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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

High Pressure wash inside the boat????

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/08/2006 : 06:33:22

Hi All, as it get warmer here in Michigan, I will start back getting the boat ready for the season. As you may remember, this boat was a pig sty when I bought it just before Christmas. I have tried scrubbing the inside of the boat, on the overhead, bulkheads, sole.....all surfaces are filthy. I can not seem to get the dirt out of the texture that is built into the surfaces.....so, I was thinking about taking a pressure washer to the inside and would like to know if there is any downside to doing this besides having to have a huge pump to get all the water out. Thanks in advance. Cheers.

Dennis
No Boat
S.E. Michigan

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Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1769 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2006 : 07:10:30

Hi Dennis,

I pressure washed the inside of my boat, and I'm glad I did ... it made a huge difference. Be sure to use a wide nozzle so you don't damage the gelcoat or teak, and stay away from the "piping" material between the bulkheads and the hull (I can't remember what that stuff is called, or what it's for, but I knocked some of it loose with the spray).

BTW, I found the easiest way to get all the water out of the boat is to remove the impeller for the knotmeter and let the water drain out of the bottom of the boat. I still had to use a shop vac to get some of the water out, but most of it drained right out.

'Hope that helps ... good luck with your project!

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2006 : 09:18:23

Thanks Buzz. I'll let you know how it all turns out. I was looking in the bilge the other day and it is covered in scum and I was thinking that it was a day of scrubbing just for the bilge. Cheers.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2006 : 10:01:01

just watch the teak - too much pressure = don't look so good unless you resand

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2006 : 11:04:35

Hi Duane, I will not get near the teak. My main focus is the gelcoat and bilges. Cheers.

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DanM
Captain

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USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2006 : 12:38:05

Don't forget goggles and a respirator. Don't want you to inhale any of that blasted gorp.

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Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2006 : 13:42:04

Dennis, I had a San Juan 24 that I boughtabout 4 years ago. The boat had been sitting for about 8 years with no one looking after her, sitting on a morring. The inside of the boat was filled with water about 4 inches. the sides of the fiberglass were black with mold, and every thing was covered in dirt form all of the dirt dobbers, there were nest everywhere. After I bought her (for almost nothing) I started cleaning her back up. I spent two weekends scrubbing the dirt and trying to remove the mold. My brother had a pressure washer that was gas powered, I took the boat and tied her up to the end of the dock, and started spraying everything down. I got really close with the nozel in some places trying to remove all of the dirt from the teak and wood. I spent about 3 hours spraing her out. Removing the water was an easy job with a bucket. I think there were about 60 1 gal. trips. get a manual builge pump and you can get the rest of the water out. I even took the sails off and washed them down with comit and a brush, then pressure washed them off. I wouldn't do that now with my racing sails. it did work

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Mark Loyacano
Navigator

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USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2006 : 14:43:48

Pressure washing the inside of "RiffRaff" did no harm at all. However, close to the nozzle, the pressure sprayer has a potential for doing some damage - so keep the spray wide and far.
Afterwards, use a bucket of warm water and detergent and clean up everything.
***Caution, do not mix cleaners. They can cause gaseous chemical reactions. Clorox and ammonia, when mixed, produce a deadly gas.***
When you are finished, be sure to let everything inside air dry - ventilate it well.

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sfein
1st Mate

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36 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2006 : 16:34:10

Yes. Me too. I purchased my Catalina 25 from a local college that sells donated boats for their marine biology department. I also paid next to nothing for the boat and the college allowed me to store her there for the winter. (This basically made it so the boat cost nothing, I actually made money!!!!) But needless to say with every bargain comes the real costs. The boat was literally covered from aft to bow, inside and out with MOLD!!!

First I tried the scrubbing method which produced slow and painful results. I next brought in the power washer, which worked well, but needed to be so close to the MOLD that I did not want to do more damage. I also would suggest - stay far away from the folded doors and piping as well as the high pressure will destroy them. Did that for about three weekends - 5 hours a day - and was finally making some progress.

BUT the best results, and I know other people mentioned the fumes, but I took a 5 gallon bucket, added 3 gallons of water and some Clorox bleach. Enough bleach that the smell was quite obvious. I then purchased at Walmart, of all place pan scrubbers for the sink. They were like 3 x 2 and had a pad on the bottom that was rough. After much scrubbing, about two more weekends, the inside looked GREAT!! The bleach killed the mold and definetly left a very hospital smell in the boat, which after 5 years of sitting neglected was a nice change.

I left the hatch and door open to allow ventalation for about two days and then went on to the next project the teak!!

Good luck and I am sure that you bargain will turn into beautiful vessel when you are done!

Stuart

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southern cross
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2006 : 19:50:05

Dennis-
I don't know if my boat was as dirty as you say yours was. I did not even think about pressure washing the inside (although it sounds like an acceptable thing to do). I did pressure wash the outside obviously. To the point, I kind of understand about what you are explaining having dirt in the textured areas (Ihad that too). I sprayed x-14 on it let it sit for a few minutes and wiped it clean with cleaning rags. I went thru a few rags but it ame out perfectly clean.
Just a little input from a new guy.

Puravida,
Zach

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2006 : 10:01:23

Thanks everyone for your advice. I just arranged a powerwasher and hopefully will get to it this weekend. If I remember, I will take before and after pics. Cheers.

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