Scooter36 Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Hello, I'm new here,have a 64ft narrowboat for a few months now. Does anyone know of a bilge cleaning company, around Watford way. Many thanks Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 21 minutes ago, Scooter36 said: Hello, I'm new here,have a 64ft narrowboat for a few months now. Does anyone know of a bilge cleaning company, around Watford way. Many thanks Alex You are that company !! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter36 Posted December 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Where to dispose of oily water? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Just now, Scooter36 said: Where to dispose of oily water? Take it to the oil disposal tank at the local waste tip or marina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter36 Posted December 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 They only take small amounts, have about 5 inches deep, in bilge Thanks for replying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy D'arth Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Stick it on the pump out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter36 Posted December 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 As in pump out toilet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BilgePump Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 (edited) Is this 5" in an engine bilge or along the full length of the boat? 5" of water throughout would be near to the floorboards and a couple of tons of water in a 15m x 1.5m ish bilge Sorry, just seen the mention of oily water so assume just under the engine? Edited December 7, 2020 by BilgePump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter36 Posted December 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Just in bilge, thank goodness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BilgePump Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 The back deck of our old cruiser stern NB used to drain down the steps into the engine. Along with drips from the stern gland and condensation, it was always some inches deep when we went to it. Would pump it out but always an inch of water and crud left in the bottom. Every now and then we'd dry it out using nappies etc, clean it and give it a repaint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter36 Posted December 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Thanks, got a few nappies in their Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momac Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 3 hours ago, Tracy D'arth said: Stick it on the pump out. Not really a very environmentally responsible suggestion Waste oils, except edible oil, are classed as hazardous/special waste and should be disposed of accordingly. The OP should pump the oily water out into containers and dispose of it responsibly . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momac Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 By the way, in case of interest, it is possible to buy a filter that fits on the outlet of the bilge pump and filters out oil For example https://www.asap-supplies.com/products/mycelx-bk-1-bilgekleen-small-bilge-filter-3-4-npt-309101 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy D'arth Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 10 hours ago, MartynG said: Not really a very environmentally responsible suggestion Waste oils, except edible oil, are classed as hazardous/special waste and should be disposed of accordingly. The OP should pump the oily water out into containers and dispose of it responsibly . When you see the amount of oily sludge run off from highways that the sewage works happily processes you would realise that what the OP is talking of is nothing to be concerned about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momac Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 15 minutes ago, Tracy D'arth said: When you see the amount of oily sludge run off from highways that the sewage works happily processes you would realise that what the OP is talking of is nothing to be concerned about. That doesn't make the intentional discharge of engine oil into a sewer or highway drain or watercourse acceptable. I believe highway drainage doesn't normally discharge to sewage works but may discharge to a watercourse . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 Unless someone has dumped the entire sump contents into the bilge I suspect the 5" is oil floating on far more water. Pump the oil/water mix into 20/25 litre plastic containers and allow to settle. Once settled the oil will float on top of the water. Separate. How you do this depends upon what kit you have available. An easy way to do it is to use a container with a tap at the bottom. You are now left with a far more manageable quantity of oil/water that you can pour into a 5 litre can. Your local tip is at near Batchworth lock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter36 Posted December 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 Good idea, thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 13 hours ago, Scooter36 said: Thanks, got a few nappies in their Dont leave them in very long or they will disintegrate into a bloody great mess ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 13 minutes ago, mrsmelly said: Dont leave them in very long or they will disintegrate into a bloody great mess ? I don't think you are thinking of nappies .............................. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 1 minute ago, Alan de Enfield said: I don't think you are thinking of nappies .............................. ? I am lol, they make a right mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 3 hours ago, Slim said: Unless someone has dumped the entire sump contents into the bilge I suspect the 5" is oil floating on far more water. Pump the oil/water mix into 20/25 litre plastic containers and allow to settle. Once settled the oil will float on top of the water. Separate. How you do this depends upon what kit you have available. An easy way to do it is to use a container with a tap at the bottom. You are now left with a far more manageable quantity of oil/water that you can pour into a 5 litre can. Your local tip is at near Batchworth lock. Get some oil absorbent cloths (Ebay) and leave them in the bilge for a few days. They will absorb the oil and diesel, but not the water. They can then be disposed of as waste. Then put your bilge pump right on the bottom plate and pump it into clear plastic containers (so you can see if there is any oil contamination). Most of the bilge contents will be almost clean water, and can be emptied into an elsan point on mains drainage (not all are). If your oil absorbent cloths have done their job you can probably empty your bilge as low as the pump will go this way, and still get only the slightest trace of oil in the bilge water. If you encounter significant oil as the water level drops, then you may need more oil absorbent cloths, or have to dispose of the last lot removed in your local waste oil tank. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 I just leave a few nappies down there permanently and pull the fat ones out as and when. Never had a problem with them disintegrating unless I've thrown them out and they've exploded on the concrete bank. That is quite messy. I was once at a towpath mooring down in the engine hole, getting rid of some old swollen nappies and putting them onto the deck when some people walked past. I poked my head up and saw that they looked quite concerned thinking I had a baby down there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lysander Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 Cheap cat litter in an old pillowcase does the job just as well and doesn't disintegrate! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momac Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 Must say nappies are incredibly cheap . Perhaps for those who have engine bays that are not swilling with fluids or don't want to use nappies there are pads available that will absorb oil selectively , or all fluids if preferred . https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Oil-Fuel-Maintenance-Chemical-Spill-Absorbent-Pads-Workshop-Garage-Safety/111546604067?hash=item19f8b21a23:g:FWIAAOSwQJhUjrK5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BilgePump Posted December 9, 2020 Report Share Posted December 9, 2020 The stuff inside nappies is also incredible slippy like snow/ice if it breaks open. On plywood, GRP or steel it's bloomin' lethal and they're still an environmental nightmare even if just soaking up clean rainwater. Felt guilty going through hundreds of them on a flat roof as I was putting on new boards but probably should have been more concerned about the thoughts of the young lady at the Aldi checkout one day when the trolley had in it just 3x96 nappies, a compressor and welding mask! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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