Boat Cleaning - it's a jungle out there!

davel

davel

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I've always had my boat professionally cleaned at the beginning of each season, however now I'm retired I have more time on my hands and less cash in my pocket so I'm going to do it myself this year.

My question is - what do I use? Some research of the available products leaves me baffled - there's so much stuff out there. For example, the Meguiars (seems to be recommended by some) web site lists 4 different products under the heading Boat Cleaners. There's "Wash n Wax", "Marine Wax", "Marine Wash", "Cleaner/Wax" and they all seem to be doing the same thing. It's a similar story with Starbrite and 3M.

I have a 10m standard GRP sailing boat. What should I be looking for in cleaner and polish??
 
Hire a steam cleaner (if you have power) then autoglym the GRP and jpb done.
Ps. avoid the vinyl stickers with the steam.
 
I posted this a while ago and got sniped at right & left, but I don't care if it assists just one person...

Years ago, maybe 1991, my grp boat's dark blue topsudes had chalked badly in the sun. It was time to paint her...

After a bit of preparation, I applied one of the off-the shelf boat cleaners as a de-greaser; now remember this was a long time ago, warning labels were maybe not so clear and big as now, and maybe stuff isn't as strong today.

As it said ' to de-activate, rinse with water ' I took it to be feeble stuff. BIG Mistake !

The boat was up high for her 4'6" draught keel, and as I washed the topsides off the residue ran down my bare arms.

Pretty soon I began to feel uncomfortable, then burning, especially the pale undersurfaces of my forearms.

I started for the thankfully close club loos, by now in really serious pain; ran in and put my arms under a running cold tap, but still the burning got worse.

I actually thought it might go down to the bone !

I was saved by Pat, a club member who was a Matron; she knew I had to fill a sink and keep my arms immersed for a good 40 minutes - it worked.

So be really careful with oxalic acid products, plenty of protection for you and any other people or boats nearby - especially eye protection...
 
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davel said:
I have a 10m standard GRP sailing boat. What should I be looking for in cleaner and polish??
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I wash the topsides with washing up liquid in warm water, using a big sponge and small amounts of "creme cleaner" (own-brand cheapo equivalents to Cif). As long as you use lots of sudsy water, the mildly abrasive cleaner doesn't attack the gelcoat, but will shift most stubborn stains.

Then I use Y10 (or similar oxalic acid gel) to remove any yellow stains around the water line.

Then 2 coats of Meguiars #45 Boat/RV Polish, followed by 2 coats of Meguiars #56 Boat/RV Pure Wax. The Meguiars stuff is very easy to apply and polish off - I do it all by hand without crippling myself.

Then the boat goes back in the water for another 2 years...
 
Buy your oxalic acid off ebay, e.g. here. I use warm soapy water with creme cleaner, cleaning as gently as possible, rinse & let dry, then oxalic solution, rinse very well & let dry, then a good quality wax/polish...
 
DRM MARINE VALETING said:
It's all very well using cheapo this and that, kitchen and laundry products, but if the boat is in the water, there does not seem much consideration for marine life and to whether these products are bio-degradeable. :(
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bovvered.jpg
 
Sugar soap

Try "sugar soap" to pre clean the topsides. Easy to use and cheap as chips from Wickes. A Halfords polymar polish for the hull. The boat will sparkle like Liberace's teeth
 
Washing products

davel said:
I've always had my boat professionally cleaned at the beginning of each season, however now I'm retired I have more time on my hands and less cash in my pocket so I'm going to do it myself this year.

My question is - what do I use? Some research of the available products leaves me baffled - there's so much stuff out there. For example, the Meguiars (seems to be recommended by some) web site lists 4 different products under the heading Boat Cleaners. There's "Wash n Wax", "Marine Wax", "Marine Wash", "Cleaner/Wax" and they all seem to be doing the same thing. It's a similar story with Starbrite and 3M.

I have a 10m standard GRP sailing boat. What should I be looking for in cleaner and polish??
Click to expand...

If the question is "What do I use?" then the answer is whatever cleans and prepares the surfaces for correction/protection or any additional protection.

What it takes to achieve this, as softly as possible, not only as swimming through harsh cleaning chemicals probably isn't the best we can offer our marine life, but can contribute to the ageing process on the surfaces if not dealt with correctly.

Shame on you! pvb :D
You should be bothered.

Ken has it, there are many good cleaners from Halfords, for a wax safe cleaner for regular washing you could try Zymol wash

It won't strip wax, maintaining protection, but is very effective. Yes they are the same company that sells small tubs of wax for 4 figures, but this is only £7 :)

If you understand PH and Solubility then it helps when matching product with contaminate to remove.

Polish and wax are often seen as the same.

Polish; used for further cleaning/preparation or even correction.

Wax; Protection

A product that cleans, polishes and waxes (that works) is currently being sold by Elvis on the moon!
 
3M

Well I'll give a straightforward answer. I've used 3M marine products for the past ten years and have been very pleased with the result. Maybe I'm a sucker and the £££ 3M stuff is no different to Halfords car wax but it seems to me that to get the best shot at a pleasing finish with protective qualities then use one manufacturers thinking/chemistry/technology. So, here goes:

1) Wash hull thoroughly with fresh water
2) If surface badly oxidised use 3M Restorer & wax
3) if hull just dirty do not use 2) above but use 3M Cleaner & Wax
4) After finished with 3 or 4 above then apply two or three coats of 3M wax.

Points to note:

1) Easier with an electric polisher. We bought a decent amateur/semi pro tool ten years ago and it has served us well. Slow revving with plenty of torque. Keep the tool moving whilst in use, do not get the GRP surface warm by extended polishing.
2) Apply the product (3 or 4 above) to the GRP surface using a soft cloth and distribute evenly. Don't use much effort, let the polisher do the work.
3) Don't allow product to dry, steadily move electric polisher buff across hull until polish has disappeared. Finish surface by hand with stockinette.
4) The additional wax coats has made a big difference for us as we no longer get the water level "yellowing" which requires Y10 (Oxalci acid) to remove. So don't skimp on the wax.
5) If you see and are worried by "swirls" on the surface of the gelcoat (caused by over enthusiastic polishing) then you might want to use 3M Finnesse It which is a finishing polish to remove swirling and leave a boat show finish. I've used it in the past but have not felt the need recently.

3M products are not cheap; save up £70 or so and go visit a decent chandlers.

Rob
 
Cleaners

Just be thankful for all our modern products for cleaning, we have dishwashing detergents[liquid soap], laundry detergents[powdered soap], scouring pads, [built in soap], floor polish[ pourable soap] and even oven cleaners [strong soap]



In the old days we just had soap.
 
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