Cleaning your boat in the slip w/o fresh water

[BrentJones]

It has been about a year since I wrote my last post on here, good to be back!

I just recently moved my boat from a very nice yacht club with a fresh water spigot at each slip, to a kind of run down no frills set up. I am sharing a condo with my sister, so we are now keeping the boat there. The association would rather spend their funds on extending a deck by a foot then upgrading the docks, but I digress. Unfortunately there is no clean water, just lake water. I'm not used to this and it is already driving me crazy not being able to hose the cockpit cover down, rinse the hull off, fill up the fresh water tank, etc. What does everyone else do that doesn't have fresh water at their slip?

 

[Sundancer]

Around here the lake water is nice and clean so we use it to rinse. At Priest Lake we even use it to fill up the freshwater tank when we're low! We just don't add the water near shore and we've been fine for many years.

I'm guessing they have freshwater SOMEWHERE at the marina? Do you have to travel to the fuel dock to get freshwater? Maybe that's where the other boaters clean their boat? Maybe you could do your cleanup while filling up at the end of the weekend or while pumping the head?

 

[Tonka Boater]

On my previous 240 SD, I use to spray it down using fresh water from the bow and transom showers before we moved to a dock with fresh water hookups. I couldn't really spray off the canvas but the 2 showers pretty much reached the whole boat for exterior washing.

.

 

[Pakmule]

I just bought a cheap submersible water pump and hang it off the rail into the lake. Works like a champ.

 

[Bottom Line]

Hey Brent...glad to see you posting again....As others have mentioned...you might try using a submersible sump pump. I have one I have used...and it is only like 1/6th h.p.....which doesnt give a very strong stream of water...some one with a bigger motor than mine would probably work better.

 

[sbw1]

Before we had potable water at our dock, I used to wash my boat using lake water. We irrigate our lawn with lake water and I installed a hose bib on the pump house which also doubles as our dock box. Clean lake water is fine to use.

 

[highslice]

. Clean lake water is fine to use.

Uh, no offense or anything, but calling Lake of the Ozarks water clean would be a little optimistic. Just sayin'. But the pump idea sounds like a good one.

 

[NautyDog]

Marine stores sell fresh water hose down systems with filters, water softeners, etc that are meant for salt water. If it can filter salt water, it should be overkill for the lake. I've seen them at Marine shops, but I don't know the brand names. The target market was the higher end boats, so they weren't cheap.

Just one thing to consider.

 

[Pakmule]

Uh, no offense or anything, but calling Lake of the Ozarks water clean would be a little optimistic. Just sayin'. But the pump idea sounds like a good one.

I wouldn't put lake water in my water system but I certainly use it for washdown. I got a couple of blue six gallon plastic jugs for hauling potable water. I rarely use them though as I usually fill up the water system when I fuel.

 

[BrentJones]

Uh, no offense or anything, but calling Lake of the Ozarks water clean would be a little optimistic. Just sayin'. But the pump idea sounds like a good one.

That has been my thought the whole time. When you can't see your hand further than a foot in the water, there are concerns on the cleanliness of the water. I guess I'll talk to some of the boat owners on the dock and see if they use a pump. Seems like washing down with lake water from the pump would leave water spots.

 

[Nehalennia]

That has been my thought the whole time. When you can't see your hand further than a foot in the water, .........

Yeah, Sundancer doesn't have that problem. The water in Eastern WA and Idaho lakes is crystal clear and pure.

I love it over there for that reason.

 

[BrentJones]

Todd- How's your 260 been vs the open bow?

 

[Pakmule]

That has been my thought the whole time. When you can't see your hand further than a foot in the water, there are concerns on the cleanliness of the water. I guess I'll talk to some of the boat owners on the dock and see if they use a pump. Seems like washing down with lake water from the pump would leave water spots.

I'm pretty sure the first time you move that dirty lake water is going to be splashing all over that boat leaving water spots.

 

[sbw1]

That has been my thought the whole time. When you can't see your hand further than a foot in the water, there are concerns on the cleanliness of the water. I guess I'll talk to some of the boat owners on the dock and see if they use a pump. Seems like washing down with lake water from the pump would leave water spots.

That depends on how soft your lake water is. Lake Michigan leaves spots. Our lake water did not but we washed before the heat of the day and dried it before the water evaporated.

 

[Nehalennia]

Todd- How's your 260 been vs the open bow?

Well I haven't had a BR since my first boat, which was a 180BR 1991.

Here's the 230OV we had last "Nehalennia II".

We have really enjoyed it so far. It's nice to have more storage, a true head, running water, Fridge and Microwave. Just those few extra items allow us to use the boat much more comfortably.

 

[BrentJones]

I mentioned this in my other thread, but I was able to thoroughly clean the whole boat from the water in the 20 gallon reservoir. Using all the sprayers at different times, I was able to rinse off different parts. I feel a lot better that I can rinse soap off without having to use lake water.

 

[BrentJones]

Well I haven't had a BR since my first boat, which was a 180BR 1991.

Here's the 230OV we had last "Nehalennia II".

We have really enjoyed it so far. It's nice to have more storage, a true head, running water, Fridge and Microwave. Just those few extra items allow us to use the boat much more comfortably.

That's right, I forgot your previous wasn't a BR. Glad to here you are enjoying the expanded amenities!