Our evaluation included finding out how well each product emulsified a mixture of motor oil, gasoline, and water.

There’s just no way around it: The bilge aboard any boat will get dirty. And, as experienced boat owners know, most bilges aren’t engineered to allow ready access, so getting in there and scrubbing away the offending matter is rarely a feasible approach. What’s a conscientious boat owner to do?

If you were to closely inspect your bilge and identify what ends up there, you’d surmise that what we’ve referred to in past articles (see “Liquid Bilge Cleaners,” PBR March, ’94) as a “noxious soup” contains varying amounts of water (salt/fresh), oil, grease, fuel, and other detritus including dirt, hair, and possibly soap (if your sink or icebox drain directly to…