We all have our own technique for dealing with the bilge.  We clean every dish with paper towels before washing up, going through countless rolls of paper every season.  Then I put 150 g of hydrochloric acid into the bilge once a week and clean out the bilge with a brush and a wet vac once a season.  It is a disgusting task because of all the food residue caked to the hoses and the bilge pump switch assembly.  I have to cover the engine with a tarp to avoid getting grey water all over it.  I need to pull out each of the seven or so hoses, scrub them individually and tie them all to one side in order to even get a scrubber in to the bilge.  I also use a Karcher to get the stuff off the hoses and bilge walls.  And then I have to be concerned about disposing of the dirty water and other waste.  So I can’t do this in a nice marina.  

Given all this effort, I’m asking myself why?  No other quality boat, Swan, Oyster, discovery, you name it, has a bilge setup like the Amel.  I understand that one through hull is better than two, at least theoretically, but I tend to think it’s a ephemeral advantage.  In reality, what counts is that the through hulls are in the engine room, which is watertight.   I also understand that if I were ever to sell the boat, some purists would snuff their noses at mine.   But then, it should cost only a couple of boat dollars to close it back up and I think some potential buyers might see it as an advantage!  

Is there anything I’m missing?  

Joerg Esdorn
A55 #53 Kincsem
Currently in La Rochelle