Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

Prophammer

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My boat has been tied to a dock in a lake for about 7 years, now that its on the trailer I would like to clean the slime off the hull. I have a small inexpensive pressure washer, but it won't cut through the gunk!
 

Bondo

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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

Ayuh,... Start with a Big putty knife...
 

Fireman431

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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

As Bond-o said, start with a putty knife. I recommend a plastic one, or plastic scraper, so you don't damage the gelcoat. The borrow or rent a better pressure washer (2500 psi or more) and attack the rest. Lastly, hit it with hull cleaner and a stiff bristle brush. Then wash with soap & water and wax if it's not coated with ablative paint.
 

jigngrub

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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

Rent a bigger pressure washer and use a "Turbo" tip.
 

Bob_VT

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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

Green pads and LOT's of elbow grease with a good cleaning solution.
 

Slip Away

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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

None of the above. Try Mary Kate's or even cheaper, just plain old Toilet Bowl cleaner. It will work without the pressure washer or much elbow grease.
 

Summer Fun

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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

My 4000psi pressure washer would make easy work of that. :)

This thing will cut your finger off. :eek:. It came with 5 different nozzle tips.
 
Joined
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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

you could go to home depot and rent one. really cheap too i think it's like 30$ a day
 

bonz_d

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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

muriatic acid and water mix, sponge it on, let it foam, power wash it off.
 

'78 Crusader

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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

Wow, 7 years? You're going to have a lot of blistering in your hull....be prepared to do a lot of repair work.
 

Prophammer

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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

Wow, 7 years? You're going to have a lot of blistering in your hull....be prepared to do a lot of repair work.

Yes, it is blistered!
 

'78 Crusader

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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

Oh boy, you have a lot of work cut out for ya.
 

Prophammer

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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

None of the above. Try Mary Kate's or even cheaper, just plain old Toilet Bowl cleaner. It will work without the pressure washer or much elbow grease.
It looks pretty bad!
 

Prophammer

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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

Thanks for all the useful ideas, I've got my hands full now!
 

jeeperman

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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

My dad had an aluminum row boat he inherited when we were kids.
There was as much growth on it as what it weighed.
He was a farmer and the fields were quite sandy, no rocks.
So after spring plowing,discing, etc.
He hitched the boat to the tractor with a log chain.
Us kids piled into the row boat and away we went for a hayride without the hay nor wagon.
Dad would direct us to sit or lean this way and that as he pulled us back and forth accross the field.
About 20 miuntes of that and the boat bottom was shiney like a new penny.
 

Hatchman

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Aug 20, 2010
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Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

My dad had an aluminum row boat he inherited when we were kids.
There was as much growth on it as what it weighed.
He was a farmer and the fields were quite sandy, no rocks.
So after spring plowing,discing, etc.
He hitched the boat to the tractor with a log chain.
Us kids piled into the row boat and away we went for a hayride without the hay nor wagon.
Dad would direct us to sit or lean this way and that as he pulled us back and forth accross the field.
About 20 miuntes of that and the boat bottom was shiney like a new penny.

LOL! Sounds like something my Dad would do.
 

'78 Crusader

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Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
407
Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

My dad had an aluminum row boat he inherited when we were kids.
There was as much growth on it as what it weighed.
He was a farmer and the fields were quite sandy, no rocks.
So after spring plowing,discing, etc.
He hitched the boat to the tractor with a log chain.
Us kids piled into the row boat and away we went for a hayride without the hay nor wagon.
Dad would direct us to sit or lean this way and that as he pulled us back and forth accross the field.
About 20 miuntes of that and the boat bottom was shiney like a new penny.


Hahaha, I love old school solutions for modern day problems........life seemed so easy back then.

Thanks for the laugh....awesome.
 

Fireman431

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Sep 17, 2007
Messages
4,292
Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

Try that today and when the passerby in a car sees it, you'll find yourself in front of a judge and a lifelong record of child endangerment.

What has happened to society???
 

'78 Crusader

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Mar 15, 2011
Messages
407
Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

Try that today and when the passerby in a car sees it, you'll find yourself in front of a judge and a lifelong record of child endangerment.

What has happened to society???

Liberals......but Ill leave that for another discussion on another thread. ;)
 

lkbum

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Sep 1, 2008
Messages
445
Re: Boat tied to a freshwater dock for 7 years, how do I get the slime off the hull?

Do not let it dry out before trying to remove it. My expereince is that once it has dried it is really hard to get off (but I've never attacked anything over 1 season old). What lake in Georgia did it sit in, and what year is the boat? (Curious info for my "blister log", I've seen a couple of older model boats, Carver and Sea Ray, that were in the water for 10+ years without a single blister)
 
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