Soap on a rope?

[spartacus]

Hi

What does everyone else use to wash their boats down after a day at sea fishing? I normally jet-wash my Zodiac Pro, flush engine, soap-up tubes and rinse, etc. I assume a mild detergent is fine (not washing-up liquid), then thoroughly rinse.

Think some manufacturers use specific rib-care products? Can anyone throw light on this? Zodiac is PVC (Strongan Duotex).

Cheers

[Biggles]

I jet wash down. But avoid direct pressure on seams. TFR2 on any dirty tube bits. Then wash down with brush and Turtle wax car shampoo. Then jet wash again. Then polish with Turtle wax nano Tech tyre gel. Its a 3 hour job after using the boat but keeps it like new. I might do it over two days as well if I'm short of time after getting home.

The GRP and engine get copious amounts of Mer car polish as as and when I get time. Far more than is needed. But their again our boats are our babies

Any metal moving bits also get sprayed in comma spray grease

Might even make me go faster

[grunta]

Have you all heard of Salt-Away? We love it....

http://www.saltawayproducts.com/

[Mollers]

Are you guys doing his everytime you use the boat? All that detergent is probably doing more harm than good. It's a boat, not a 1930's Vincent Black Shadow. If it's had a coat of tube protector and polish etc pre-season, it should only need re-doing once or twice throughout the season. Personally, I give it a good old hosing after use and flush the lump for 10 mins, let it dry a bit and chuck the cover back on. By applying detergent everytime, you're stripping all the protection off. In my view.

[Hugh Jardon]

Originally Posted by Biggles

I jet wash down. But avoid direct pressure on seams. TFR2 on any dirty tube bits. Then wash down with brush and Turtle wax car shampoo. Then jet wash again. Then polish with Turtle wax nano Tech tyre gel. Its a 3 hour job after using the boat but keeps it like new. I might do it over two days as well if I'm short of time after getting home.

The GRP and engine get copious amounts of Mer car polish as as and when I get time. Far more than is needed. But their again our boats are our babies

Any metal moving bits also get sprayed in comma spray grease

Might even make me go faster

thats why your boat looks like a shiny new pin all the time, looks good i must say

[Tims Osprey]

as biggles said turtle wax car shampoo does a good job, no need to do it every trip though, half a dozen times a season should be enough depending off coarse on usage and how dirty you get the boat. The rest of the time just rinsing down with a hose and sponge should be enough, turtle wax car shampoo is fairly mild and should not do any damage to seams etc just rinse down properly and apply a tube protector such as 303 once in a while.

[Tims Osprey]

Good stuff that mer but you have got to be careful when using it because it quickly thins out the paint, especially on the edges, i find Autoglym a much safer product because it cuts less than mer and leaves just as good a shine to the paint, as well as protecting it against salt spray.

[RibinSpain]

Interesting reading these posts as I used to wash down the rib & flush the engine after each trip. I reckon I was spending more time cleaning than enjoying it! Probably counter productive too as I was using car shampoo & then 303, so the shampoo stripped off the polish & then I reapplied the polish.

Now I am more organised & go ribbing on consecutive days. I make sure rib is well 303ed beforehand (tubes, console, upholstery etc) & after day 1 just flush the ob through. Day 2 out again & just a flush, day 3 I take the boat out the marina & give her a good clean & flush through again, shampoo & 303.
This way I use the boat for 3 days, say 15 engine hours, & then 2-3 hours clean. Far better than 4 engine hours & 2-3 hours cleaning.

The Med water is currently 30 degrees here so after just 2 days I am getting slimy growth on hull, I saw an unprotected boat the other day & after 3 weeks was covered in growth, a real mess to get off too.

Cheers & regards to all.

[Spike]

Hi,
Pre-season i give the boat a really good polish then after each use i just wash the boat down & flush the engine then use an ordinary garden atomiser to spray on diluted 'Carplan Demon Shine' all over the boat then wash it off, then towel off the boat until dry. Boat looks like new all the time, only takes 20 mins start to finish. Used this stuff on several boats ive had & always got great results every time. Available through Halfords & at the mo they have a buy 2 get one free offer on all cleaning products , so brought 6x500ml bottles at about £22.00 total & should last all summer.
Mike.

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by Mollers

not a 1930's Vincent Black Shadow.

Dunno what a Vincent eye shadow is but my boat is my pride and joy

Plus I've got too much time on hands and not enough dough so polishing my boat and car is cheap and keeps me out of trouble.