Conference vicki::boats

    Hey Bruce
    Why don't you use Slimy Grimy? It costs a lot less and you don't need
    to work any harder than with the pressure washer.
    
    Sides, You don't have to carry the washer back & forth from the rental
    place.
    
                                   Walt
    
    No...NO... Lets Go fishing instead!!!
    
    

    if you haul at a marina, ask them to do it. usually its very 
    reasonable $$, and you have the brew while they do it...
    
    jim.

    I am being hauled by a baert marine and they want $5 a foot x 25
    =$100. I can do it of less than half of that if I rent.
    
    Bruce

    Depends on how much junk is growing on the bottom.  If its just
    slime you could go with less pressure (2000 lbs).  If its really bad, 
    ie; lots of barnacles etc., you may opt for more.  Whatever you
    do BE CAREFUL!  These things can be dangerous.  Make sure you protect
    your eyes from flying debris and only aim the jet where you want to clean. 
    Don't aim the jet directly at any rubber hoses or gaskets.
                                  
    Just to be sure, you might call a marina and confirm what pressure
    they would suggest based on your given situation.
                       
    Happy Blasting
    Herb

    If the boat has bottom paint, I suggest the following:
    
    Clean it with slimy grimy, or whatever, the same day you pull the
    boat, to remove the majority of growth. But don't go crazy.  Then store
    it for the winter. Over the winter, the residue from barnacles, etc,
    will soften and will be easier to clean in the spring.
    
    In the spring, use a rag soaked with bottom paint thinner to wash
    off the remaining slime.  Works very well with little effort.
    No sanding needed.
    
    The marinas do this all the time.  Probably isn't going to do the
    job if you have an extreme build-up of barnacles but should do the
    job for most boats with a minimum of work and expense. 
                                                         
    

    
    
    I have used the pressure sprayers in the past- they work great- but
    keep it away from hoses, soft stuff- it will take barnacles and paint
    and ??? off . I've used the high pressure(3000 psi) and had good luck.
    
    . Wear goggles
    . wear gloves
    . Keep the nozzle as far away as you can and still get the "critter"
    etc. off
    . Don't spray wood/rubber or any soft material
    
 I used one this spring and took the bottom paint off down to bare gel
    coat! sure beats paint remover and/or sanding. ( I had about 10 yrs of
    paint built up)
    
    
    my 2�
    
     Dick
    

    I ended up just scrubbing the bottom with a bottom cleaner. it was
    not that bad and only took a couple of hours....I only considered
    the presure because I thought it would have more muck and thats
    the way most marinas do it.
    
    Bruce

    
    
    What is Slimy Grimy? Is it bad to power wash a wooden boat? 

    I would say it depends on what kind of results you wish to achieve.
    If you have a "strip" built (versus lapstrake) and the seams are
    wide, you may risk removing all the caulking but maybe that's what you
    want.  Removing old bottom paint and caulking by hand is a slow,dirty
    process.  If you just want to remove the slime build-up, you may cause
    more damage.  If you have a lapstrake hull, it probably wouldn't hurt.
    Wayne

    
    RE- 8	Slimy Grimy is a powdered soap/bottom cleaner (it is a
    caustic cleaner so you have to wear gloves) used to remove dirt and
    that green slime that grows on the bottom of your boat.It works fine on
    my boat but I don't accumulate a heavy coat of slime since I keep the
    boat in fresh water.
    
    
    	Frenchy  

Hey Norm ... seen any places around the Worcester area that carry Slimy Grimy?
I got a tub from a former noter a couple of seasons ago and I'm running low.
The stuff works great on my boat!

...Roger...

    
    	Roger, I regret to say that I have not seen/noticed any Slimy Grimy
    in the Worcester area,but I have not been looking very hard since I still
    have a tub left.I also purchased it from a former noter,Walt Gibson, a
    couple season ago.But I remember reading (I think from this notes file)
    that it was available in some store in Maine (sorry can't remember the
    name).
    
    	Maybe (insert a brainstorm here) there is someone in here that
    still sees Walt occasionly that could ask him where he got it from and
    we could set up a group purchase since I am sure a few other noters
    probably use the stuff on their boat.
    
    
    	Sorry,but I'll keep looking.
    
