Whats you favorite, product and process for swabbing the decks? I'm just looking to do a deep cleaning and maybe some protecting this spring before I put the canvas back on.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Swabbing the decks
- Thread starter freeheelbillie
- Start date
BEFORE waxing the topsides, I wear old clothes and shoes. I use a medium stiff brush with a solution of car wash soap (or your favorite) and about 5% bleach. Soak, wait a bit, and scrub. It cleans the mildew and mold nicely. I have also used a pressure washer holding off the deck to reduce the pressure on the surface with good results, but the bleach wash works a treat.
Just don't use one of the really high pressure nozzles and don't get too close. Also point away from the boat when you first pull the trigger... you get an initial pulse of high pressure that can hurt your gel coat.
I use Awesome Oxygen from Dollar Tree on my deck. It's a sodium percarbonate product, like Oxi-clean. It's relatively harmless, even to the fishes, and does a good job with a little brush scrubbing.
What kind of wax do you use for the deck and whats the application/removal process for the non skid surfaces?
That is cool and makes sense. Sodium percarbonate is what you get when you mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. The peroxide will oxidize organic stains and the bibarb ( baking soda) will help with rust stains I think oxalate mixed with peroxide would work even better
Do not wax your non-skid or your deck. Scrub 'em down. You can wax the salon top. You could wax your cockpit sides, toe rail, and gunwales.
For really stubborn mildew, dirt, stains, or scratches, 1200 grit wet sanding works great. The boat gets super clean. Do not sand your non-skid. You will remove the texture.
I found that baking soda works better than anything else I've tried. Other abrasive cleaners tend thin out and loose their abrasiveness, where baking soda tends to cling to your brush. It also will dissolve and rinse off easily even after it dries on.
Once clean, 2 to 3 coats of Zep High Gloss Wet Look Floor Polish puts a deep shine on it for years. It is an Acrylic finish that is very durable. When you see the shine, you may be tempted to put on even more coats, but that will make it flake off. You won't believe how easy it will be to rinse off the next time.
Once clean, 2 to 3 coats of Zep High Gloss Wet Look Floor Polish puts a deep shine on it for years. It is an Acrylic finish that is very durable. When you see the shine, you may be tempted to put on even more coats, but that will make it flake off. You won't believe how easy it will be to rinse off the next time.
Jackdaw recommend Amazing Roll Off. I've been using it too. Kinda leaves a coating that prevents future dirt build up. https://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Roll-Off-Multi-Purpose-Cleaner-oz/dp/B000FSDZTU
I buy the gallon size of car wash. Very low sudsing, does a good job, and only a small fraction of the cost of boat soap. When I'm done swabbing with the car wash, I spray some diluted household bleach on any remaining stains. I let the bleach sit for 3-5 minutes and then rinse it off.
I wax all the shiny areas with Collinite Fleet Wax.
My best tip, if you're not already doing this:
I don't like struggling with a bucket. Instead, I tie a spray bottle of slightly diluted car wash to my belt. When I need more soap, I just raise the brush to the bottle, blast it, and go back to scrubbing. Definitely beats having a bucket sliding around the deck.
The rinse hose is fitted with a plastic (won't fall and damage the deck) nozzle, and the handle hooks conveniently anywhere on the lifelines.
For the non-skid areas that need more cleaning, I use a handheld, stiff bristled brush.
I wax all the shiny areas with Collinite Fleet Wax.
My best tip, if you're not already doing this:
I don't like struggling with a bucket. Instead, I tie a spray bottle of slightly diluted car wash to my belt. When I need more soap, I just raise the brush to the bottle, blast it, and go back to scrubbing. Definitely beats having a bucket sliding around the deck.
The rinse hose is fitted with a plastic (won't fall and damage the deck) nozzle, and the handle hooks conveniently anywhere on the lifelines.
For the non-skid areas that need more cleaning, I use a handheld, stiff bristled brush.
I have never applied wax to my walking deck area. I do was the cabin top and smooth fiberglass deck areas even though I sometimes walk across those areas.
I use Collinite paste wax for the topsides and areas large and flat enough to use a buffer, and the Collinite liquid cleaner-wax for the small areas in the cockpit that must be done by hand. I use the Presta products for compounding and polishing.
I clean the deck with a power washer (being careful to keep the wand at a safe distance from the gelcoat and avoid direct spray to any deck fittings). Sometimes, when I don't power wash, I also use Starbrite non skid cleaner with PTEF and a medium bristle deck brush--good stuff. After thorough cleaning, I sometimes use Woody's deck wax. It is applied from a spray bottle and then brushed on with a soft deck brush. Be careful, it is very slippery as you apply it. Let is soak in and then rinse off with fresh water. After it dries, it forms a barrier that retards dirt, mildew, and bird droppings---makes future cleaning easier. Woodys DOES NOT make the deck slippery when wet; I find that the traction on deck remains normal. Good stuff; however, it is a bit expensive. It usually lasts for about 6-8 weeks before requiring reapplication.
As far as the topsides, cabin sides, and cockpit, Collinite Fleetwax is my go to product. It has been the most highly rated wax by Practical Sailor for years. Because I only haul out every 2-3 years, the topside is washed thoroughly with a dilute mixture of Simple Green, compounded with 3M compound, polished with 3M finessit, and waxed with Collinite. I usually wax the cabin sides and cockpit annually.
As far as the topsides, cabin sides, and cockpit, Collinite Fleetwax is my go to product. It has been the most highly rated wax by Practical Sailor for years. Because I only haul out every 2-3 years, the topside is washed thoroughly with a dilute mixture of Simple Green, compounded with 3M compound, polished with 3M finessit, and waxed with Collinite. I usually wax the cabin sides and cockpit annually.
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