How To Clean Crude

[HookedOnMarsh]

Well guys it's only 3 more days until 4th of July weekend here on the Gulf Coast. Wanted to take the boat out and watch the fireworks. Would have been the first time I've been able to go since Katrina. Now we are starting to get some oil in our area and likely will have more by the weekend.

Question is should I wax it up really, really good and hope that I can wash it off or should I just forget it? My boat is in pretty good shape, just got her last year and is painted white with the black and blue stripes. I certainly don't want to ruin this find by taking it out and finding a stray patch of oil.
They had a guy last night on the news that ran into some coming back in and his white boat looked like somebody put a brush into brown paint and just splattered it all down the sides!

[THEFERMANATOR]

I say clean her up and use some wash with wax in it, and then wash it with simple green or some other degreaser when you get back.

[nipper]

Ferm's advice sounds good. I have been wondering about the effect on a motor of running oil fouled water through the cooling system. Think it would screw things up?

[HookedOnMarsh]

Looks like the motor would be OK unless the muck is so thick that it blocks the water intakes. Then it would be bad.

[THEFERMANATOR]

I would highly reccomend changing the water pump impeller every 2 or 3 months if the engine is getting much oil through it as the oil will soften the impeller.