Recommendations for low(ish) pressure deck jet washer?

[Skylark]

My marina is adjacent to a main road so, especially when in a cradle, the non slip GRP deck becomes engrained with traffic related detritus. Hands and knees with soapy water and scrubbing brush isn’t cleaning it so I need to step-up to the next level of cleaning.

Thinking about battery/portable low ish pressure and flow jet washer. I’ve always been of the view that a jet washer isn’t a good match for a boaty environment. Don’t want to promote a leaking deck.

Any recommendations?

 

[lustyd]

I have the portable Karcher OC3 and would recommend it. Battery power and has its own water reservoir but can also take water from a bucket

 

[MoodySabre]

My marina forbids the use of a jet wash on the hard.

 

[pioneer]

WORX also make a battery jet washer. IIRC it's about 20psi with the long wand and 6psi with the short one. Some models can be fitted with a 2litre water bottle which i find useful for cleaning the anchor chain of mud etc.

 

[Bobc]

The WORX battery one is idea for that sort of thing.

 

[Graham376]

We have a non slip deck and I use a small Karcher for that and sometimes muddy chain as it comes up. Use the fan lance rather than turbo. Mains powered but runs from inverter or Honda genny.

 

[ashtead]

A cheap version from Lidl maybe? Not that powerful compared to Karcher type but battery pack so no power cord much like worx one but maybe cheaper?

 

[Jodel]

All three power washers that I've had over the years have had a lance where you can adjust the pressure from 'full on' to just a trickle. They are not just (high) power washers.

 

[Tomaret]

My marina is adjacent to a main road so, especially when in a cradle, the non slip GRP deck becomes engrained with traffic related detritus. Hands and knees with soapy water and scrubbing brush isn’t cleaning it so I need to step-up to the next level of cleaning.

Thinking about battery/portable low ish pressure and flow jet washer. I’ve always been of the view that a jet washer isn’t a good match for a boaty environment. Don’t want to promote a leaking deck.

Any recommendations?

I used a Ryobi cordless pressure washer to try to shift guano earlier this week. It wasn’t as good as warm water and a scrubbing brush.

 

[ashtead]

Yes don’t expect a lot from the Lidl version -I used it to wash down cleaner from canvas panels hanging on an airer whirligig line and it was useful but not essential.

 

[rotrax]

My marina is adjacent to a main road so, especially when in a cradle, the non slip GRP deck becomes engrained with traffic related detritus. Hands and knees with soapy water and scrubbing brush isn’t cleaning it so I need to step-up to the next level of cleaning.

Thinking about battery/portable low ish pressure and flow jet washer. I’ve always been of the view that a jet washer isn’t a good match for a boaty environment. Don’t want to promote a leaking deck.

Any recommendations?

Yes. Why get on your hands and knees with a scrubbing brush?

None of our boats have ever had a pressure washer used on the deck/coachroof/cockpits.

Plain fresh water from a hose, a stiff 6 inch scrubbing brush affixed to a pole with a modified broom head. I do it standing up.

Our current boat is 16 years old. We are often asked if it is new. Good quality mild car shampoo with a wax additive is used now and then, but not every time.

We had the hull and coachroof polished professionally five years ago, using 3M Products. The polisher, well regarded in his field, specifically advised against pressure washing and using aggresive detergents, stating clean fresh water made his polishing last longer.

He appears to be correct.

 

[ashtead]

Autoglym is your friend should you have some spare for washing down generally but use deck cleaner once a year normally at beginning of season.

 

[Skylark]

Appreciate your comments, @ashtead and @rotrax

I make a point of visiting once per month over the winter time, that’s usually enough to keep on top of the deck cleaning routine. Circumstantialy, I hadn’t been since early/mid November. My marina yard is next to a busy road and all manner of airborne detritus gets deposited.

I usually use the stiff yard brush regularly dipped in soapy water, car wash and wax. For stubborn patches I’ll pay nautical tax and use a deck cleaner. But after almost 8 weeks I hardly made an impact.

My boat is a little over 10 years old. At the end of last season I used a dual action polisher on the top sides and, when finished, she looked like new again. I have a lot of pride in my boat and don’t like having a dirty deck. As to warm water, the boat is in Scotland. Last Thursday morning, the water had frozen on the deck before it had run away.

 

[LiftyK]

I can recommend the entry model from Nilfisk. It is light, great value for money and has never missed a beat over many years. It is mains powered. The pressure is perfect to remove deck grime without risk of damage to ropes and seals. I also have a larger Nilfisk model at home and it is equally pleasing. I moved to Nilfisk after three Karchers failed on me.