AUGGGG! Let "family" borrow boat

[Recruiter]

Long story as to how I got talked into it, but now, it is what it is. Although I was PROMISED this would not happen, it did. My boat was left in the lake (South East) for over a month while I was away. I pulled it last night and it looks like a Chia-Pet. Hit it with a pressure washer to get the fuzz off but all those tough little algae spores are everywhere. It took me about an hour to scrub away one small section. I found that when I used an old gift card like a scraper on a section with the fuzz still attached, it seemed to come off cleaner and in long chunks. Due to the fact that I am in the process of rebuilding my front axle in my twowrig/daily driver I had to dump her back in to deal with next week. Suggestions as to best approach this cleaning/boat nightmare? I already ordered another bottle of 3M wax to put on her as soon as she is clean again. On a side note - there will be no help from the "family" while I am under there scrubbing and waxing - you gotta love in-laws!

On a waxing note - hand wax or buy a buffer? Thoughts?

On a semi positive note - the Bu needs to be pulled to have an oil change anyway.

Thank you,

Katie

PS - I searched old threads and only found posts dealing with water spots - the least of my trama right now! I may not be using the correct search words to find a solution to this disaster! Sorry to double post if there is already a thread on this that I did not find.

[Michigan boarder]

I bought a dirty boat last year and used a product named "Zing", it washed everything right off. Hydrocloric Acid solution. To go cheaper, you can also get a gallon of Muratic Acid (Hardware store stuff) and hit it with that. It'll take any growth or scum right off. Don't scrub your hull, you will scratch the gelcoat which will take far more work to repair, versus acid that takes it off clean and won't harm the gel at all.

[Bill_AirJunky]

Starbrite Hull Cleaner. Spray it on, hose it off. Available at any boat dealer or marine supply store. Use rubber gloves around it. And don't let it sit on anything for any length of time.

Then wax it with a cheaper buffer/polisher. I use one I bought at Harbor Freight for like $10.

Also started using a concoction when we wipe down the boat after using it..... 1/3 water, 1/3 vinegar, 1/3 Turtle wax. Spray it on, wipe it off. Seem to keep the boat looking nice & removes the water spots.

[Bonz]

Starbrite Hull Cleaner. Spray it on, hose it off. Available at any boat dealer or marine supply store. Use rubber gloves around it. And don't let it sit on anything for any length of time.

Then wax it with a cheaper buffer/polisher. I use one I bought at Harbor Freight for like $10.

Also started using a concoction when we wipe down the boat after using it..... 1/3 water, 1/3 vinegar, 1/3 Turtle wax. Spray it on, wipe it off. Seem to keep the boat looking nice & removes the water spots.

At the risk of sounding stupid, spray turtle wax?

[Bill_AirJunky]

Yea, the liquid stuff. It's sold in a bottle, has the consistency of shampoo. We're mixing the 3 ingredients in a spray bottle. The Turtle wax doesn't completely mix in with the water, but it sprays out without a problem.

Edited August 27, 2009 by Bill_AirJunky

[Levi900RR]

I use on/off to clean the I/O hull, The Malibu doen't live in the water...

Just make sure you use gloves and put some plastic over your trailer. Just spray it on, run a wash brush over it and hose it off.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userp...uct.do?pid=2339

[ibelieve]

I vote for either of these. Been using them for 15 years. Another option is Tony's Tonic HERE.

Just be careful to keep all of them off exposed metal and they can discolor some black plastics. Also, don't let it sit to long on paint (i.e. trailer). Be sure and rinse well.

/Steve

I bought a dirty boat last year and used a product named "Zing", it washed everything right off. Hydrocloric Acid solution. To go cheaper, you can also get a gallon of Muratic Acid (Hardware store stuff) and hit it with that. It'll take any growth or scum right off. Don't scrub your hull, you will scratch the gelcoat which will take far more work to repair, versus acid that takes it off clean and won't harm the gel at all.

[skyskier]

The Porter Cable 7424XP is an AWESOME polisher. After the spooge is gone, I would use some 3M Finesse It and follow up with a carnauba wax.

[jim05rlxi]

Long story as to how I got talked into it, but now, it is what it is. Although I was PROMISED this would not happen, it did. My boat was left in the lake (South East) for over a month while I was away. I pulled it last night and it looks like a Chia-Pet. Hit it with a pressure washer to get the fuzz off but all those tough little algae spores are everywhere. It took me about an hour to scrub away one small section. I found that when I used an old gift card like a scraper on a section with the fuzz still attached, it seemed to come off cleaner and in long chunks. Due to the fact that I am in the process of rebuilding my front axle in my twowrig/daily driver I had to dump her back in to deal with next week. Suggestions as to best approach this cleaning/boat nightmare? I already ordered another bottle of 3M wax to put on her as soon as she is clean again. On a side note - there will be no help from the "family" while I am under there scrubbing and waxing - you gotta love in-laws!

