ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Bilgeboard

When you are on a boat, sometimes water ends up inside the bottom of the boat. This water is called "bilge", and it can make the boat heavier and cause other problems. To get rid of this water, people use something called a "bilge pump" that pumps the water out of the boat.

But sometimes, even the bilge pump can't get rid of all of the water. That's where a "bilgeboard" comes in. A bilgeboard is like a big sponge that soaks up the remaining water in the bottom of the boat. It's made of special materials that can absorb water quickly and hold onto it until someone takes it out and wrings it out like a wet towel.

Bilgeboards are very helpful for keeping the bottom of a boat dry, and they're also easy to use. Just put them in the bilge of the boat, let them soak up the water, and take them out to dry them when you're done using the boat.