    	Norm  

    
     Why is this stuff so hard to find? Is it banned in certain states?

    
    re: .12
    
    I don't know whether Walt Gibson still has access to the stuff, 
    but I do have Walt's home phone number.  If you want it, send
    mail to me and I'll forward you his number.
    
    Rick

Thanks, Norm.  I got my tub from Walt as well.  If memory serves, he bought some
in "bulk" with some other boating associates so they got a good price.  I think 
it might have been mail order, but I'm not sure.  I do remember someone (maybe
Walt) saying that it was available in some marinas in Maine, but again, I don't
remember the specifics.

RE: .13  I dunno why it's hard to find, nor do I know if it's banned in certain
states.  The stuff is a powder that you mix with water.  The agent which does
all the work is oxalic acid, which is quite tough in skin (burns like hell).
That's why you need gloves to handle the stuff.  But it sure does a nice job on
the scum line!

...Roger...

    RE: the scum line
    
    Another product that works great for cleaning boats, is available
    everywhere, and will even make you smell nice  8^)  is Soft Scrub.
    I tried it recently for the first time and it worked great.  If you've
    got some fresh water marine growth, I would imagine the Soft Scrub 
    with bleach would do a better job.
    
    Rick
    
    P.S.  The stuff does nothing to remove 2 foot long holes in the hull
          below the water line.   8*(

    Oxalic acid is the base for Starbrite's appetizingly name "Scum Line
    Remover", available everywhere.  It's nasty, caustic stuff and left my
    nasal passages feeling like they'd been wire brushed.  To boot, I 
    was'nt impressed by the results either.
    
    I ended up, like mentioned in -1, using soft scrub and alittle elbow
    grease and got great results.  (fresh water scum).

    It seems to me that oxalic acid is the name of the stuff you can order
    from a drug store to put in your dishwasher to remove iron deposit
    stains.  It's sold thru drugstores cause it is very caustic, ie: handle
    the powder with rubber gloves, etc.  A very small amount (two
    tablespoons) does a great job in the closed area of a dishwasher.  I
    don't think I'ld want to go spraying it around, though.  I used 409 on
    the scum line which ends up right at the white boot stripe.  It took
    off the scum very easily.  I wouldn't want to have to do the bottom of
    a large boat with it.  Probably develop "spray nossel-itis of the
    wrist".
    Wayne
    

    I believe oxalic acid (at least in an undiluted form) EXTREMELY
    poisonous.  Be careful with it. 
    
    Jeff

    I saw Slimy Grimy last weekend at Sports & Marine Paraphanalia in
    Merideth, N.H.  I didn't notice the price...  I'd be glad to pick
    some up for anyone that will get the money to me and pick the stuff
    up from SHR1...
    
    Judy

    What happened to good old Clorox, for $.89 a gallon???????????
    
    
    JIm....
    

    A couple of years ago I walked into Baert Marine in Seabrook NH. asked
    what they had to remove the brownish stain on my hull just above the
    paint line.  They sold me a product called "On-Off".  I applied it with
    a paint brush, waited ONE MINUTE and hosed it off.  No more brown
    stain.  The bottle should last 8-10 years and cost <$10.00.
    What's the big deal?
    
    /MArk
    

RE: Mark ... My buddy picked up a quart of "On-Off" (made by "Mary-Kate" marine
products, I believe) and it worked great, even better (read: faster) than Slimy
Grimy.  But that's acid as well, sulfuric acid, if memory serves (and it doesn't
always serve too well).  I do know, however, that the stuff is *really
powerful.  They tell you to wear rubber gloves and apply the stuff full strength
with a stiff brush (one of those small tire brushes works great).  And you don't
need to use a lot.  But make no mistake about it, that stuff will clear your
sinuses real quick, and don't get any on you!  I must admit, it works!

RE: Judy ... Thanks for the offer.  I just might take you up on it.  My wife
works in SHR3, so maybe I can arrange a $$/Slimy exchange (as opposed to a
slimy-$$ exchange :-)) between you and my wife.  Do you go to Merideth
frequently?  I'd like to know the price if possible.

RE: Jim ... Clorox, eh?  You mean to tell me that you wipe straight chlorine
bleach on the side of your boat and it cleans it?  I'm skeptical, but I just
might try it this weekend just for grins.  I like the $0.89/gallon feature the
best!  :-)

...Roger...

