Hull Cleaning

[Larry Patrick]

After having boat in a wet slip all summer,its time to clean the hull. Since im a newbie this is how it went. First I tried slimy grimy it cleaned the easy section. It was odd one side of boat is cleaning easier than the other. Maybee its sun baked more on one side than the other. Note for next season,clean boat as soon as pulling it,not weeks later. Next tried Kates on and off this worked on some of it,but still not good enough. Next I tried muratic acid 50/50 this fizzed and bubbled and worked better. Then I tried it straight it worked even better. Having a new loadrite aluminum trailer,was careful to cover with plastic,then wash it down good,and neutralize with baking soda. After a few accidental wiffs of acid ,im handing it over to a boat yard. I wore safety glasses and a cloth mask ,but still its a pain. Would never be able to clean bottom being on a trailer. Wish I knew this in the beginning could have saved a few hours and cleaning supplies,since im handing it over to someone with a boat lift that can do it proper. I guess the starting of zebra mussels or something was hard to get off. I had cleaned most of hull that was visible,thought about saying good enough,then thought what if I leave it this way till end of next season ,but don't know if that would be a bad idea ,wonder if you could clean bottom after two seasons. No bottom paint,so decided to haul it two hours away and have it cleaned. Knowing this I wish I hauled boat out instead of wet slip. But I will probably do the same next season,except have someone with a lift clean it right.

 

[Will-C]

We always try to remove the scum line as soon as we pull the boat before it dries. Having a 20 gallon water tank on board and an on demand water pump with a cockpit hose bib lets us wipe off the scum line, spray the brakes, flush the motor while reducing the weight of the boat for trailering.
We keep the boat in salt water in Florida for a month in the winter. But keep after any noticeable scum line using a deck brush on a long handle from topside or from a dock. I always wax the boats bottom with car Turtle wax once a year just before the Florida trip that seems to work as good as any. When we pull the boat in Florida we have it lifted and the bottom pressure washed before we put it on the trailer. It's like the old saying a stitch in time saves nine. Once that crap gets crusty it a real PITA to get off. So far it has avoided any of the expensive cleaners and bottom paint for the way we use our boat.
D.D.

 

[thataway]

Generally if the boat is going to stay in the water over a few weeks max, it is best to put bottom paint on. Where we stay in the Keys during Jan thru March, some of the boats do not have bottom paint. They try and pull the boats out and pressure wash every week. If you wait two weeks it is very apparent. If the barnicles begin to grow, they are extremely hard to get off, and may damage the gel coat.

 

[Larry Patrick]

Thanks Guys good tips. When I start some ocean trips plan to bottom paint. Really amazed how dirty the boat got in a lake. The salt and ocean with barnicles,must really play havoc if not maintained. When I was at Southport last fall there was a trawler very nice boat that wasn't moved in several seasons the barnicles and hull were terrible. Im in the process of getting a torklift super hitch this month,plan on towing boat behing truck camper next season.