Hull cleaning

[sangerwaker]

I've used the Star Brite Instant hull cleaner with great results. Our lake has a lot of tannins that stain my white gel too. I use TB cleaner in the fall to clean the calcium deposits off the motor, but it didn't take the tannin stains off the hull.

Make sure you wax after or the stain will return even worse. I had a great time waxing the entire underside of mine this spring. It sits low in the trailer and required some creative jacking and blocking so I could get under the trailer.

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, it is very cute recommending waxing. I waxed my boat once in the 80s. The wax was gone in our saltwater, in minutes. Maybe in lakes it makes sense, but the salt stuff strips it, in my experience.

 

[sangerwaker]

Both the OP and myself only boat in fresh water.

 

[dingbat]

I waxed my boat once in the 80s. The wax was gone in our saltwater, in minutes. Maybe in lakes it makes sense, but the salt stuff strips it, in my experience.

Get heavy tannin in the water in the Spring. The boat is tea colored by the beginning of May.

Tried all the usual boat waxes. A month or so at best. A good friend turned me on to Collinite 885.

Get the better part of a season out of it. It's labor intensive to apply but nothing beats the depth of shine and durability in saltwater.

 

[crazy charlie]

Sno-bowl toilet bowl cleaner from tbe dollar store.

Or mix up your own oxalic acid

I have used them all (bowl cleaners) best is Lysol 10X ,3 pack for $5 at Wallyworld. Dollar store ones wont work ,though they used to but just about everything there is watered down including the bleach. This stuff will stain your trailer so tarp it off or be really careful. Charlie

Thats the dollar store brand that USED to work but not anymore.....it's watered down compared to 4-5 years ago.

 

[Pmt133]

Yes, but the fumes suck. It wouldn't be a very nice thing to do to whoever is down wind.

Sounds like a problem for future me.

A friend had a company that created a citrus based cleaner for the stuff. Granulated, mix with a little water and it was comparatively safe to handle compared to HCL and other materials. The oxalic is fine too but I've encountered a lot that you need a stronger acid to remove.

Wax doesn't stop the scum line from forming up here, but it's the difference between normal boat soap taking it off and having to acid wash again.... I hate chalky gel with a passion.

 

[redneck joe]

I just grabbed what the wife had under the sink, note to self need to replace that I will will get the look.

or maybe hands thrown....

 

[Mc Tool]

I just grabbed what the wife had under the sink, note to self need to replace that I will will get the look.

Ha , I know that look ........its the one she gets when I find my spray bombs or degreaser has been pilfered . If I was to use household cleaning products the look I would get would one of stunned amazement

 

[airshot]

Get heavy tannin in the water in the Spring. The boat is tea colored by the beginning of May.

Tried all the usual boat waxes. A month or so at best. A good friend turned me on to Collinite 885.

Get the better part of a season out of it. It's labor intensive to apply but nothing beats the depth of shine and durability in saltwater.

Can't speak for salt water, but in the fresh water around me, the spraying auto waxes from Turtle wax works well. It only lasts a few weeks or mabey a month but I can do my 16' deep V in about 15 minutes. Buffing adds another 10 min if I decide to even buff the sides. It sure makes the crud come off easier. No idea how long saltwater would take to remove ....

 

[redneck joe]

my boat is about the same color as the water stins so...


oh, and i dont care about stains.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Ha , I know that look ........its the one she gets when I find my spray bombs or degreaser has been pilfered . If I was to use household cleaning products the look I would get would one of stunned amazement

Except I have been married for 35 years, I lived thru menopause, you could point a loaded pistol at me would not phase me one bit. Her look has not worked in years I just acknowledge it out of courtesy at this point.

 

[redneck joe]

Except I have been married for 35 years, I lived thru menopause, you could point a loaded pistol at me would not phase me one bit. Her look has not worked in years I just acknowledge it out of courtesy at this point.

yup

 

[dingbat]

Can't speak for salt water, but in the fresh water around me, the spraying auto waxes from Turtle wax works well. It only lasts a few weeks or mabey a month but I can do my 16' deep V in about 15 minutes. Buffing adds another 10 min if I decide to even buff the sides. It sure makes the crud come off easier. No idea how long saltwater would take to remove ....

I’m waxing have a 22’ Walkaround.
It takes me a good 8-10 hours to compound, clean and apply the first coat of wax. Wait a week, then another 2-3 hours to apply the second coat.

Collinite 885 is wet on wet application which requires application and removal by hand. A lot of work, but it only gets done once a year and the results are stunning.

The amount of suspended solids in saltwater is incredible. Between the salt and sand, it’s like running in 1,000 grit sand paper. You could literally fill a salt shaker with the dried salt off the gunnels at the end of the day.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

You could literally fill a salt shaker with the dried salt off the gunnels at the end of the day.

How does it taste?

 

[redneck joe]

my buddy in FLL just hosed off every trip.

My buddy in Tampa is luck he runs up a river several miles after coming off the bay or offshore.

 

[dingbat]

How does it taste?

Like sea salt...lol