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BP oil around our boats - long term issues?

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by 54' Bertram, Jun 3, 2010.

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  1. 54' Bertram, Jun 3, 2010
    #1
    54' Bertram

    54' Bertram Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2006
    Messages:
    67
    Location:
    New Orleans, Louisiana
    I keep my boat in Venice and I follow the Hatteras Forum. Someone brought up the concern of the oil on our hulls, intakes and such. while they pretty well blew it off, I'm concerned about my intakes from my engines to my gensets to my heads. My hull I can wash, the intakes and the associated items they feed I am really worried. What has anyone else in the area done to stop, if any, damage they may think will happen?

    If there is a real possibility of damage, how should we all proceed? what about all the shrimp boats that have already been running through it?

    any ideas? comments? Has anyone thought about this yet?
  2. NYCAP123, Jun 4, 2010
    #2
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,208
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Most intakes are 3' to 5' under the water. So unless the oil is that thick it wouldn't be much of a concern. I wouldn't spend my days slogging through it on a regular basis with a pleasure carft though or be using a salt water head. Besides, the smell and look of oil makes it a rather undesirable place to be for pleasure. If I were docked at the back end of a canal where it could take over seabed to surface I'd certainly shut my a/c's and cancel my season because there'll be no pleasure cruising or living aboard in that environment. Of more concern would be I/O's and outboards where the intakes are near the surface although I've never had problems with outboards when laying boom and cleaning walls in the middle of the muck. In theory though I guess it could clog those intakes.
  3. CatTech, Sep 28, 2010
    #3
    CatTech

    CatTech New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2010
    Messages:
    56
    Location:
    south FL
    A flush of the raw water lines through out the vessel would be a good idea when returning to the dock and the vessel will sit for a while. Oil will deteriorate the rubber in the hoses over time especially if it sits in contact with it for extended periods. The oil will also adhere to the heat exchangers surfaces causing a loss of cooling efficiency.