Washed up

[PETERW18086]

Washing

We are in the downtown Long Beach Marina (CA) and unfortunately downwind from the maritime container loading and unloading operations - so we get blessed with all the dust from around the world. Before we go sailing a wash down is a must. Its a constant battle trying to keep the top-sides clean. I used Island Girl products lately and they seem to last longer than any waxes and polishes I have used. Trust me I have tried them all. None of them last as long as the Island Girl products. Now if they would only have a product for the sails especially the furling jib gets the brunt of the dust. ps I have no monetary interest in the Island Girl products

 

[Lauraine14261]

We sail in fresh water so no need for

the apres sail fresh water rinse to remove salt but we do need to remove birdie droppings and spider poo so we wash her pretty thoroughly once a week. We like to see her sparkle and look cared for - because she is!

 

[Lee Pryor]

Calif Water Blade

If water spots from hard water are a problem, like where I am, I got a water blade with the extension handle. When the topsides are still beaded up, I squeegy the excess water off. The thing is made for cars but seems to work very well on topsides to keep the glossy finish of the gelcoat that could be dulled by water spots.It is made of plastic, a little delicate, but at least there is no metal to scratch the hull.

 

[bill essmaker]

boat washing

I wash my boat every weekend I spend on it. On a sunny Saturday morning, it's my time to bond with my boat in the peace of a michigan sunrise on Lake Huron before a great weekend of sailing.I use a auto/truck wash and wax product with water.

 

[lifefloat]

What I use for tropical climate

I'll try to keep this short. (a lengthy reply would be no problem considering the staggering amount of different products available for cleaning) What we use here in the Florida Keys...a very bright, salty, humid, and hot area of the world varies on how much you love your boat. My boat, or a good paying customers boat (good way to make extra money cleaning yachts ya know) is kept looking great if you can keep up on waxing the thing. 3M makes an astounding amount of fine products for different degrees of preparation before the final application of wax. Even the chalkiest of gelcoats can be restored to near new condition if applied properly. Their High Gloss Marine Gelcoat Polish followed by the Finesse It and then wax will bring back even the worst looking boats. Then it is just a matter of keeping up with the wax. Once you get a couple of coats of wax on the boat you really only need to wax every 6 months or so. You do have to be careful of stripping the wax with other products when doing general cleanup though. We use mild dish soap cut with vinegar (the vinegar eats salt not wax) and wash the boat with this. For stains you can often buff them out with fiberglass cleaners with wax in them followed with more straight wax to get it back in shape. Another fine product I saw mentioned in somebody elses post is Roll Off. It was designed for these climates here and let me tell you it will remove the toughest of gelcoat stains. It also removes all the wax you have on the boat. You really have to be careful when using it or you will be back at square one. An unwaxed boat.  To sum it up (and this was as brief as I could be) Wax is the ticket to a great looking boat.

 

[K9 Piper]

To Clean and to clean again

I see everyone has a best way and best item to use. Let's say we clean as need be. A clean boat is a happy and pridefull boat, it's a symbol of our own pride in life.let's keep em clean but as we do let's take the point made by the Kingstonion Steve Clausen. Make it clean but keep it safe for all.Go Tigers! Fight, Fight never flight, score the goal maroon and white! KHS 70Fish

 

[Eric]

washing

I use mild dish detergent with a very minute amount of bleach to clean non-skid and topsides once a month. I think that the bleach continues to be an anti mold agent long after many rinses. I sail in salt water, and just rinse the decks with plain water in between these monthly scrubbings.

 

[Bill18593]

Automatic boat wash

As much rain as we've had, our boat hardly needs much of a wash. We recently sealed all exterior gelcoat above the hull topsides with Johnson Futura Acrylic Floor Finish. This really helps keep the boat clean since nothing much sticks to it even though the footing is still good.

 

[GB]

not often enough

hate to clean, like to sail. One advantage of an older boat.

 

[Steve G]

Morning Dew at Anchor

Waxing and polishing aside, the boat needs to be washed on trips, too. If you can get up early enough, and you live in the right climate (like New England), You'll most often awaken to find the topsides covered in moisture. It's a great time to grab a mop and get the salt from yesterday's sail off the coachroof, hatches, dodger etc.Otherwise, I keep a 1 gallon insecticide sprayer on board - the kind you pump up to pressurize. Filled with fresh water of course. The gentle spray is great for salt on hatches and the dodger - a small rubber squeegie finishes it off nice. It came with a spare nozzle, so I drilled it out w/ a small bit to shoot a stream - works okay, but uses water quickly.For stubbourn spots, I go to the local RV place and get Ultrakleen RV wash - cheaper than anything you'll get at West Marine or the like, and works better - especially good after wintering.

