First off, the bilge is the oilyist, grimyist, nastiest thing I've ever come across. Here is an access hatch I cut today. The current state is after several hosing outs, scrubbings, SimpleGreenings, etc.
![Image](http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i347158_IMG1386.jpg)
The bilge access was pretty limited. The area under the engine was open and a hatch in the middle of the saloon sole. I have cut two additional hatches forward to get to more of the bilge. There are limited limber holes which were all clogged.
I have done plenty of hosing, pressure washing, and scrubbing with Simple Green, Krud Kutter, and TSP. Even with that it still seems pretty oily down there. I was planning on painting the bilge and lockers with Shermin Williams Tile Clad II primer and finish. I had read about it and seems like a good product. Bilge Kote is the other option. How clean do I need to get it down there? I'm doing what I can but it still seems nasty.
Also the plywood sole, which appears unfinished but is holding up well, is pretty well soaked with oily water. The plan is to clean it up, paint it and then overlay a nice sole. I need to get this surface clean enough that it will take paint well, take a new sole overtop, and not smell bad down the line.
Now the odd part. There is a tank in the bilge seperating the engine bilge and the main bilge. I had though it was a later addition but now I'm thinking it may be factory original. I cut the top off with the intention of pulling the tank and opening the bilge back up. The tank was tapped into the hull so I used the sawzall to cut the tabbing. Of course once the tank was open I can see it goes all the way back under the engine compartment and deep enough that I can't reach the bottom from a kneeling position.
![Image](http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i347159_IMG1390.jpg)
So, what do I do with this tank now? I see several options. First one would be to cut/grint the top of the tank off until I have one big open bilge. That would be fine with me, a nice deep sump, lots of room for dust bunnies. If I can't lift out the tank then all the cutting and grinding will be a lot of work and I'm worried the tank isn't bonded enough to ever really be a solid part of the bilge.
Second option would be to cut and grind it down, and put a new top on. I could use it as it was intended as a water tank and still have that clean run throughout the bilge I was looking for.
Third option would be to cut and grind it down enough to bring it level with the top of the proposed smooth-run-bilge then fill the rest with concrete. It would add some ballast and prevent any oily bilge water from getting down between the tank and the keep.
If this were your bilge, what would you do? Any technique or tool reccomendation for cutting the tank up? Something like a grinter with a cutter wheel and just trying not to go thorugh the tank and into the side of the keel. I don't really know how to go about it.
David