Abstract: The water and oil that is normally collected in the bilge of small boats is pumped overboard by a bilge pump with the oil being removed from the bilge water by a filter having layers of different size expanded resin particles that are hydrophobic and oleophilic. When operation of the bilge pump ceases, a valve will release the back pressure that would otherwise be caused by the filter, to facilitate start-up of the pump. At the discharge and visible on the exterior of the boat, there is an indicator that will change color when it is in contact with oil, to provide a visual indication when the filter needs changing.

Abstract: For removing oil from the bilge area and fuel tank filler area of a boat, an oil absorbent pad is constructed with an outer wide mesh structural envelope confining and reinforcing an inner containment envelope of woven synthetic crepe material that will absorb oil with a wicking action while repelling water and which will contain therein granular open pore synthetic foamed resin capable of absorbing and retaining the oil without leaking. Pads are provided in the bilge area of boats to act alone or in combination with bilge pump filters, and they are provided as a ring around the fuel tank filler opening to prevent spillage during the taking on of fuel by the boat.