Has anyone used one of those portable steam cleaners to degunge the topside gelcoat? I was wondering if it would harm the gelcoat/decals etc. Any inputs of experience would be appreciated! Seems like a good idea to me, but you never know! Thanks in advance, Capt. Dan s/v Paradigm H 23
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Pressure Washer
Hi Dan Are you talking about pressure washers (no steam) or real steam cleaners. I have a 1200psi pressure washer that I use on a rare occasions on my topside, hooked up to a cold water line. They really work great on non-skid where the little grungy stuff gets deeply imbedded in the recesses. They are not much better that a brush any place else. You do have to be careful not to hit your brightwork as they will blast any finish off of the wood and also rough it up. I believe that a real steam cleaner could cause possible delamination problems on the decking. Don't know that for sure, but there is an awful lot of heat with live steam.
Hi Dan Are you talking about pressure washers (no steam) or real steam cleaners. I have a 1200psi pressure washer that I use on a rare occasions on my topside, hooked up to a cold water line. They really work great on non-skid where the little grungy stuff gets deeply imbedded in the recesses. They are not much better that a brush any place else. You do have to be careful not to hit your brightwork as they will blast any finish off of the wood and also rough it up. I believe that a real steam cleaner could cause possible delamination problems on the decking. Don't know that for sure, but there is an awful lot of heat with live steam.
Pressure Washer
I have one of those cheap lightweight 1200 psi electric washers and recommend using one. My 320 doesn't need it but my 30-year old Cal did. I used a house washing liquid purchased at Lowe's in a gallon jug that contains a mildewcide and used for prepping for painting. I mixed it according to the instructions and sprayed it on the deck and rub rail with a garden sprayer. Follow up with the pressure washer and it does an excellent job of removing all of the dirt, chalking, mold, oxidation and mildew that Winter inactivity seems to accumulate on an older boat. It really revives the chalky old rub rail typically found on old Cals. A dock mate saw me start in the cockpit, became curious and wanted to try it out. He was having so much fun that he basically finished the boat for me. I kinda felt like Tom Sawyer whitewashing the fence. Interestingly enough, when he borrowed it to do his boat, he dropped it into the creek. It has been a year since then and the unit still works fine. They are a lot tougher than they look.
I have one of those cheap lightweight 1200 psi electric washers and recommend using one. My 320 doesn't need it but my 30-year old Cal did. I used a house washing liquid purchased at Lowe's in a gallon jug that contains a mildewcide and used for prepping for painting. I mixed it according to the instructions and sprayed it on the deck and rub rail with a garden sprayer. Follow up with the pressure washer and it does an excellent job of removing all of the dirt, chalking, mold, oxidation and mildew that Winter inactivity seems to accumulate on an older boat. It really revives the chalky old rub rail typically found on old Cals. A dock mate saw me start in the cockpit, became curious and wanted to try it out. He was having so much fun that he basically finished the boat for me. I kinda felt like Tom Sawyer whitewashing the fence. Interestingly enough, when he borrowed it to do his boat, he dropped it into the creek. It has been a year since then and the unit still works fine. They are a lot tougher than they look.
Yep, real steam J.B.
I was not referring to a pressure washer, but a real steam cleaner! Why do you denounce steam cleaning?
I was not referring to a pressure washer, but a real steam cleaner! Why do you denounce steam cleaning?
No Denouncement Intended
I said that I believed that there could possibly be a problem with the delamination of the deck and core materials due to the heat. I've used steam cleaners in the past on other things, not a boat, and they will take paint, surface rust, and other really hardened stuff off. I don't really have an idea what it would do to gel coat and I really wouldn't want to experiment with one on my boat. I don't use the pressure washer that much, just on the non-skid as needed, which is not too often. It also works well on the shrouds where the gunk gets imbedded down into the wiring. When I do use it, it's pretty much as Chris describes.
