Cleaning mast surfaces and water tanks

[Becky]

Our boat is coming very slowly to the end of her refit and osmosis treatment so we will be needing to get on with cleaning the mast prior to it being set up again, and cleaning out the water tanks.
She was brought back from Spain in January with (to me) suspect Spanish water which has lain stagnating for nearly six months. I believe that we should flush the tanks with dilute vinegar. But how dilute? Or is there something better?
Secondly the mast has had a couple of very minor grazes on the lorry journey which has left small marks on the surface, and it is very dirty. Is the mast surface anodised- it isn't a different colour? And if so, how does one clean it. We tried a kitchen cleaning pad soft enough for non-stick surfaces but it made no difference. Any suggestions anybody?

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[bruce]

soap and water, paste wax or other wax. do NOT use any abrasive, anodizing is clear or colored, and can be damaged by kitchen pads, etc. you should research treating the scratches. you could use laundry bleach, un sented, or even pool chemicals. wash with lots of fresh water after.

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by bruce on 01/07/2004 21:58 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[aitchw]

While you having a think about a better way to clean your tanks fill 'em up with water with a load of bicarbonate of soda in. It will be doing some good at least in the meantime and will maybe just about do the job completely.

As for the grazes on your mast don't try to polish them out. All you will do is damage the remaining anodising. Once damaged anodising can't be reinstated in my experience.

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[Mudplugger]

If you have got a couple of scratches on the mast anodising, a good way of sealing (and keeping it clean for the season) is to wipe it with Owertrol. On the tank front, Why not use a solution of baby bottle cleaner, dilutes down well and is a lot more economical than proprietry brands...HTH.. Tony W.

<hr width=100% size=1>Tony W.

 

[Taggy]

I cleaned my water tank using a chemial cleaner used for sterilising 'home made' wine making equipment. It used to be available from Boots. Then flush it through a few times. Worked fine for me.

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[BlueSkyNick]

Maybe you could find a friendly dentitst who'd be able to help with some form of sterilisation liquid for your tanks. /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

 

[charles_reed]

Use...

dilute sodium hypochlorite for cleaning out the tanks - you probably know it better as bleach.
Personally don't know why you should have any hang-up about Spanish water, it's of better quality than most people in the SE of UK enjoy.
You'll probably find any clear pipes have been infected by chlamodymonas - that produces the stink of H2S - which is a problem of your boat, not the water.
Use silver halide solution in the waterlines when you leave the boat for length of time, that's the most effective disinfectant you can use as well as being non-toxic and tasteless.

DON'T use any aggressive cleaning like a nylon scourer - you'll remove the clear anodising. Rather use furniture polish and a soft cloth. If that doesn't work use acetone (but work fast it evaporates very quickly). If the mark still won't come out with that you'll have to live with it.

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[Trevor_swfyc]

Bruce,

Pool chemical is my preferred choice, the active chlorine agent is Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate this is available from <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.poolandspachemicals.co.uk>http://www.poolandspachemicals.co.uk</A>, under trade name Dichlor. This powerful bug basher should be left in the tank and pipe work flush away prior to use of the tank. I do not use my tank water for drinking so I leave 5 ppm of this in my tank continuously, results in no bugs and no smell unless you find the odour of swimming pools offensive.

Trevor

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[StephenW]

Clean the scratched area as Charles has said with acetone or meths then apply clear car lacquer. It is not as good as anodising but will last for several years and protect the surface. well

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[StephenW]

Clean the scratched area as Charles has said with acetone or meths then apply clear car lacquer (as used over metallic paint) - its available in spray and touch-up pots, often including its own brush. It is not as good as anodising but will last for several years and protect the surface. well

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[pragmatist]

You could probably clean your water tanks with the same solution we use to keep our water pure - just make it a bit stronger. We use Milton (or you can get look-alikes for water purification / cleaning babies bottles etc in any supermarket). Milton give the quantities on the bottle. A bottle at less than £2 will last ages for water - and is an excellent cleaner for almost anything, including removing mould.

If you use it in your water for drinking a filter is essential but once filtered the water tastes fine.

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK