Soap on a rope?

spartacus · 19 June 2007, 23:44

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 · 20 June 2007, 00:46

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 · 20 June 2007, 03:36

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

http://www.saltawayproducts.com/

Mollers · 20 June 2007, 08:11

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 · 20 June 2007, 08:14

Quote:

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 · 20 June 2007, 11:18

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 · 20 June 2007, 11:24

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 · 20 June 2007, 12:15

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 · 20 June 2007, 12:20

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 · 20 June 2007, 16:11

Quote:

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.

Sarah G · 20 June 2007, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

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.

If you are ever short of things to wash and polish I have two cars and a soon a boat - if you are ever this way!!!

Biggles · 20 June 2007, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

One can never spend too much time polishing

Mollers I believe your correct with not putting too much detergent on. Fairy Liquid contains salt and does an excellent job of stripping any old polish off, therefore you will need to polish again if you clean this way. I would have thought the abrasiveness of the English channel would have done its best as well to get any polish off as well. Therefore for me a good clean to get things back to basics then a polish afterwards is the best solution. Yes its a pain but in the long run its worth it. IMHO. I treat my oldish cars the same and get plenty of compliments so it must be working.

I may not know much about fixing engines or boats but I think I know a lot about keeping things looking new

rickuk3 · 20 June 2007, 17:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah G

If you are ever short of things to wash and polish I have two cars and a soon a boat - if you are ever this way!!!

Biggles,
when you have finished doing Sarah's I'm 10 miles up the road so you are welcome to pop over and do my 2 cars, 1 rib, 5 narrowboats if you want

Richard

Biggles · 20 June 2007, 18:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickuk3

Biggles,
when you have finished doing Sarah's I'm 10 miles up the road so you are welcome to pop over and do my 2 cars, 1 rib, 5 narrowboats if you want

Richard

Best get my skates on then.

Hugh Jardon · 20 June 2007, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

Best get my skates on then.

you should go into business during your spare time/time off, i have some items needing polishing here for sure and we are just down the road.

beer chits or beer would work!

llyn · 17 July 2010, 20:46

Is it ok, to use autosmart rubber & trim polish on my zodiac yachtliner?, tried it on a small piece, really looks great, but unsure of the long term affect???

Mollers · 17 July 2010, 20:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by llyn

Is it ok, to use autosmart rubber & trim polish on my zodiac yachtliner?, tried it on a small piece, really looks great, but unsure of the long term affect???

Is it ok to dig up a 3yo thread?

I prefer Polymarine inflatable boat protectorant. Good UV protection and not too slippery.

Poly · 17 July 2010, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

Is it ok to dig up a 3yo thread?

Well surely preferable to starting yet another "how best to clean / polish my rib" thread.

Nos4r2 · 17 July 2010, 21:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

Well surely preferable to starting yet another "how best to clean / polish my rib" thread.

Some of those names are a blast from the past!

davej · 17 July 2010, 21:30

Could I ask, which county you are in as one of my local villages is called Oakley?

Davej