Snow foam to clean boats.

[scruff]

So, like many of us our boat has been unattended all autumn, winter and now spring.

I'm expecting, when we are allowed into the boatyard for the first time in months the boat will be thick with dirt and tree residue. I'm minded to give her a good jetwash down but ws thinking the car washes get a good amount of grime off with snow foam, leaving the car with a nice (but thin) coating of wax.

Has anyone used car/ caravan snow foam on their boat? If so what make did you use and have they found it beneficial. Boats on the hard fwiw.

Thanks

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I used caravan cleaner from Lidl/Aldi. I still had to powerwash the decks sq inch by sq inch. and there was a long trail of foam stretching away downtide.

 

[Murv]

I've used snow foam a couple of times, can't remember the make but I can check if it helps?
I think the only real benefits are that it helps keep the dirt wetted until you can get to it with a brush and pressure washer, and it's much easier to apply than with a bucket or brush, but it doesn't clean any better than a regular detergent in my opinion.
Incidentally, snow foam is just a cleaning product, it won't leave a wax behind as you clean it off afterwards. The only way to leave a waxed residue is to apply a good wax with lots of elbow grease!

 

[mersea_paddler]

I used autoglym snow foam a couple of days ago on my Centaur thats been sitting for a couple of years (new baby stopped play).
Had some in the shed and thought why not.

The real benefit was being able to let it sit for a while and once all the grime was nice and loose I used a really soft karcher brush to just agitate it. You can see where you've been easily enough with your swirls.

Then just power washed it all off without too much up-close pressure.

Turned a greenish boat white again. I'll be doing it again cos it saved a lot of time.
Soap the boat, quick swirl with a brush and wash off

 

[Binnacle]

I used caravan cleaner from Lidl/Aldi. I still had to powerwash the decks sq inch by sq inch. and there was a long trail of foam stretching away downtide.

Clearly every lidl helps save the environment.

From an MSDS for Snow Foam Shampoo

6.2. Environmental precautions Avoid discharge into water courses or onto the ground.

 

[ip485]

I have tried most things, and not convinced there is much between them, other than the price!

It seems to me any shampoo (the cheapest usually for the car market) does the job just as well as any of the more specialist products. After all the idea is there is some sort of surfcant action to release the dirt.

Jet wash for a clean up works great, but I am convinced it also removes wax and polish much quicker than washing so it is worth using with caution, especially if you have recently waxed.

 

[scruff]

Jet wash for a clean up works great, but I am convinced it also removes wax and polish much quicker than washing so it is worth using with caution, especially if you have recently waxed.

Recently been waxed? After being brought ashore in last October, we managed 1 trip to collect the floor boards for varnishing before being banned from visiting her. I looks like we might manage the one weekend of maintenance / servicing whilst ashore before she splashes again in May. The luxury of spending a couple of weekends giving her a proper polish is pure fantasy sadly.

I never knew how much I would miss those cold, damp argyle winter days pottering about going odd jobs and the evenings cozy with the heating on and a couple of Malts putting the world to rights.

That's why I'm considering the snow foam approach - hopefully give a quick but "good enough" finish getting rid of the winter green and a light sparkle. I'll give it a go and report back....

 

[pragmatist]

Recently been waxed? After being brought ashore in last October, we managed 1 trip to collect the floor boards for varnishing before being banned from visiting her. I looks like we might manage the one weekend of maintenance / servicing whilst ashore before she splashes again in May. The luxury of spending a couple of weekends giving her a proper polish is pure fantasy sadly.

I never knew how much I would miss those cold, damp argyle winter days pottering about going odd jobs and the evenings cozy with the heating on and a couple of Malts putting the world to rights.

That's why I'm considering the snow foam approach - hopefully give a quick but "good enough" finish getting rid of the winter green and a light sparkle. I'll give it a go and report back....

Hi Would love to hear how it goes as we are in a similar position so the quickest route to a cleanish finish would be much appreciated. When are you planning on doing it ?

 

[scruff]

Hi Would love to hear how it goes as we are in a similar position so the quickest route to a cleanish finish would be much appreciated. When are you planning on doing it ?

As soon after the 26th April as I can manage!

 

[Lucy52]

Now you are into snow foam, has anyone tried a clay bar afterwards? Thread drift, but much the same topic "cleaning the outside of the boat"."

 

[ip485]

Recently been waxed? After being brought ashore in last October, we managed 1 trip to collect the floor boards for varnishing before being banned from visiting her. I looks like we might manage the one weekend of maintenance / servicing whilst ashore before she splashes again in May. The luxury of spending a couple of weekends giving her a proper polish is pure fantasy sadly.

Point entirely taken, and well made.

I have been visiting more regularly in strict isolation and with the full agreement of the marina management, and I believe compliant with the law (not opeing up that hornet's nest), so have managed to keep up with some maintenance.