    In Merideth, one pound of Slimy goes for $15.95.  Roger - we will be
    going through Merideth usually every weekend until mid-october or so...
    
    Judy

    Roger, i never wiped it on...
    
    I USED A GARDEN SPRAYER.....................
    
    
    On the boat i currently own, i still use it, i've had excellent success
    removing rust stains, difficult to remove dirt, and the list goes on.
    
    Straight chlorine bleach is only about 10% chlorine.
    
    
    Most boaters are gagdeteer's (sp?) seems we'll buy almost any
    kind of snake oil.
    
    It seems to get awfully expensive, not that they don't work, and some
    don't. BUT i'm trying to keep down the number of different types
    of cleaners and other things i use.
    
    When you think of it, the marine cleaners are really nothing more
    than a fancy bottle, with common everyday cleaners added..
    
    Try this,  after a day of fishing, your cockpit is pretty filthy,
    hot water and Spic and Span work just great....... works as well
    on the non-skid. 
    
    If you use WD-40 buy it by the gallon, put it in a spray bottle
    and off you go... those spray cans are a hosing.........
    
    One other thing, if your still using wax on your hull, you'll
    be suprised to know its only good for about 4 weeks against the
    UV, try 303 Protectant, there are many other uses than your hull
    for 303. Call Boat US and get the factory for a spec sheet,
    you'll be very suprised......
    
    
    Happy elbow greasing,,,,,,,
    
    JIm.

RE: Jim ... I would probably put the Clorox in a garden sprayer also.  Do you
hit the boat with full strength (i.e. straight from the Clorox bottle into the
sprayer) or use a diluted solution?  Slimy Grimy requires mixing (one tbsp.
Slimy powder to each quart of hot water) and application via garden sprayer is
recommended.  No rubbing, however.  Just stand back and watch the scum/stain
disappear.

RE: Judy ... Thanks again for the offer.  I'm probably going to try Jim's Clorox
trick.  If that doesn't work to my satisfaction, I'll contact you about getting
some Slimy Grimy for me.

...Roger...

    i used it straight out of the bottle.....
    
    JIm
    

    I have used TSP for the last several years.  Available in any hardware
    store, its Trisodium phosphate(sp)..aka..TSP. It comes in a powder
    form, you mix with water.  It is also castic, you will need rubber
    gloves.  Its cheep $1-2 bucks per box, and it works very well.  Best
    used when you haul out, but I have also used after the boat has been
    out for several months.
    Boston Bob
    

    
    
    Oxalaic acid is commonly used for bleaching wood anfd as a radiator
    cleaner- cjheck the labels on a bottle of teak brightener- it is
    usiually oxalic acid- available at your local paint or hardware store.
    
     I picked up an off- beat brand of bottom cleaner/scum remover a few
    years back that worked great- I checked the label- main ingredient was 
    "hyrogen chloride"= HCL= hydrochloric acid.  It sure cleaned off the
    gunk, as well as dissolving the soles of my shoes .
    
     I have since gone to a very dilute solution of muriatic acid (always
    pour acid into water to dilute!)- it works great- i Brush it on with 
    an old floor sponge. Let it sit for 5-10 min and hose away. Just keep
    it away from the outdrive.
    
     TSP (SPIC and Span) works tremendous for general cleaning- you can buy
    staight TSP without the pretty green color and perfume at a paint or
    hardware store as well.
    
    Dick
    
     MOst of these fancy cleaners are simple chemicals with a lot of fanct
    packaging and merchandising.
    
    Dick
    

    I see that quite a few pressure washers are beginning to appear on the
    market both gas and electric and their prices are falling to $500 and
    below. Has anyone had any experiences with these? How powerful, etc?
    Most seem to range from 12000PSI to 1500 PSI. Coleman has a 1200 PSI
    1.75 GPM electric for $299 in a Northern Catalog (1-800-533-5545).
    
    I'm thinking of both the boat bottom and aluminum siding on the house.

<    I see that quite a few pressure washers are beginning to appear on the
<    market both gas and electric and their prices are falling to $500 and
<    below. Has anyone had any experiences with these? How powerful, etc?
<    Most seem to range from 12000PSI to 1500 PSI. Coleman has a 1200 PSI
<    1.75 GPM electric for $299 in a Northern Catalog (1-800-533-5545).
<    
<    I'm thinking of both the boat bottom and aluminum siding on the house.

