Which deck cleaner to use?

[Louis Balfour]

We got a free bottle of Jeanneau eco-friendly cleaner with our boat. It doesn't seem to remove some sorts of bird poo.

Can anyone suggest a product that is effective and ideally that leaves a film that makes cleaning easier next time? I can see that keeping the white bits white could become a lot of hard work.

Many thanks.

[Simpo Two]

I normally use a pressure washer to blast off the clag each spring. Didn't get the chance last spring and couldn't find the enthusiam later so paid a bloke £500 to wash and wax it for me. Well to be precise he sent two 'lads' to do it and kept the difference... and the overall job was poor so I won't be using him again. It's a bit like painting the Forth Road Bridge. You're walking mud onto it, dust blows onto it, green stuff grows on it. It's a boat...

[Louis Balfour]

I think these two may have had something to do with the mess.

[paralla]

You could try using oxygen bleach and warm water.

Dissolve a couple of scoops of Vanish Oxy Action in a bucket of warm or hot water, brush it onto the deck with a mop or broom, leave it for 15min then rinse it off. It’s really powerful cleaning and it’s biodegradable.

The water has to be warm to activate it which might be tricky at a marina. It doesn’t work nearly as well if you only have access to cold water.

[Simpo Two]

Toothbrush and T-Cut?

I've never noticed swan poo on my boat, but it's easy to pick up goose poo from the bank and trample it inside.

[Louis Balfour]

paralla said:

You could try using oxygen bleach and warm water.

Dissolve a couple of scoops of Vanish Oxy Action in a bucket of warm or hot water, brush it onto the deck with a mop or broom, leave it for 15min then rinse it off. It’s really powerful cleaning and it’s biodegradable.

The water has to be warm to activate it which might be tricky at a marina. It doesn’t work nearly as well if you only have access to cold water.

One of the benefits of my poor choice of berth is that we are only 25m from the laundry. Hot water aplenty.

Thanks for the tip.

[Louis Balfour]

Simpo Two said:

Toothbrush and T-Cut?

You what? It's not a big boat, but I could be there forever.

[HocusPocus]

Our local fisherman's chandelry sells bottles of Limate for cleaning the working boats.

Used it to bleach the hull of embedded brown water marking which did not jet or scrub off. Seriously strong stuff which also bleached the trailer shiny clean just on the drips. So a few bird poos should be no problem.

[Louis Balfour]

HocusPocus said:

Our local fisherman's chandelry sells bottles of Limate for cleaning the working boats.

Used it to bleach the hull of embedded brown water marking which did not jet or scrub off. Seriously strong stuff which also bleached the trailer shiny clean just on the drips. So a few bird poos should be no problem.

Thanks, I will look into it.

[Simpo Two]

Louis Balfour said:

Simpo Two said:

Toothbrush and T-Cut?

You what? It's not a big boat, but I could be there forever.

I thought the problem was bits of bird poo. A whole boat is a different matter - but don't put anything on the decks that make them slippy. Mine just get an annual pressure wash or, as an interim measure, a quick scrub with a brush and some water. Cabin roof and sides you can polish as you wish - but that's when you realise boats are much much bigger than cars!

[paralla]

Louis Balfour said:

HocusPocus said:

Our local fisherman's chandelry sells bottles of Limate for cleaning the working boats.

Used it to bleach the hull of embedded brown water marking which did not jet or scrub off. Seriously strong stuff which also bleached the trailer shiny clean just on the drips. So a few bird poos should be no problem.

Thanks, I will look into it.

Limate is 18% Hydrochloric acid which the marina management or your fellow sailors might take a dim view of you hosing into the river.

[Louis Balfour]

paralla said:

Louis Balfour said:

HocusPocus said:

Our local fisherman's chandelry sells bottles of Limate for cleaning the working boats.

Used it to bleach the hull of embedded brown water marking which did not jet or scrub off. Seriously strong stuff which also bleached the trailer shiny clean just on the drips. So a few bird poos should be no problem.

Thanks, I will look into it.

Limate is 18% Hydrochloric acid which the marina management or your fellow sailors might take a dim view of you hosing into the river.

Printing off one of these and sticking it on would be the work of moments. Those swans look a little too smug for my taste.

[Speculatore]

paralla said:

Limate is 18% Hydrochloric acid which the marina management or your fellow sailors might take a dim view of you hosing into the river.

Then why stock and sell it in a Chandelry ???

[paralla]

Speculatore said:

Then why stock and sell it in a Chandelry ???

Good question, I don't know. It's mostly used as an industrial descaling acid or to clean bricks and patios. I guess it's sold at a ships chandlery because it's very effective.

Besides the environmental concerns I probably wouldn't want to put it on my brand new fiberglass pride and joy because I'd be concerned about concentration levels and the damaging effect it might have on the gel coat or metal fittings and fixtures it could inadvertently come in contact with.

The active ingredient in Vanish Oxy Action is Oxalic Acid. You can buy oxalic acid on its own but it's more expensive than Vanish or Oxy Clean.

Here's a guy cleaning out his bilge with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAqCjLjSIi4&t=...

Edited by paralla on Tuesday 2nd March 13:47

[paintman]

Friend of mine has used Cif cream (formerly Jif) on various yachts over the years.
Squirt onto the deck & use a broom to agitate then rinse off.
I use it on my dory & it works fine - apply with a cloth on stubborn bits.

[HocusPocus]

Louis Balfour said:

paralla said:

Louis Balfour said:

HocusPocus said:

Our local fisherman's chandelry sells bottles of Limate for cleaning the working boats.

Used it to bleach the hull of embedded brown water marking which did not jet or scrub off. Seriously strong stuff which also bleached the trailer shiny clean just on the drips. So a few bird poos should be no problem.

Thanks, I will look into it.

Limate is 18% Hydrochloric acid which the marina management or your fellow sailors might take a dim view of you hosing into the river.

Printing off one of these and sticking it on would be the work of moments. Those swans look a little too smug for my taste.

https://mooneyboats.ie/shop/super-limate-rust-remover

We used it to cleanse the GRP hull with no adverse effect on the gel coat. Diluted first and not left on for very long though. Would not recommend on any teak decking as it will bleach quickly.

Bought from local harbour chandelry but we applied it when the boat got home and was next to the hose.

[Audis5b9]

Starbrite Boat Wash and Wax

Brilliant stuff.

[Louis Balfour]

Audis5b9 said:

Starbrite Boat Wash and Wax

Brilliant stuff.

Is it OK to use on the grippy bits?

[minipower]

Louis Balfour said:

Is it OK to use on the grippy bits?

I’ve used this with no problems with grip. I usually jet wash first as it is the easiest way to get the green off and then quick going over with Starbrite and a brush.

[Audis5b9]

Louis Balfour said:

Audis5b9 said:

Starbrite Boat Wash and Wax

Brilliant stuff.

Is it OK to use on the grippy bits?

Yes its works on everything above the waterline. You will probably need a stiff bristle brush for the grippy bits