high-pressure spray cleaning

[Jeff_Spedding]

Can anyone give me advice on using a Kaercher high pressure spray-cleaner to remove underwater fouling from my glass fibre sailer? She has been in the water since last June when she was freshly antifouled. I don't particularly want to remove all the paint or bore holes through the gel-coat! I have seen a boat yard doing it immediately on taking a boat out of the water and it looks like a pretty nifty way to avoid lots of scraping.

 

[discovery2]

It is a very easy and efficient method of cleaning the bottom of the boat. I use the minimum pressure necessary to remove the weed and fouling, with preferably the 'wide' spray jet option, rather that the 'pinpoint' jet.

It is easier and quicker to remove just after the boat has dried or been lifted out as the fouling is still relatively soft.

If the pressure is too great, there is a danger of removing the antifouling - especially if it is not adhering properly, but it could be argued that if this happens it is not a sound base to apply the new antifouling!

I have used a pressure washer for 18 years on a wooden hull, but having recently purchased a fibreglass boat, I will certainly pressure wash the bottom when needed.

David

 

[snowleopard]

use the spray from a distance of 2-4 ins. takes longer than you think but a hell of a sight easier than scraping. barnacles may require extra encouragement.

if you have eroding type a/f, assume it will all come off. with hard or epoxy, you may lose patches that weren't properly stuck.

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Jeff,

High pressure clean as soon as possible after lift out.

Tips. If you come out on your own cradle, clean the area that will behind any pads or braces
before lift out. If lifting onto a land based cradle, blast cradle areas first, then lower.

Keep the hull wet till you have blasted it, even if this means someone on the other side with a
hose.

Hope this helps

Andavagoodweekend Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif

 

[Robin2]

high-pressure sea water

Does anyone know if you can pump seawater through the high pressure washers - and does it have any adverse effect on the boat or the pump?

(There is a lot of it about when you may not have so much fresh water !)

 

[oldsaltoz]

Re: high-pressure sea water

"Can I use salt water in a pressure washer"?

This must be a wind up, right.

Salt water will most likely destroy the pump and any paint applied to surface washed in salt water will not stick...

DON'T USE SALT WATER

 

[EASLOOP]

Interesting thread and particularly relevant at the moment. Karcher sprayers seem to arrive in 5 'strengths'. No 1 is good for cleaning toenails one a month, while No. 5 will cut your garage in half. No 1 will be kind to your wallet while No 5 requires a mortgage. Does anybody have any advise on which model Karcher to use - esp on a wooden hull.
Look forward to replies
Regards
John

 

[EASLOOP]

Did I put my question in the wrong place ? Not sure if I am using this system correctly
JOhn

 

[pandroid]

Re: high-pressure sea water

How come Medway Yacht club use it on their Scrubbing Trolley then?

 

[Robin2]

Re: high-pressure sea water

Why would salt water destroy the pump??

What would be wrong with washing the debris from the hull with salt water and then rinsing the clean hull with fresh water?????

 

[John_Clarke]

I have a Kaercher 620M which is fine for cleaning a boat. It has an output of 8 l/min @120bar and is rated at 2.2kW.
I think yards may have more powerful washers powered by a diesel engine and can use a wider part of the fan spray and therefore wash a boat more quickly.

 

[MADFISH]

I have a Kaercher pressure washer that kicks out 110psi. It cost about £90 and does the job perfectly. The great thing is that it leaves a finish good enough to antifoul on to without any further preperation.

 

[Freebee]

Re: high-pressure sea water

If you take a pressure washer apart they have pistons and cylinders that provide the propulsive power and because some the components of the pump are made of aluminium see water will corrode. Although most have a little strainer in the water line debris will damage the pistons!!!
On more piece of advise when pressure washing wood start at low pressure and gradually increase I learnt this the hard way after cutting deep grooves in mahogany strakes.

 

[jonjo]

Re: non tap water supply

Halfords are discounting Karcher jet washers at the moment so I think I will buy one this week-end. The 620 seems like to the model for me, I particularly like the auto motor off/on feature.

Trouble is my first yacht cleaning task involves working in an inland Dutch boatyard where the water supply has been drained for the winter. Can a Karcher be fed off a bucket of water?

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[John_Clarke]

Re: non tap water supply

Yes, the 620M can suck water out of a bucket, but at 8 litres a minute you will need a lot of buckets of water to clean a boat.

I think it takes me about 40 minutes to wash down a 23' twin keel yacht.

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