Hull Cleaning Tips??

[skyaggie]

anyone have any good advice for cleaning the outside of a boat? particularly the rear near the outboard that may come in contact with fuel/oil?

 

[southkogs]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

Welcome aboard!

What kind of boat? Fiberglass/Wood/Aluminum/etc.?

 

[skyaggie]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

Just your standard fiberglass. I tend to get a lot of greenish film buildup below the waterline when i take it out of the water and then some fuel/oil runoff on the transom from trimming the engine up. Trying to find a good way to get this stubborn stuff off

 

[southkogs]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

I wound up having to use muratic acid on mine. I did a light coat of acid - let it sit for a minute or three - and then rinsed the daylights out of it. Hull looks almost new.

I also have a couple of natural things here at home - an essential oil mix called Theives that is an excellent cleaner, and a natural degreaser (name escapes me and I'm not at home by the garage). Those both clean pretty well but wouldn't cut through the junk on the hull.

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

Toilet bowl cleaner works very well

 

[skyaggie]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

My boat is setting in the garage flaking off clearcoat at just the talk of acids and toilet cleaners. how can this stuff be safe for the coatings?

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

Muratic acid is pretty strong stuff and you need to be careful when using it. Toilet bowl cleaner contains oxalic acid which isn't as nasty to work with. You still need to use gloves and eye protection for both, but toilet bowl cleaner isn't going to take your skin off immediately if you should happen to get some on you. Muratic acid will burn fairly quickly. Neither is going to harm the gel coat of your boat. Many of the products sold for cleaning the scum off of boat hulls contains oxalic acid....toilet bowl cleaner is just a cheaper alternative. This stuff is used to get the algae scum and stains off the hull from sitting in the water, but it isn't going to help remove oxidation.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

I use a 3000psi power washer with a swirling nozzle on mine.

 

[skyaggie]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

Thanks for the info guys. now i just have to work up the courage to try it haha

 

[southkogs]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

My boat is setting in the garage flaking off clearcoat at just the talk of acids and toilet cleaners. how can this stuff be safe for the coatings?

Whoa - your gelcoat is flaking off? It is getting into the glass? Acid or pressure could do more damage depending on exactly what you're talking about there. How bad is it?

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

Isn't the formula for toilet bowl cleaner (blue cap) to be mixed with something else. Thats what i have read on other sites.

 

[skyaggie]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

Oh i was just being sarcastic, my gel coat is fine. nothing is flaking off, it was just that some of the things they were talking about (acids, toilet cleaners) sounded very volatile for use on a fiberglass boat.

i guess i didnt realize how tough the coatings are

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

I use a 3000psi power washer with a swirling nozzle on mine.

The problem I have with pressure washing is that you still have to scrub to get the junk off, so you might as well put the chemical on, let it sit a few minutes, scrub, and then hose off. Tried pressure washing the canopy of my lift this year and it got some of the big stuff off, but when I started scrubbing with a broom and some mild soap, the water turned black. The pressure washer wasn't doing much actual cleaning in my case. The toilet bowl cleaner will get any stains from algae off the gel coat, the pressure washer won't really do much other than blow the surface scum off. To clean, you need to use a "cleaner" and scrub it.

 

[BlueDL1000]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

simple grean, not diluted works great. use with a white "scotch brite" pad. do a small section at a time.

 

[mtorts]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

Hey guys can toilet bowel cleaner and oxalic acid be used on a painted alluminum boat?? I have heard it is not a good idea but was wondering if you heard otherwise. If not what is best for alluminum boats??

 

[dingbat]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

I had a similar problem a couple of years back. What I found was a little bit of preventative maintenance beats a lot of after the fact cleanup

I solved the problem doing two things. I fixed all the leaks on my motor so it didn't leak then I started using Collinite Insulator wax and keep that area well waxed. What little accumulation I do get from time to time rinses off with soap and water.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

Slimy Grimy.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

the toilet bowl cleaners doesn't play well with galvanized trailers, so spray down the trailer first and then constantly after the TB cleaner is on. One advantage of TB cleaner is that it is thick and sticks while it works (which is why you mix clorox with dish soap for the deck, gunwales, etc.)

I think I'd fix the leaking fluids although some is unavoidable. My similar issue is from the grease in the steering/tilt area.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Hull Cleaning Tips??

I boat in freshwater only & no bottom paint.

Not bad for a turd that's 25yrs old.

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