Boat gone green

[Robin B]

Need some advice please. My boat is in a rural marina, with trees nearby. She has gone green all over: canopy, roof and decks, parts of the hull. I have access to fresh running water and electricity, but I have so far avoided a small jet wash in case it lifts the deck paint. I have some oxalic acid, but have not tried it yet, also it is too cold for it to work I believe.

The boat is a 1970's Broom Ocean 37, and with the stanchions, handrails, cleats etc, is a real pain to clean. The hull I can only get to by tender because the quay heading is level with the decks.

I have read the thread about Patio Magic for the canopy - sounds good, but can it be used on the GRP? The decks have nonslip paint (applied late last year), but the rest is gelcoat.

 

[Bobc]

Get some Patio Magic. Put it in a backpack sprayer, and spray the entire boat with it.

Don't scrub it or hose it off, simply walk away and leave it for a week.

When you come back a week later, wash it with soapy water and it should all be gone. If not, give it another dose.

 

[Robin B]

Result..! Thanks Bobc

Ordered on Amazon, along with some Fabsil for the canopy.

 

[MoodySabre]

Use Patio Magic on the canvas too. I apply it (diluted) with a paint brush. Do it on a dry day.

 

[Bobc]

Use Patio Magic on the canvas too. I apply it (diluted) with a paint brush. Do it on a dry day.

Yes absolutely. I also chuck all my green ropes in a bucket with a diluted mix in for a week, and the ropes stay "green free" for a couple of years.

 

[stownsend]

I used an autoglym hard sponge this year then washed down with water and car shampoo, using a brush it cleared the green nicelyaway !

Cheers

Stu

 

[Mistroma]

Result..! Thanks Bobc

Ordered on Amazon, along with some Fabsil for the canopy.

Use of Fabsil on Sunbrella fabric rang a bell. Not a good idea according to post #3 in this thread.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?311190

More detail in post #6 in another thread from the Lounge, so easily missed.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?304226
I vaguely remember seeing something similar elsewhere and so it could true. Probably worth checking before applying Fabsil. I haven't used it on a sprayhood or cover so haven't experienced the problem.

 

[Robin B]

Thanks for the heads-up; I will find out what it is made from before I open the Fabsil...

 

[Robin B]

Good idea for the ropes too….

I have ordered a Magic Sponge to see if that works too

 

[VicS]

Very dilute bleach will kill algae. The green colour does not disappear immediately but once the algae is killed it will go.

Would be cautious about using it on a canopy though.

 

[Robin B]

Thanks VicS. I am hesitant to use bleach for that very reason. I am not sure how the deck paint would react to it as well.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I had the same on my caravan roof. It washed off easily with a squirt of washing up liquid in a bucket of water and gentle brushing with a soft broom. I've used dilute bleach on canvas previously again applied with a soft broom and rinsed off with clean water. Advice for prevention is to remove all canvas and ropes before laying up and put a tarp over the hull.

 

[Robin B]

I am trying to avoid scrubbing due to all the bits I have to go around. 'Wash and wax' gets rid of it when brushed, but I keep catching stuff and I have broken three of those extendable brushes so far. A formula which sprays on and then hoses off is what I am really after.

 

[Bobc]

Be very careful with bleach. It rots fabric.

 

[Bobc]

Good idea for the ropes too….

I have ordered a Magic Sponge to see if that works too

I stick a big bucket at the foot of the mast, un-thread all the control lines back to the mast, and just sling it all in the bucket with patio magic in (you can leave it as long as you like). It's an ideal way of cleaning the ropes that you can't remove.

 

[Iliade]

Oxalic acid is my new best friend, but the rate at which it eats some plated metals has to be seen to be believed. IIRC you may have some lovely chrome plated fittings which would really not appreciate the acid...

 

[Iliade]

Brine

Salt water can be pretty good at killing algae, and hopefully everything on the boat was designed to cope with it...

 

[Whitty]

canopy, roof and teak decks, parts of the hull, ropes anything, my boats in fresh water with trees around and never goes green with patio magic.
it is magic use once a year.

 

[BocaChica]

Ah, good timing.

This was a job I wasn't looking forward to tackling again this spring. Had cut my hands to ribbons scrubbing the boat with one of those kitchen green scrubbing sponges and a bucket of warm suds.

Thanks all for the patio magic tip.

 

[phatcat1]

I use Muc-off for all the decks/topsides etc. Buy it at a camping store or off the web. Not from a chandlers, there seems to be a 20% difference in price.

For the canvas, I use a non-bio handwash powder or soap-flakes in warm water. Sponge on, and gently rub over with a soft brush. Rinse with clean water. May need two goes, and reproof with Fabsil on a warm dry day.