Boat Wash!
- Thread starter Brian D
- Start date
Water, lots of water. Occasionally, Simple Green in a bucket of water and scrub brushes, then prompt rinsing.
My boat gets washed with West Marine boat soap.
Of course, my deck gelcoat is in pretty awful condition, so it's mainly to get the bird poo off. Dunno if it really would clean up non-oxidized gelcoat well.
Of course, my deck gelcoat is in pretty awful condition, so it's mainly to get the bird poo off. Dunno if it really would clean up non-oxidized gelcoat well.
Dawn dish detergent and soft window washing brush on a pole. If birds attack the deck, I add some Oxiclean powder, use a stiffer brush head, and if mildew shows up, a splash of Clorox to a fresh 5 gallon bucket of second wash water. So far the only thing that doesn’t depart the deck and cockpit after cleaning are the damn spiders. Cindy bought me an electric fly swatter we’re gonna try out this year on the arachnids. Oxi also works on those troublesome red wine spills. Oh yeah... lots of rinse water too!
If you place the Dawn dish soap bottle on deck in an obvious spot while cleaning, the tree huggers leave you alone.
If you place the Dawn dish soap bottle on deck in an obvious spot while cleaning, the tree huggers leave you alone.
I put about half an ounce of Dawn in about 2-3 quarts of water & have at it with a deck brush. If I've been fishing & the stench of bait is present, I add an ounce or ounce & a half of bleach to the mix. For rust stains & tannin lines, I use an oxalic acid based rust remover (like rust aid) before normal cleaning. For rust stains on stainless steel, I use Witchinox(sp?) A couple of friends of mine swear by Orpine for general deck cleaning, but I don't use it.
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No dish soap for me because it strips the wax. I can't remember the name of the stuff I use and the label fell off. It's in a gallon jug.
You might take Mainsail's advice:
Here is a quote:
1) With two coats of a paste Carnuba on the hull I only wash the boat with IMAR boat wash or Awlwash the soap made to wash Awlgrip. These products are great and also safe, and IMAR is also approved & safe for washing Strataglass dodger windows. The reason I use IMAR Boat Wash is because it's the only product I've found that cleans well but does not prematurely break down the wax. With IMAR I'm still beading after 7-8 months. Avoid the use of any soap with a built in wax, or one that's a heavy detergent based product and by all means do not use Joy, Palmolive or dish washing detergents as they eat waxes for lunch. You can order IMAR products from Defender or directly from the IMAR web site although Defender is cheaper. Using this and a very soft car wash brush on a stick works well and does not ruin your wax job.
The quote is from here:https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/tips-for-a-great-buff-wax.117266/
Ken
You might take Mainsail's advice:
Here is a quote:
1) With two coats of a paste Carnuba on the hull I only wash the boat with IMAR boat wash or Awlwash the soap made to wash Awlgrip. These products are great and also safe, and IMAR is also approved & safe for washing Strataglass dodger windows. The reason I use IMAR Boat Wash is because it's the only product I've found that cleans well but does not prematurely break down the wax. With IMAR I'm still beading after 7-8 months. Avoid the use of any soap with a built in wax, or one that's a heavy detergent based product and by all means do not use Joy, Palmolive or dish washing detergents as they eat waxes for lunch. You can order IMAR products from Defender or directly from the IMAR web site although Defender is cheaper. Using this and a very soft car wash brush on a stick works well and does not ruin your wax job.
The quote is from here:https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/tips-for-a-great-buff-wax.117266/
Ken
Star brite nonskid cleaner. Leaves a nice smooth coat that seems to last about a month. I actually wash the boat everytime we go out with this as the wife likes a clean spider free boat.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000N9Q0PC/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1511916459&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=boat+wash&dpPl=1&dpID=41hZsRC2IRL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000N9Q0PC/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1511916459&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=boat+wash&dpPl=1&dpID=41hZsRC2IRL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1
I usually start with 2 good IPA's administered internally, add to that a bucket of H20 with a bit of mild biodegradable detergent and copious quantities of fresh H20 to rinse. Halfway through the project a 3rd IPA administered internally followed up with an additional rinsing with copious quantities of fresh H20. Follow up with a 4th IPA and some good music while the sun dries up the H20 residue and you have a decent Saturday afternoon boat cleaning session.
Swear by Shoreline Marine Non Skid Deck Cleaner. Works very well on the deck.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Shoreline-Marine-32-ounce-Non-Skid-Deck-Cleaner/28429511
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Shoreline-Marine-32-ounce-Non-Skid-Deck-Cleaner/28429511
Ned. I like your style. Not a IPA drinker but a good ale, porter, or stout would be good.
Even better you finish the cleaning and stil have the last two bottles of the 6 pack to sit down and admire the work quality.
Here Here! Try Ommegang's Three Philosophers Belgian style quad.
I am real interested in this thread. It might help expand upon my renaming ritual post, although, soap is not really necessary, just water ( https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/the-practical-renaming-ceremony.188929/ ).
I grew up earning money washing fishing boats for the deck hands who wanted to cut out early after a day of fishing the Gulf of Mexico. Lots of bleach in a bucket of water. I'm sure it wasn't very food for the deck but, it got the fish guts and squid snot off.
-Will (Dragonfly)
Is it really possible to clean without taking off wax?
Even water wears down wax.
- Will (Dragonfly)
Even water wears down wax.
- Will (Dragonfly)