Cheap & Easy Annual Deck Clean

[sailorman]

I don't usually worry about cleaning the deck - it just gets swabbed when we're sailing and a quick spray down with fresh water on our return.

However, last year I barely sailed at all - an unfortunate combination of weather, domestics and work. And the boat has sat in the marina accumulating general mankiness.

So I need to clean the decks. I am loathe to go to the chandlers and buy a yachting product as I am convinced it's unnecessary.

I may well have a crack at it tomorrow using copious Fairy Liquid. Does anyone reckon this will work?

As there seems to be a significant "green" component to the grottiness, my next attempt will be something like soda crystals or jeyes fluid. Anyone tried either of these - do they work and what are the problems? I'm a bit wary of the Soda Crystals as I'm not sure how things like aluminium will bear up if I splash it around.

Any other thoughts, advice or tips?

Ropes will go in the washing machine and the sails can wait until next year.

google Brinton Products MMC

 

[SolentBoat]

I don't usually worry about cleaning the deck - it just gets swabbed when we're sailing and a quick spray down with fresh water on our return.

However, last year I barely sailed at all - an unfortunate combination of weather, domestics and work. And the boat has sat in the marina accumulating general mankiness.

So I need to clean the decks. I am loathe to go to the chandlers and buy a yachting product as I am convinced it's unnecessary.

I may well have a crack at it tomorrow using copious Fairy Liquid. Does anyone reckon this will work?

As there seems to be a significant "green" component to the grottiness, my next attempt will be something like soda crystals or jeyes fluid. Anyone tried either of these - do they work and what are the problems? I'm a bit wary of the Soda Crystals as I'm not sure how things like aluminium will bear up if I splash it around.

Any other thoughts, advice or tips?

Ropes will go in the washing machine and the sails can wait until next year.

 

[JKay]

Get some of forumite "HIB's" MFCE

 

[Ubergeekian]

As there seems to be a significant "green" component to the grottiness, my next attempt will be something like soda crystals or jeyes fluid. Anyone tried either of these - do they work and what are the problems? I'm a bit wary of the Soda Crystals as I'm not sure how things like aluminium will bear up if I splash it around.

Any other thoughts, advice or tips?

Is a pressure washer an option? For good reasons my boat has barely moved for a couple of years but a blast with a washer brings everything up nicely, green and otherwise. Oh, with the exception of some odd black fungal thingies (5mm - 25mm diameter) which are real swines to get off and leave a slight discolouration on the GRP afterwards.

 

[Robin]

CIF Oxygel is cheap and works. Wet the decks first then spray CIF on and spread it around with a sponge or a brush and leave for 5 - 10 minute without letting it dry off. Then ideally pressure wash it off, or use a hose with a gun fitting and a deck brush.

Keeping the green off afterwards is aided by spraying on a layer of an anti algae anti fungal gunge like Cuprinol or Polycel do or cheaper the stuff sold by Homebase for cleaning mould from patios and brickwork but suitably diluted. Do this after the clean up. This works too on hoods and covers as well as teak decks, but don't pressure wash the teak and be gentle with it on the hood.

 

[SAMYL]

Someone gave me a sample of "Marine Wash" which worked a treat. Dilute it and spray or brush it on, leave half an hour and powerwash off. Don't know where to get it though, probably at the yottie stop and rob.

 

[prv]

I've cleaned boats with Fairly Liquid, so it does work. It's possible some of these suggestions are even better I suppose.

Pete

 

[SAMYL]

Someone gave me a sample of "Marine Wash" which worked a treat. Dilute it and spray or brush it on, leave half an hour and powerwash off. Don't know where to get it though, probably at the yottie stop and rob.

Sorry, mistake. It's called "Marine Clean" not Marine Wash

 

[SolentBoat]

Well, the fairy liquid (or rather, co-op own brand) worked a treat.

A big car sponge on the shiny bits and a really stiff bristly brush on the non-slip bits. Just add elbow grease.

I may well wash the non-slip and the sail covers (I didn't attempt the covers this morning) with something more potent as greenery prevention at some point but it really wasn't necessary for removing what was there already.

 

[samwise]

Is a pressure washer an option? For good reasons my boat has barely moved for a couple of years but a blast with a washer brings everything up nicely, green and otherwise. Oh, with the exception of some odd black fungal thingies (5mm - 25mm diameter) which are real swines to get off and leave a slight discolouration on the GRP afterwards.

I think you have to be very careful with pressure washers. Last year I spotted a very sad yacht in Ramsgate where the owner had clearly gone to town with his pressure washer to clean off the gunge. He had obviously been using it at top pressure and working close to the hull and deck with the result that his boat carried a series of circular abraded marks all over. Looked like a candidate for a re-spray to me!

THe chap who owned one our earlier boats told me how an enthusiastic friend who came down to help him prepare for the new season had used the pressure wash to clean off the algae from the running rigging. He was so enthusiastic that the spray virtually flayed off the outer coverings and the end result was an expensive cordage rreplacement programme.