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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

cleaning deck and hull of a real project boat

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sfrank
Deckhand

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USA
17 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/08/2006 : 16:56:50

Just purchased a 86 25' catalina-- a real project. the structure is in very good condition but the boat is filthy and moldy. Stains on deck and inside--Does anyone have any suggestions on how to clean a very dirty boat with very tough stains inside and out. thanks in advance for any help

Steve

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2006 : 18:10:23

Hi Steve, if I had to do it all over again, I would take anything that is not bolted down out of the boat and pressure wash the inside. SoftScrub is a great cleaner and one the many here use. Cheers.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2006 : 19:02:54

That is exactly what we did with the wasp. She spent 10 years on the hard without hatchboards. Wasps nests in the bow, 8 inches of mud and leaves in the cabin and I kid you not a tree (about 1/2" in diameter) growing in the mud in the cockpit.

Everything came out, we pressure washed, scrubbed with bleach water, about 5 gallons of 409 and a few of simple green. plus tons of sweat equity.

Welcome and good luck Steve.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2006 : 19:38:33

On white fiberglass... Tilex, a bleach/water solution or Davis FSR [Fiberglass Stain Remover (which is an Oxalic acid gel).

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2006 : 21:37:54

When I first got my C-25, I did a thorough cleaning, did a lot of interior fiberglass work, and then cleaned it again (to get the grinding dust out). I completely agree with the suggestions to remove everything not bolted down (and a few things which are). Doing so gives you room to work, you don't have to worry about damaging things you're not actively working on, and it's easier to clean the removed items outside the boat.

This may sound daft, but I suggest if you're up against major interior cleaning, and the boat is hauled out, drill a hole in the bottom of the boat. (Maybe two holes if it's a swing keel model.) The hole I'm suggesting doesn't need to be large. The one I made was only about 1/4". It made a huge difference in how hard it was to get rid of wash water. Don't worry about a 1/4" hole clogging up frequently -- a 3/8" hole would clog almost as bad -- just keep rodding it out, and removing the debris by hand or with a wet/dry vac. When you're done pouring water through the boat, a hole that small is very easy to patch. I just counter sunk it from both sides, and shoved a wad of thickened epoxy in it. After the filler hardened, a quick scrub with a sanding block faired the outside of the repair.

And besides, deliberately making (and fixing) holes in your boat is something you'll need to get used to if you're going to be doing your own work!

-- Leon

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2006 : 10:13:55

I wish I took a "before" picture of my boat when I first got it. It had been sitting under a tree for a couple of years without being tarped and it was fiiiiiiilthy!....It was covered in dirt, leaf stains, bird crap by the tons, nice thick moss on the north side...etc. It cleaned up smartly using plenty of soap and water.

I would recommend first using just plenty of soap and water to get the initial layer of crud off. After that you can get into the exotic cleansers to work on specific stains, but I think you'll find regular soap and water will give you a great start.

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Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1768 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2006 : 10:33:23

Hi Steve,

I pressure washed the outside and the inside of my boat (as described above). As Leon pointed out, you need an easy way to get all of the water out of the inside of the boat, or you'll be bailing and vacuuming water for an eternity. I removed the knotmeter paddlewheel and transducer from the through-hull, and most of the water drained right out through the bottom of the boat. Whatever water was left in the bilge, I simply removed with a wet/dry shop vac.

So, if you've got an "L-dinette" model like mine, you'll likely have a through-hull near the compression post in the bilge that will act as a drain. If you have a different floor plan, you still might be able to use an existing through-hull to drain a lot of the water without drilling any new holes in the bottom of the boat.

Keep us posted on your progress, and ask lots of questions ... good luck!

BTW ... welcome to the group!

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waltex
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 11/10/2006 : 20:24:25

'Thankful' is now apart and we will paint her topsides primer tomorrow. The first thing I did was power wash outside. Interior I used Bleach, Pine-Sol, soap/water, scrub, wash & rinse again. The 1/4" hole makes me wish I had done that with my power washer. If you need to paint the deck, get some sanding sponges 'fine' and 'medium' and a couple of brass grill brushes for the non-skid. They have worked great! All the old oxidized gelcoat can be polished off if you have enough good underneath. I didn't and have to paint after much sanding. I can't wait to finish the painting. Congratulations. Ibuprofin works great on the muscles.

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Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 11/10/2006 : 21:57:49

Steve,

Take a look at my boat on it's first day home on sail blog. I have started the rehab of the interior and exterior. I am hopeing to take some more pictures to place on my Sail Blog. Send me an email and I can give you some of the details on what all I did to start bringing back the shine to the hull and deck. I am using the same process that my brother was instruct on how to do from a large boat yard. He has done this to his Pearson 31 and now his Catalina 34.

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Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 11/10/2006 : 22:00:59

Also, buy Tilex Mold and Mildew Remover. It took off almost everything with minimal scrubbing.

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Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1768 Posts

Response Posted - 11/10/2006 : 23:09:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Chris Z
 ... I can give you some of the details on what all I did to start bringing back the shine to the hull and deck. I am using the same process that my brother was instruct on how to do from a large boat yard. He has done this to his Pearson 31 and now his Catalina 34.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Hi Chris,

Would you be willing to describe the process the yard recommended? I'm sure I'm not the only who'd like to hear about it, especially if you like the results.

Welcome to the group!

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 11/11/2006 : 19:47:55

Lemon juice and salt will work on rust stains - as will Bleach-White Tire stuff sold at automotive stores. Only problem is BleachWhite is so good - read toxic - that the surface will feel chaulky and will need some wax....

sten

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Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2006 : 23:06:17

Buzz,

I will post some pictures of the material I am using and the buffing tools. Also, the details of how it was accomplished. Of course I am limited by weather as to how much I can get done. If you look at my post you can see the dirt and lack of shine I am dealing with on my boat. I know it is not the worse, however I am really looking forward to the refinishing. I am also tackling an old trailer that needs work on the surge brakes.

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sfrank
Deckhand

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USA
17 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2006 : 21:30:24

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by djn
 Hi Steve, if I had to do it all over again, I would take anything that is not bolted down out of the boat and pressure wash the inside. SoftScrub is a great cleaner and one the many here use. Cheers.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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sfrank
Deckhand

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USA
17 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2006 : 21:32:14

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