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pressure washing harm?

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ddlyle
Captain

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302 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/15/2003 : 22:23:38

The boat yard is going to lift my C25 out in a few days. They inlcude pressure washing in their fee. I'm thinking that their pressure washer might knock off some barnacles for me so's I don't have to scrape quite as much. (I'm going to prepare and paint the hull myself with the help of friends whilst parked in the yacht club's lot.)
Is there any potential harm to the hull by pressure washing? I'll be onsite, so I could warn the operator not to get too close with the nozzle and supervise him. I'm lazy, so anything to lesson the scraping.
Thanks

Cap'n Dave
Sailing The Blues
1986 C25 sr/sk #5413

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2003 : 22:35:55

Cap'n Dave,

The only pressure washing concerns I'm aware of are to not aim it up any thru-hulls unless they have closed seacocks, and don't point it at a tape or paint bootstripe that you don't want removed. Most pressure washer operators will apply the minimum amount of power to get the marine growth off, and won't go out of their way to try and peel off your bottom paint (or damage the gelcoat) unless you specifically request it.

-- Leon Sisson

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2003 : 22:52:00

It could remove some loose bottom paint (generally a good thing), and will skim off a little of any ablative bottom paint, but damage the gelcoat? I could only imagine that if you have large blisters and they use a pinpoint spray with the washer nozzle. Generally, they use a spread pattern to make the job fairly quick.

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

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Steve Shetter
1st Mate

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USA
60 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2003 : 07:34:50

ddyle,

I am curently working with a boat builder on my new '81 25' Catalina. He showed me how to use a pressure washer without damaging the gelcoat or DRIVING THE WATER INTO THE GELCOAT. He said that the spray should be applied to the hull at an angle of between 30 and 45 degrees, never sprayed directly at the hull. The only exception is the keel. He insisted that I use a spray rather than direct stream. I had never done this before, but the results were almost professional.

Good luck,

Steve

Steve Shetter
"At Last"
#2381

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77Gypsy
Captain

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USA
356 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2003 : 23:47:18

i've always had bottom jobs with presure washing, never noticed a problem, make sure they stay away from throuh hulls and any equipment you may have under there, knotmeters etc.

Steven de Filippis
78 C25 SR/FK - Gypsy

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.