 

[Dean Morris, About Time]

Acrylic floor finish

Just curious as to how long the Johnson Acrylic floor finish lasts out in the hot sun and weather. My wife refuses to use it inside the home because of the buildup. What's your experience or is this a trial thing. Also, how do you apply it. Thanks

 

[David Delich]

Secret formula

We usually hose the boat off before the morning dew dries, this gets the bugs and spider poop off before it has a chance to dry. The rest of time we use a special formula perfected over years of research, (usually once a month.)5 gallon bucket1 cup of Oxy Clean or Spic & Span powder1 cup of bleach1/2 cup of dish soap, (usually Ivory liquid)1/2 Tspn of Mrs. Smiths Blueing, (only if your boat is white)Use a mop, and a large sponge for the vertical topsides. Rinse well. After the boat dries, usually 1.5 beers, go over cabin sides with a spray wax, or you can dilute your favorite wax w/ water & transfer it to a spray bottle to spray it on.This is a tried and true method/ recipe. Let me know how it works out!

 

[Sailadjuster]

E I = R

Elbow grease plus ingredients equals results.We find that Boat Zoap on the decks and below does a admiral job and Poly Glow on the hull is the best. Still, elbow grease is the basic standard.

 

[robert taylor]

is it only me?

i use a black and decker pressure washer. it has a reservoir to add rv soap (nice and green friendly....) i am no tree hugger, but agree with previous post that if we mess up the water, we will not be able to use it. this system uses a lot less water than a hose....i am guessing about a third. it works very well. i wear a pair of wool hunting socks, keep a spray bottle of soap on my belt and a scratchy dish scrubber in pocket for tough spots. i pressure spray 2 sections. i go back and shuffle my feet on the 1rst section. i rinse the first section and spray a 3rd section. i shuffle my feet on the 2nd section. i rinse the 2nd and spray a 4rth i work my way over the entire deck. by this time the soap is gone and i am shooting clean water. i then go back and rinse the whole boat. i never have to bend down. just be careful not to spray your feet....ouch!!

 

[Jayne H.]

Once a week

Usually just hosing is enough, but for spots there is a wonderful, non-abrasive product called Clenz-All that removes most every stain abd cleans metals, jewelry, etc. as well. Also like Greased Lightning.

 

[Mike16388]

salt-away

After each sail, usually each week, I rinse my 393 off with fresh water then Salt-Away, which applies through the hose with its dispensing unit. This stuff removes salt from all the nooks and crannies; then I leave it on to form a film. No stainless rust; no salt spots. (I don't own any Salt-away stock)

 

[Uwe]

Work Zone

I purchased my c22 this spring and its been a work zone all summer in the back yard. Basicly going from top to bottom through the boat.There is a perminent waterhose hanging off the rail. My wife has tripped over it twice She is not happy3 cans of wd40 2 cans windex 1 gal bottom cleaner tape goop footprints shee marks and a large scrubbrush The rain here has helped to keep the dirt down but if cleaning needs to be done its usualy done on deck and the excess cleaner is used to scrub off the dirt that has accumulated durring the day .I havnt even gotten into the wax me stage so reading this has been helpfullThanks Uwe

 

[Steve]

How does it wear?

How does the acrylic floor finish wear over time? Doesn't it flake off like a bad sun burn? I liked the finish products like Nu-Glass produced, but it was a mess when they started to wear off like peeling skin. I had heard that this was because they were acrylic and did not contain any wax.

 

[Bill18593]

Acrylic wear

I don't know how long the Johnson's Future will last. I don't know how it will wear. The same applies to the Poly Glo we used on the topsides. When it wears, it wears. As part of regular maintenance, I expect to clean the boat periodically. If the acrylic starts to peel off, then the cleaning includes ammonia or the Poly Glo cleaner. It wasn't that hard to initially clean the boat, I don't expect it will be that hard to rework any worn areas.The original complete scrub of the boat and Poly Glow treatment (not applying Future) took under a day for our 25.5. Add a couple of hours over a couple of days for the Future. Not bad for the results.What both Poly Glo and Future give the boat is a finish that works very well in keeping the boat clean during the sailing season. That more than makes up for a little periodic maintenance during the off-season when we're not sailing anyway.

 

[Cat's Delight]

.Moldy Oldy

With all the rain that we received this summer and after a two week vacation at the 1000 Islands - away from my O'Day 22; She has a bad case of mold and mildew due to the cockpit drain getting blocked and the cockpit overflowing into the cabin (no bildge pump). Sitting in my driveway my '76 beauty needed some extra special attention. I found that clorx cleanup worked wonders on the plastic walls, floor, and woodwork but I did have to remove the indoor/outdoor carpeting and I think I might have to remove the padded fabric wall covering! So much for the integraty of the boat having it's original look. Though the boat is old it's new to me, just got it this year. I will try things mentioned in this forum, so thanks! Do any of you have some other tips on keeping it clean AND DRY? (I know get an automatic bilge pump.) Also; have any of you redesigned your cabins to fit your life style better?