I said that I believed that there could possibly be a problem with the delamination of the deck and core materials due to the heat. I've used steam cleaners in the past on other things, not a boat, and they will take paint, surface rust, and other really hardened stuff off. I don't really have an idea what it would do to gel coat and I really wouldn't want to experiment with one on my boat. I don't use the pressure washer that much, just on the non-skid as needed, which is not too often. It also works well on the shrouds where the gunk gets imbedded down into the wiring. When I do use it, it's pretty much as Chris describes.
Steam Bad - Elbo Grease Good 
Like J.B. Dyer said, steam could have disastrous effects on GelCoat, and would certainly lift paint, decals, etc (as well as the “Gunge’ that concerns you). Pressurized Steam would be even worse - almost certainly penetrating (& perhaps lifting) the Gelcoat and “moisturizing” the layup, with the predictable (unhappy) results.
Like J.B. Dyer said, steam could have disastrous effects on GelCoat, and would certainly lift paint, decals, etc (as well as the “Gunge’ that concerns you). Pressurized Steam would be even worse - almost certainly penetrating (& perhaps lifting) the Gelcoat and “moisturizing” the layup, with the predictable (unhappy) results.
Thanks for the HOT advise!
Looks like the jury is in, and yes , it would be pressurized! Looks like I am gonna get a big can of elbow grease instead. I still would be interested in hearing from anyone who has actually tried it though, along with the results (good or bad). I would stay away fron any decals, brightwork & wood, and stick to the gelcoat only if I were to try it, which I probably won't now. Thanks again!
Looks like the jury is in, and yes , it would be pressurized! Looks like I am gonna get a big can of elbow grease instead. I still would be interested in hearing from anyone who has actually tried it though, along with the results (good or bad). I would stay away fron any decals, brightwork & wood, and stick to the gelcoat only if I were to try it, which I probably won't now. Thanks again!
Suggestion
If you were considering steam, you must have a mess on your hands. I've talked about it before in this forum, but try a product called Simple Green Automotive Degreaser and Cleaner. This is not the same as the regular Simple Green, it has the same properties, just stronger and no acids. I originally tried it to clean up my engine compartment and later experimented with it for deck and hull clean up. This stuff is a miracle cleaner that takes out mold and mildew stains and the dreaded scupper drain marks off of the hull with little effort. Gets the diesel smoke off of the transom too. The best thing is that you can find it at any automotive store and it only costs 4 or 5 dollars for a spray quart. I used it recently to clean my boat up from the winter lay up and it took no more that a wash job to get my boat back in shape and it only took about a half of a bottle for the whole boat. If this stuff won't clean your boat up, you probably need a paint job. Won't cost much to try it and I bet it will do the job. If you try it, let us know how you liked the results. A couple of cap fulls works good for bilge clean up too. Luck with it!
If you were considering steam, you must have a mess on your hands. I've talked about it before in this forum, but try a product called Simple Green Automotive Degreaser and Cleaner. This is not the same as the regular Simple Green, it has the same properties, just stronger and no acids. I originally tried it to clean up my engine compartment and later experimented with it for deck and hull clean up. This stuff is a miracle cleaner that takes out mold and mildew stains and the dreaded scupper drain marks off of the hull with little effort. Gets the diesel smoke off of the transom too. The best thing is that you can find it at any automotive store and it only costs 4 or 5 dollars for a spray quart. I used it recently to clean my boat up from the winter lay up and it took no more that a wash job to get my boat back in shape and it only took about a half of a bottle for the whole boat. If this stuff won't clean your boat up, you probably need a paint job. Won't cost much to try it and I bet it will do the job. If you try it, let us know how you liked the results. A couple of cap fulls works good for bilge clean up too. Luck with it!
