Ga. for $30. I thought they had two hundred in them. Might just be 100. As Genesis said they make great diapers under the engines.

 

[Genesis]

Yep.

A half-dozen (or whatever number makes the right size "tube") bundled up with some zip ties makes a nice "sock" for the aft bilge area too - and is a hell of a lot cheaper than the pre-packaged ones for $30 at the "boat stores"!

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Best place I have found is www.absorbentsonline.com

 

[Nonchalant1]

OOPS! I checked mine (1978 53MY) when I was down at the boat and there is an overflow water channel from the port side of the top of the aft fuel tank back to the aft stateroom bilge. It's not the one that connects to the engine room bilge limber hole. It's right at the edge of the aft fuel tank. You can see the first few feet of it through the access hatch to the aft fuel tank plate in the center of the hall between the mid-head and the mid-stateroom door. You can check it for oil residue to see if the oil ever got high enough to go through it.

Doug