Boat Cleaning advice

[wanzap1]

Hi Gang,

I need to clean my 28ft sailing boat that has been laid up for a few years. I've read lots of posts and article online and have become a bit confused as there lots of differing opinion on there, so looking to establish a definitive plan to tackle the dirt, does the below seems like a good approach?

1) power-hose off all lose dirt
2) shampoo / wash with muck-off or car shampoo
3)Oxalic acid to remove and green / rust stains etc
4) scrub with cif and a stiff sponge
5) if still need then polish and wax the hull (hoping to dodge this bit if possible)

 

[MoodySabre]

For 2) I use a hull cleaner like Starbrite.
For 3) and 4) I use a “magic eraser” sponge - I get mine from Robert Dyas but some big supermarkets sell them.
I hate 5) too and will recruit my grandson this year as he has stronger shoulders than me.

 

[wanzap1]

For 2) I use a hull cleaner like Starbrite.
For 3) and 4) I use a “magic eraser” sponge - I get mine from Robert Dyas but some big supermarkets sell them.
I hate 5) too and will recruit my grandson this year as he has stronger shoulders than me.

Thanks so much - really useful advice there

 

[wallacebob]

Aldi will have their patio cleaner(Deb) in stock soon. Spray on, leave 2-3 weeks (or longer), then wash. You shouldn’t need the Oxalic stage.

 

[dankilb]

Patio cleaners work best with UV (over a period of days) and oxalic is (supposedly much?) more effective in warmer temps - so maybe consider the prevailing weather for those aspects.

Saw a pontoon neighbour patio magicing the other week and thought “too soon!”.

 

[Refueler]

1) power-hose off all lose dirt
2) shampoo / wash with muck-off or car shampoo
3)Oxalic acid to remove and green / rust stains etc
4) scrub with cif and a stiff sponge
5) if still need then polish and wax the hull (hoping to dodge this bit if possible)

My routine is 1) 2) 3) repeat 3) if needed .... note I use wallpaper paste with my oxalic as I apply to all topsides and not only stained areas ... to avoid patchy look ... then 5) - which is basically an all in one cheap supermarket Car shampoo and wax.

No need to be overly physical with it ... let the Oxalic do the job for you.

 

[wanzap1]

My routine is 1) 2) 3) repeat 3) if needed .... note I use wallpaper paste with my oxalic as I apply to all topsides and not only stained areas ... to avoid patchy look ... then 5) - which is basically an all in one cheap supermarket Car shampoo and wax.

No need to be overly physical with it ... let the Oxalic do the job for you.

thanks, do you find that you don't need to machine polish?

 

[Refueler]

thanks, do you find that you don't need to machine polish?

I watch local yard guy with polisher and it looks great .... short time later - I don't really see any difference to other boats that have cleaned and applied simply.

I was helping my pal with Oxalic on his boat one time .... yard guy was using the machine to polish a large MoBo .... at one of his regular 'rests' we asked him what he thought of it as the guy who does the job ....
His answer ? "Guys paying a lot of money for me to do this ..... maybe he'll want it done next months as well - I will make sure I'm not here ! "

Think that says it all ...

 

[Pye_End]

Take care if using a power hose.

Rarely use Cif except specific spot applications.

Oxalic acid for waterline stains (and rust stains if any).

Decent wax not onerous and worth applying. Polish only if necessary.