Re: Spilled Oil
I know this sounds silly, but stuff an athletic sock with styrofoam packaging peanuts and toss it in the bilge. That'll eventually soak up the oil there if you can't get to it to clean it by hand. It'll also help keep the bilge clean. Most sterndrive and inboard boats eventually get an ugly layer of oil residue back there. Water that gets in there floats some of that up, but then it recoats when the water drops. The peanuts won't soak up water, but they will soak up the oil. If you have an automatic bilge pump switch, tie the sock somewhere where it won't foul it. Otherwise just let it flop around back there. The sock will also help wipe some of the residue that sticks to the bottom just from movement.<br /><br />You can also purchase such a thing but I find that few dealers stock them. They're a foam-like material that resembles fiberglass wrapped in plastic fishnet stuff (like bags that oranges come in). The foamy stuff does a good job of soaking-up the oil, but that fishnet don't do much for cleaning.<br /><br />I sould add that they have to be styrofoam peanuts. A lot of those are made with cornstarch now and degrade on purpose. Those won't work. If you want to get technical, I think they're extruded styrene peanuts. Essentially the same material, but styrofoam is a bunch of little balls of polystyrene pressed together. That works too but not as well and them little balls scatter everywhere if they get out.