On a waxing note - hand wax or buy a buffer? Thoughts?

On a semi positive note - the Bu needs to be pulled to have an oil change anyway.

Thank you,

Katie

PS - I searched old threads and only found posts dealing with water spots - the least of my trama right now! I may not be using the correct search words to find a solution to this disaster! Sorry to double post if there is already a thread on this that I did not find.

use on and off it works better in a sprayer also you need to keep your traler wet the whole time you are using it or it will eat your traler also rubber gloves and a mask

[JasonK]

Don't use any kind of acid, it will take every coat of wax off that you've ever put on. I recommend scrubbing/scraping. If it was only in the water a month it couldn't be that hard to get off.

I bought my boat when it was 12 years old. It was a pristine white hull. Must have had many layers of wax. Well, after sitting in the lake for 2 summers it had scum that wouldn't come off without a lot of scrubbing. I took the easy route and had a marina acid wash it (that's what everyone does). When I picked it up the guy said they removed 3 layers of thick black crud. Apparently that's what wax looks like when you spray acid on it. The marina said it took 3 times longer than other boats they did because of the crud. I'm sure it wasn't algea, it didn't look that bad. We're on a clean spring fed lake with sewers.

Too bad I didn't wax it more than just the beginning of the summer, because...

5 years after the acid wash, I have water blisters under the water line. I'd rather have a scum line than water blisters. Acid washing was the biggest mistake I've made with my boat. makes me sick.

If I get another boat that's super clean, I'll be paying someone to wax it (under the water line) 4 times a year at least.

[ADDICTED2WAKE]

If you decide to use muriatic acid, make sure your skin is covered and it's very well ventilated (fans), that stuff is NASTY and dangerous.

I've never actually used it on a boat (never though to), only on masonry...

[Michigan boarder]

Don't use any kind of acid, it will take every coat of wax off that you've ever put on. I recommend scrubbing/scraping. If it was only in the water a month it couldn't be that hard to get off.

I bought my boat when it was 12 years old. It was a pristine white hull. Must have had many layers of wax. Well, after sitting in the lake for 2 summers it had scum that wouldn't come off without a lot of scrubbing. I took the easy route and had a marina acid wash it (that's what everyone does). When I picked it up the guy said they removed 3 layers of thick black crud. Apparently that's what wax looks like when you spray acid on it. The marina said it took 3 times longer than other boats they did because of the crud. I'm sure it wasn't algea, it didn't look that bad. We're on a clean spring fed lake with sewers.

Too bad I didn't wax it more than just the beginning of the summer, because...

5 years after the acid wash, I have water blisters under the water line. I'd rather have a scum line than water blisters. Acid washing was the biggest mistake I've made with my boat. makes me sick.

If I get another boat that's super clean, I'll be paying someone to wax it (under the water line) 4 times a year at least.

That does stink, I would be frustrated too. I only recommend the acid because I have had great success with it, on this boat and boats prior. I used to scrub my parents boat 30 years ago every season, and it really sucked. And it was brutal on the gel coat, each year putting more small swirl scratches on it. I've been using acid for 15 years and have never had a problem, I just make sure to rinse it well and use it outdoors. It turns an all-day scrub job into a 1/2 hour project. You are right on the wax, it will take every speck of it off. But it comes off in white sheets, like glue that didn't stick.

[Ndawg12]

If you decide to use muriatic acid, make sure your skin is covered and it's very well ventilated (fans), that stuff is NASTY and dangerous.

I've never actually used it on a boat (never though to), only on masonry...

Yeah, there's a reason it comes in an additional plastic bag and the bottle has a skull and crossbones on it, stuff is nasty bad, be careful!!

[SunDoo]

I vote for either of these. Been using them for 15 years. Another option is Tony's Tonic HERE.

Just be careful to keep all of them off exposed metal and they can discolor some black plastics. Also, don't let it sit to long on paint (i.e. trailer). Be sure and rinse well.

/Steve

I bought a dirty boat last year and used a product named "Zing", it washed everything right off. Hydrocloric Acid solution. To go cheaper, you can also get a gallon of Muratic Acid (Hardware store stuff) and hit it with that. It'll take any growth or scum right off. Don't scrub your hull, you will scratch the gelcoat which will take far more work to repair, versus acid that takes it off clean and won't harm the gel at all.

I second Tony's tonic.....but don't leave the wet rag lying on the polished power wedge

Dave