Oh man, does my bilge stink!

[CP]

Stinks like a pile fish and crab left in the July sun for a week.  Not sure what to do about it. 

It’s an aluminum boat (RH Pro V 16) with the decking that leaves a small crack between the deck boards and the boat sides.  The drain plug is also not flush with the hull so there is always a bit water in the bilge that won’t drain out.  Smells like something crawled in there and died.   

Any suggestions short of pulling the decking? 

I’m sure there is some sort of floatation foam in there and I don’t want to hurt that.  Would bleach water be Ok?

[fishngamereaper]

I'd start with lemon joy
Mix a bunch into a couple 5 gallon buckets with water... Put the plug in, turn off bilge pump and pour it all over your deck and into the bilge.
Drive around let it slosh really good.

[Parasite]

I've been doing the bleach water trick. Works just fine.

[MADMAX]

I used to do simple green

[nwwanderer]

H2O2, hydrogen peroxide would help

[highside74]

I would say something that smells fresh and kills bacteria would be your mix. Maybe bleach and pinesol mixed in gallons of water.

[CP]

Thanks for all the suggestions.  I put 10gal of warm, soapy water with antibacterial Dawn down all the cracks and into the bilge.  That’s what I had on hand.  Sloshed that around a bit and I’ll leave it in while take it to gas up tomorrow.  If that doesn’t work, I’ll get more aggressive.

[fishngamereaper]

Careful with the ratio on bleach based products.
It'll degrade spray foam flotation and could also loosen the glue on your Marine vinyl...

[Boss .300 winmag]

I used to do simple green

Simple green has corrosion causing compounds in it, be carful to get it well flushed if using it.

The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes.

[MADMAX]

I used to do simple green

Simple green gas corrosion causing compounds in it, be carful to get it well flushed if using it.

The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes.

Learn something everyday 👍

[Boss .300 winmag]

I used to do simple green

Simple green gas corrosion causing compounds in it, be carful to get it well flushed if using it.

The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes.

Learn something everyday 👍

That’s why the Navy doesn’t use it on aircraft/ships.😉

[MADMAX]

I used to do simple green

Simple green gas corrosion causing compounds in it, be carful to get it well flushed if using it.

The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes.

Learn something everyday 👍

That’s why the Navy doesn’t use it on aircraft/ships.😉

Yea
Tolulene and dry cleaning solvent are much safer🥴😵

[Alchase]

I do not have a suggestion how to fix your problem, but I am ex Navy, I am definitely stealing your thread title

“Oh man, does my bilge stink!”

I can us that in so many situations!

Best thread of title ever

 

[blackpowderhunter]

I used to do simple green

Simple green has corrosion causing compounds in it, be carful to get it well flushed if using it.

The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes.

there is an aircraft version of simple green that is safe to use, but the off the shelf stuff, nope.
this is one of the main reasons i dunk my boat into the lake to run the motors after salt fishing, and in doing so i pull the plug and let the bilge area fill with fresh water which helps rinse it out.

[buckfvr]

Pull the floor boards and pressure wash your bilge. You need to know if your foam has soaked up a ton of water or if it is sealed in shrink wrap.  If the foam isnt sealed it will be very heavy and is mostly useless.  The ONLY way to get your bilge truly clean is by pulling up the floor.  Sand, pine needles, etc. can plug your drainage slots and either block or reduce flow to the bilge pump.  Thats my experience.