Bottom Cleaning Questions

[Slippery When Wet]

OK, I am a slip noob. This is my first year slipping my boat. I pulled my boat out today and trailered it home for a good mid-season cleaning..it is filthy. My marina (King's Cove in Hastings for all you MN boaters) is in the backwaters of the Mississippi and it is basically a green swamp. Nasty water! Well, my bottom has about 1/8" of hard growth with an out layer of "fuzz" on it. I took out my wimpy electric pressure washer hoping it would at least take the big stuff off....not a chance. I then brought the bottle of Simple Green (undiluted) and I am pretty sure I heard it laughing at me when I sprayed it on. I just did the few inches on the side and let it soak for about 5 minutes and hit it with the pressure washer again....it laughed even harder. OK, you think that's funny huh? I'll show you! :smt013 I then got out the bottle of Hull Bottom Cleaner I have that is Hydrochloric Acid based.....I sprayed that on thinking that would take it off. I used this stuff last year for some minor staining from a few overnights in a transient slip..it worked great. It still didn't touch it..even when hitting it with a scrub brush.

OK, now my questions. How do I clean this? I am assuming my best bet is paying to have it done professionally at the end of the season. But how do they do it? Will a "real" (gas powered) pressure washer make that much difference? :huh:

My next boat will mosty definitely be bottom painted and I am going to fork over a few more dollars next year to slip in Afton on the St Croix River. Much cleaner water!

 

[Jim M]

I suggest as soon as pull your boat out of the water and load it on your trailer. Head for the closest car wash and use their high powered hose/nozzle and a scrub brush. The sooner the better.

 

[Slippery When Wet]

I suggest as soon as pull your boat out of the water and load it on your trailer. Head for the closest car wash and use their high powered hose/nozzle and a scrub brush. The sooner the better.

Trust me, there is NO WAY any car wash will remove that. I scrubbed with a firm briustle brush and it wasn't budging.

 

[Gogstad]

I too am wet slipped with an unpainted bottom. I have found that my gas power washer (2500) is pretty adept at blasting off "krud" from the brackish waters I boat in. I usually dont let more than a week go by before cleaning it though so I am not sure what it would do with a half seasons growth. I have found "starbrite hull cleaner" (blue bottle) to be effective for stains and stubborn growth. Good luck.

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP80811221.htm?utm_medium=productsearch&utm_source=google

 

[Slippery When Wet]

I too am wet slipped with an unpainted bottom. I have found that my gas power washer (2500) is pretty adept at blasting off "krud" from the brackish waters I boat in. I usually dont let more than a week go by before cleaning it though so I am not sure what it would do with a half seasons growth. I have found "starbrite hull cleaner" (blue bottle) to be effective for stains and stubborn growth. Good luck.

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP80811221.htm?utm_medium=productsearch&utm_source=google

What's the point of wet-slipping if you take it out to clean it every week? :huh:

 

[Gogstad]

I actually take it out to fuel every week and give it a quick scrub while its on the trailer.

 

[tbirdvet]

My previous boat was the same. My marina acid power washed it when removed and it came out super clean. Normal power washing does not work.

 

[Slippery When Wet]

My previous boat was the same. My marina acid power washed it when removed and it came out super clean. Normal power washing does not work.

Thanks, how much do they charge for this?

 

[Weave]

Timely thread!!!! I was just teary eyed the other day when I went to the boat....I tried thus far to take it and scrub it while anchored in the shallows and there is no way in heck I was getting that crud off of there!
I am going to call around and see who offers this acid wash.....I would imagine they sling it on the hoist to get the spots where the bunks are?

 

[jacktm]

I agree with the above clean as soon as possible. the longer it is out of the water the harder it is to remove.
I take my boat out, bring it home and acid wash immediately with:

Marykate & CRC On Off Hull Bottom Cleaner 32Oz On & Off Hull Bottom Cleaner

Keep the trailer wet! I got a brush from my marina looks almost like steel wool (don't know what it really is) works great for hard to remove

 

[Gofirstclass]

Slippery, your signature pic shows you anchored along a beach. That's a perfect time to walk around the boat with a scrub brush and get the crud off.

My 330 (and the 550) was bottom painted but I still got some crud above the bottom paint. We never beached the boat but would anchor frequently. I'd get in the water with a PFD on and work my way around the water line of the boat with a stiff scrub brush. Works like a charm.

 

[Woody]

I scrub my boat in the water and don’t let too much accumulate. The worst buildup is in the fall because water temps often are too cool and I don’t go in. When we pull it for the season I go from the ramp directly to a water hose nearby, scrub and flush with water. (Let that stuff dry and it becomes a real job) This gets the buildup off, all that remains is some stain. When I get home I use a garden sprayer w/muratic acid on the stain…rinse boat hull and trailer thoroughly with water. Then I give it a regular wash.

 

[tbirdvet]

Thanks, how much do they charge for this?

Not sure as it came with the storage charge for the winter.

 

[Hardtimes]

Fellas,

I know this post is old, but I too am a slip noob and recently pulled my boat out (1 month) to discover more scum than I have elbow grease. I tried all the typical stuff but nothing works....help!!!! What did you guys do to remove this scum? YouTube sold me on this stuff called Jjvs, im a sucker for videos, hope it works. Do marinas offer a cleaning service? Let me know, thanks guys.

 

[JVM225]

My conditions don't sound nearly as severe as what you have, but my boat does stay in the water all season.
I find that if I use my gas powered pressure washer on the bottom as soon as it comes out of the water before the crud has a chance to dry and harden that the pressure washer takes it right off.
Once it is dry you have a headache on your hands.
Try a 50/50 solution of muriatic acid and water on it. Make sure to use in a well ventilated area, be covered up, wear a mask, and stay upwind of it as you spray it on.
A typical garden sprayer is a good choice for mixing and applying the solution.