   I just pressure washed my house, deck, fence, patio and driveway.  I rented
a 1500 psi unit.  It worked great.  With the fan tip you can control the
'power' by varying the distance from the surface being washed to the tip.  I
found it washed the house nice at about 12" from the building, it rejuvenated
my redwood deck and fencing by removing the silver surface crud, leaving the
wood looking almost new.  By putting the tip within 1" of my driveway I made
the concrete look almost new except where my pickup had dripped oil (and that
looked 100% better).  I found the 'stream' tip to be too violent.  It tended to
rip the wood apart and I was blowing individual stones out of my concrete. 
Needless to say I did little more with the stream tip than experiment.  For the
$60 I spent on renting the unit I got much more than I expected.  Once you find
the right distance for the surface you are cleaning, it's almost like using a
scraper, the surface in front of the water is dirty and the surface behind the
sprayer is like new...
   With aluminum siding, you might want to be careful about denting the aluminum
but your boat it should be a real winner...

Al

    Northern also sells everything you would need to make your own pressure
    washer.  If you can locate a used small (3 to 5 HP) gas motor to start
    with you can probably do much better but their prices seem to be good
    even on complete units.  
    
    This note makes me wonder why we don't form an "official" DEC boaters
    club so that we can buy some equipment or tools that we are all off
    thinking about having but can't justfy the expense of an item that
    would only be used once or twice a year.  Their are also discounts
    available for members of recognized clubs.  To rent a power washer
    for $75 for a day seems like alot.  Get a club together and buy one
    and rent it out for $25 a day with the money going into a pool to 
    buy more equipment.  We could also make a list of specialized equipment
    each of us already has which we wouldn't mind lending out like prop
    pullers, packing nut wrenches, I/O alignment tools, etc.
    Just a thought.
    Wayne

I'm thinking of buying a pressure washer for boat bottom cleaning (time to
start planning for life beyond DEC).  This would be for commercial use, so 
it needs to be able to do the job quickly and efficiently.

I've read through the previous replies to this note, but am still unsure
as to how much pressure is needed to remove bottom growth.  3000 PSI will
definitely do the job, but apparently will also remove bottom paint.  Not
a good thing if all your customers want is the growth removed.  I would
imagine that unwanted power could be limited by using a spray pattern nozzle
for washing, and a solid stream for paint removal.

Northern Hydraulics has Honda powered washers, it's $829 for 5.5hp/2000 PSI, 
and $1279 for 11hp/3000 PSI.  My question is, will 2000 PSI effectively clean
bottom growth, or is the extra $450 for 3000 PSI justifiable?

Thanks,
Rick

    Rick, I have never used a pressure washer but I would think that in
    this case bigger would be better in case you should ever want to branch
    out and wash other things for added income like farm tractors, truck
    engines, etc.  One note on Northern Hydraulics which I always thought
    would have the best prices.  My friend just bought a new air compressor
    for his part time auto repair business.  He bought the exact same model
    at B.J.'s for about $450 that N.H. wanted $600 for plus he didn't have
    to pay for shipping since he picked it up at the store.  I can swing
    into B.J.'s either today or tomorrow to see if they carry pressure
    washers and get prices if you are interested.
    Also, have you considered going the steam cleaner route or even used
    equipment?  
    Wayne

    Rick, I tend to agree with Charlie, "bigger is better" BUT do they have
    models with ADJUSTABLE OUTPUT PRESSURE?  That way you could cover every
    situation!  I have found when buying tools and economizing it generally
    turns out I needed the bigger better stronger model, because the one
    I bought does not quite do the job.   Commercially you need to keep all
    options open I would think.
    
    Jeff

    Rick, a friend of mine own's a company that sells both pressure and
    steam cleaners.  Probally to industrial for your purpose, although
    maby not.  In any event, he knows this business inside out, been in it
    for 25 years, both as a jobber, then as the owner of a company selling
    equipment.  He could give you advice on what is best for your boat. 
    His name is Jim Coleman, work number is 508-486-9611.
    
    Regards, Bob