HDT
The HEAT DEFLECTION TEMPERATURE is the temperature at which the strength of a material begins to degrade as determined by ASTM D-2583. (Sometimes referred to as Heat Distortion Point). Resins can benefit by increasing in strength from the post-curing process that occurs under increased heat, up to a point. That point is the Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) and varies for different resins. As Polyester approaches its heat deflection temperature (HDT) which varies wildly between formulations (commonly 90 Deg. - 130 Deg C - some exotic industrial applications up to 300 Deg C) in case of isophthalic acid based polyester, their rigid structure becomes amorphous & flexible and they transform to a rubbery state and this deformation progresses more & more near its HDT. I did not (earlier) get more specific about Steam damage to Gelcoat, due to this tremendous variation in HDT’s, between differing Polyester formulations. Not knowing what product your boat has, and not having all the various product spec’s, I couldn’t offer a definite maximum temperature, nor a degradation curve as you approach that temperature. Suffice it to say - the gelcoat will weaken as it heats up (many manufacturers won't warrantee their products id Dark colored in the Tropics), and ultimately Fail @ some point - probably below 100 Deg C (Steam). I’m glad you decided against steaming the boat - it wouldn’t be advisable - no matter what product you’ve got.
The HEAT DEFLECTION TEMPERATURE is the temperature at which the strength of a material begins to degrade as determined by ASTM D-2583. (Sometimes referred to as Heat Distortion Point). Resins can benefit by increasing in strength from the post-curing process that occurs under increased heat, up to a point. That point is the Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) and varies for different resins. As Polyester approaches its heat deflection temperature (HDT) which varies wildly between formulations (commonly 90 Deg. - 130 Deg C - some exotic industrial applications up to 300 Deg C) in case of isophthalic acid based polyester, their rigid structure becomes amorphous & flexible and they transform to a rubbery state and this deformation progresses more & more near its HDT. I did not (earlier) get more specific about Steam damage to Gelcoat, due to this tremendous variation in HDT’s, between differing Polyester formulations. Not knowing what product your boat has, and not having all the various product spec’s, I couldn’t offer a definite maximum temperature, nor a degradation curve as you approach that temperature. Suffice it to say - the gelcoat will weaken as it heats up (many manufacturers won't warrantee their products id Dark colored in the Tropics), and ultimately Fail @ some point - probably below 100 Deg C (Steam). I’m glad you decided against steaming the boat - it wouldn’t be advisable - no matter what product you’ve got.
Nope - they are not -
Topsides on a vessel refers to that area between the waterline and the gunwales. The deck is what you walk on. I have used a pressure cleaner on my decks for many years and it works great. Insofaras cleaning the topsides - it is always a chore of climbing the ladder and doing it by hand. The pressure cleaner doesn't seem to get those black streaks created by the deck run off over the winter. Cheers,
Topsides on a vessel refers to that area between the waterline and the gunwales. The deck is what you walk on. I have used a pressure cleaner on my decks for many years and it works great. Insofaras cleaning the topsides - it is always a chore of climbing the ladder and doing it by hand. The pressure cleaner doesn't seem to get those black streaks created by the deck run off over the winter. Cheers,
what type of presure washer?
Several boaters at my marina are beginning to use pressure washers to do thier weekend cleaning as opposed to usning the standard brush and bucket. My question is what type of pressure washer would be appropriate? 1200 psi? or more. Any suggestions as our boatng season begins soon and I noticed that pressure washers are on sale at many of the local hardware stores.
Several boaters at my marina are beginning to use pressure washers to do thier weekend cleaning as opposed to usning the standard brush and bucket. My question is what type of pressure washer would be appropriate? 1200 psi? or more. Any suggestions as our boatng season begins soon and I noticed that pressure washers are on sale at many of the local hardware stores.
To Joe
Hi Joe You up around the coal plant? If you are, the pressure washer will come in handy. I have a 1200 psi that works just fine and they are also small enough to keep in your dock box. They usually run around $100+or-. I used to be up at Green Turtle in Grand Rivers and the coal plant was why I got the pressure washer to start with. When the wind was just right, the dust from the plant would get into my non-skid and I couldn't scrub it out. The washer was the only thing that I could find that would take care of it.
Hi Joe You up around the coal plant? If you are, the pressure washer will come in handy. I have a 1200 psi that works just fine and they are also small enough to keep in your dock box. They usually run around $100+or-. I used to be up at Green Turtle in Grand Rivers and the coal plant was why I got the pressure washer to start with. When the wind was just right, the dust from the plant would get into my non-skid and I couldn't scrub it out. The washer was the only thing that I could find that would take care of it.
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