Pressure Washers

[Ducati]

Alternate Boat Cleaning Tools

(Quote) Lets start a thread on table saws next.

Let's not go crazy, table saws are too dangerous besides you could lose a finger.

I might however suggest an alternate tool for cleaning boats could be a belt sander...

 

[caguy]

Time is coming to get the boat back in the water here in Rock Hall, MD. Got my cover off and starting the clean up process. Some significant work needs to be done to clean up the decks, etc. It appears that the sea gull population on the bay has been coverted by the Taliban and they are taking hostile action on my decks!

I was considering getting a pressure washer to help with the initial cleaning and then to use periodically duriong the season to help keep topside clean. We are marina sailors for now. So out on the weekends and back in during the week.

Anyone have any experience with pressure washers. Brand / Model recommendations that work?

Any help would be great ....

Glenn

I have found that the pressure washer will clean up the excess poop but not the stain. We have these cranes at MDR that poop God knows what, that stain the gel coat. The sea gull splats do clean up pretty easily. Again I use the 15* nozzle and keep it about 8" from the surface. I do wax my decks which also helps with the cleanup by no letting it stick directly to the gelcoat. How ever that crane stuff is something else.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Aha, Ducati...

put 60 grit on a belt sander and raced them across a parking lot for beers...

 

[Capt. Kermie]

I have been using a Simonize 1600psi for the last few years with no apparent damage. It removes all bird dung and green algae too. It cleans lines without cutting them and make life easy for me. It is not powerful enough to cause damage, yet does the job. I have no wood on my boat, just steel & fiberglass, gelcoat.

 

[Robert 47]

Wow, guess you got enough answers to your question. I have 2 pressure washers. One of the little electric ones for short quick weekend clean up before we go out on the water. And a 2600 PSI gas operated one for Spring clean up. They both work great. But I use the gas operated one first to get rid of all the Winter stuff, bugs, poop and all. Then followed up like mentioned with the electric one. Again as others have caustioned don't hold it close to your teak, or any of your embedded hardware. It will damage it. Works great to remove old gelcoat to, but again don't hold the wand to close in one place to long. Happy cleaning.