What is the best thing to use for cleaning the engine compartment? I removed my motor to do some work on it and the inside of hull / engine compartment is filthy, greasy and some rust staining. Its gelcoating and didnt know what to use thats strong enough to cut thru the grime but not hurt gelcoat.
Should I paint over the gelcoat after all is said and done, that is if i cant get it completely clean looking? & what paint should I use that will handle salt water in the bilge area?

I used some biodegradable non-toxic degreaser that I got from Home Depot. It's in the cleaning isle.

I put in the drain plug, filled the bilge with some water and degreaser and used a mop and scrub brush to wash the walls and stringers. Then pulled the drain plug and rinsed it all out.


THIS WAS ON THE TRAILER....... DO NOT FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS IF YOUR BOAT IS IN THE WATER!!! (at least not the "RINSE OUT")

I'd start with Simple Green and then spot treat the rust areas.

Just did one last week. What I did was get in there with some rags, a scrub brush, and some orange degreaser. Did a section at a time, then coated the entire bilge with Interlux perfection.

If it's really dirty I've had great luck with Gunk engine degreaser. I use it on my sleds which get very greasy/dirty and on tough stains in the bilge. I think it's just diesel fuel in a can. LOL

anybody use a pressure washer

All good info....i have some engine degreaser...maybe Ill spot treat a place and make sure it doesnt affect gelcoat finish....

just pulled the motors on the cig, used some degreaser called disolve all, gunk is good to, and use a karcher high presure steam cleaner came out super clean, got all the hoses and cables to the batterys looking like brand new.....

i used a degreaser made by zepp,got it at home depot,very strong chit,made my bilge look like new.

The purple cleaner at home depot does a pretty good job. They sell it in the gallon and 5 gallon, I go with the 5 gallon.