Correct way to clean 30 years of muck out of folkboat bilge

[jmennell]

I've acquired a folkboat for a backyard restoration. It's been out of the water for 30 years and the bilge is full of leaf matter and other unmentionable accumulations. I want to clean it out and also give the interior a good scrubbing so I can better evaluate the condition. What would be the appropriate cleansing solution to use, considering how dry the wood is. I didn't want the first thing to get soaked into the wood to be the cleaning solution, but I'd like the boat to get a good cleaning and some disinfecting, because I'll be spending a lot of time inside and out... he some people golf, which is not an inexpensive recreation. Thanks.

[wet feet]

Blasting it with a power washer is probably not the best idea.They can do a lot of damage quickly.A plastic scraper should move the softer stuff and you can fill bucket after bucket with the debris.When you can do no more,a very stiff scrubbing brush may move some of the remainder and if there is much left you can finish off with hot soapy water.If you are lucky,the water will collect in the bilge and demonstrate that the boat is almost watertight.This means that you are going to have to sponge the bilge clean.You wouldn't really want to put all that rubbish through the bilge pump,would you?There may be Folkboat experts who can give you some pointers for the project.Good luck.

[PAR]

Remove as much as you can by hand (or shovel) then take a shop vac to it. The goo in the low lying areas will be stubborn and probably need to be loosened with a scrapper, then it too can be vacuumed out. Eventually you'll get down to dirty and stained painted surfaces or raw wood. These areas can be cleaned with a variety of mild cleaners and water. Use something water soluble, so you can stop any reactions by hosing down an area. I like a product called Spray 9, but many other cleaners can be had, including bilge specific cleaners from the local marine store.

A pressure washer shouldn't be used. You'll remove a lot more then dirt with one and likely blast off some wood too. Don't be too afraid to use water and cleaners. After 30 years on the hard, she'll need a complete going through before stretching her sea legs again. A mild water and bleach mixture will kill most of the beasties that will be on the wood and make her smell a bit better.

Do your self a favor and hire a good marine carpenter to look her over. 30 years on stands or in a cradle will have left a heavy toll on her shape and structure. Much of this is very difficult for the average back yard boat restorer to notice. Lots of experience and a trained eye can see these things reasonably easily. Much of your efforts will be directed toward the correct areas, in the right order of business, if you get a proper evaluation in this early stage of the project.