WHat happens if I pull my boat of the lake and don't power spray the bottom until Spring? Will the algae harden and stick?
Hauling boat - Bottom Washing
- Thread starter Browndog68
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You will make what would have been a relatively quick and easy job much more difficult.
I recommend ... the sooner the better!
We own a 2009 Hunter 27 Edge. In previous years, our home port was a fair distance from home so, by the time we spent the day taking down our sails & mast and hauling her out of the water, by the time we returned home we were usually too tired from a long day to clean off the hull. Usually this meant pressure washing a few days later. This is a BIG mistake. In that short time, the dirt on the hull had time to harden enough that pressure washing was made hard enough to cause damage to our bottom paint.
This year we changed ports to a location close to home. Again I put down the sails and mast in an afternoon but I persevered and also completed my hull wash the same day. There is no comparison in the difference this makes. The grime came right off and, frankly, I think our boat was thankful for the immediate wash. With the dirt coming off so easily, there was no damage to bottom paint and I completed the task in probably a third of the time it would have taken otherwise.
Just my two cents worth ....
PLC
We own a 2009 Hunter 27 Edge. In previous years, our home port was a fair distance from home so, by the time we spent the day taking down our sails & mast and hauling her out of the water, by the time we returned home we were usually too tired from a long day to clean off the hull. Usually this meant pressure washing a few days later. This is a BIG mistake. In that short time, the dirt on the hull had time to harden enough that pressure washing was made hard enough to cause damage to our bottom paint.
This year we changed ports to a location close to home. Again I put down the sails and mast in an afternoon but I persevered and also completed my hull wash the same day. There is no comparison in the difference this makes. The grime came right off and, frankly, I think our boat was thankful for the immediate wash. With the dirt coming off so easily, there was no damage to bottom paint and I completed the task in probably a third of the time it would have taken otherwise.
Just my two cents worth ....
PLC
Since I was heavily involved with many trailerable sailboats mostly Hunter as a dealer, I know the answer very well particularly as I was the top dealer for the 240. While the hull is still wet is the best time to clean off the bottom. If you are near a car wash that has the allowable height ( you may have to lower the back end of the mast), then go there first to wash off the bottom. IF there is a hose with a powerful nozzle, then a long scrub brush. Usually in most lakes, if the hull dries, then a simple power washer at a lower setting will take it off but not true with zebra muscle invested lakes. No question regarding salt water that the hull while wet needs to be cleaned immediately due to barnacles. In some lakes, I was not overly concerned for example Smith Mt. Lake as I use to haul the boats and later took a power washer at low settings cleaned the hulls. However, be very careful if there is bottom paint on the hull using a power washer.
Hope this helps.
crazy dave condon
Hope this helps.
crazy dave condon
Yep, as noted above. Do it right away. I always took my Catalina 22 straight to the nearest car wash after hauling. Cleaning was easy-peasy, but anything I missed became a cast-iron B*$%H to remove. Don't wait even one day.
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