How to clean the anti slip deck

[stuwright]

My old 725 was 12 years old so a bit of ground in dirt on the anti slip decking wasn't that much of an issue, but with a newer boat I would like to attempt to keep it looking better. Just wondering what everyone else does to clean it as I always find little bits of dirt get stuck in the texture unless using a high power jet wash.

I have seen an owner using a soft brush and washing machine powder on an older boat which he swore by but I wonder if it is good for the gelcoat.

Any ideas appreciated.

Stu

[DarknStormy]

On my SO 36i I use a medium brush and regular deck wash. If the medium brush does not clean it I go to a more stiff brush. 

[Don Reaves]

Late last year, I discovered something quite interesting, completely by accident...

It was going to rain heavily one night, so I got out my bottle of Simple Green (a supposedly environmental friendly cleaner available in the US) and sprayed a few spots on the deck that were troublesome. I don't recall whether it was black spots left by spiders or bird droppings. In the morning after the rain, the spots were largely gone and were easily dispatched using a brush and some rinse water.

Strangely, though, these same spots remained noticeably cleaner than the surrounding areas even after winter storage. Often, we get particulates drifting in from the mid-west's coal burning plants (my boat is in northern New York) and settling on the deck, making things look rather dingy. However, the same spots I had sprayed were still bright white.

It is my practice to use a medium powered pressure washer to get the deck looking nice again each spring. But with this new knowledge, I altered my procedure this spring. I wet the deck down with a hose and sprayed every inch of it with Simple Green. It took about a pint altogether. After waiting a few minutes, I followed up with the pressure washer.

The job was easier than ever, and the deck has continued to be like-new white for several weeks now. Of course, the birds and bugs leave their spots, but I clean them up and things look nice again. It remains to be seen how long this lasts, but I'm hoping it will be for quite a while.

I'm really hoping that the chemists on the forum don't respond, saying that Simple Green really isn't environmentally friendly after all.

[Charlie-Bravo]

Interesting Don, the simple green seems comparable with TFR (traffic film remover) as used by many a truck company, and a similar PH. I used it for cleaning second hand motorcycles which I could then sell for a reasonable margin, the only thing to watch out for is the attack on anodised aluminium if not thoroughly rinsed off. I also used TFR to great effect on an old 1080’s Moody, brightened her up well, and gave the same results as you have experienced, and along with the occasional spray of ‘patio magic’ … an anti algae garden spray to keep the green at bay, she looked good all season.
I might invest in a bottle of simple green for comparison if your long term results prove successful, please report back.

CB

[stuwright]

Thanks for the replies, I will see if anywhere sells it in the UK.

Stu

[Don Reaves]

Jun 3, 2023 19:44:04 GMT Charlie-Bravo said:

Interesting Don, the simple green seems comparable with TFR (traffic film remover) as used by many a truck company, and a similar PH. I used it for cleaning second hand motorcycles which I could then sell for a reasonable margin, the only thing to watch out for is the attack on anodised aluminium if not thoroughly rinsed off. I also used TFR to great effect on an old 1080’s Moody, brightened her up well, and gave the same results as you have experienced, and along with the occasional spray of ‘patio magic’ … an anti algae garden spray to keep the green at bay, she looked good all season.
I might invest in a bottle of simple green for comparison if your long term results prove successful, please report back.

CB

After about two months, I would say that the effect is promising, but certainly not magic. The deck is easier to clean than I recall, but it still needs to be done from time to time, especially since the Canadian wildfires tend to leave particulates on the deck. The pollen dropped by the trees in the area simply rinsed away without any scrubbing. Bird droppings need direct attention, of course.

[zaphod]

Funny, I've never found Simple Green to be all that effective on the more stufforn areas. Perhaps I am diluting it too much!

I use a fairly stiff deck brush and Simple Green Car Wash, but for stubborn areas I use Vim bathroom cleaner. It seems to get most dirt out.

The challenge I have right now are tiny rust spots. They resurfaced the main dock near my boat last year, and they used some kind of bead blasting. Apparently, the media they used for the blasting had iron in it, because some of the beads found their way onto my decks and left tiny rust stains behind. Nothing I have tried has taken them off yet....

[shenandoah]

Zaphod,
Have you tried Bar Keepers Friend? We have had good luck using it on tough stains on deck, including rust spots. 

[Charlie-Bravo]

Oxalic acid removes rust stains, Bar Keepers friend is a dilution containing a little oxalic acid.

Best use for oxalic acid is for removal of brown / yellowing stains just above the water line, it’s simply a wipe on, then wipe off or hose off and the stains are gone, so easy. it also removes polish wax, re applying that is not as fast or easy.

I buy it in crystal form by the kilo on fleabay, mix in a measuring jug 100 ml of crystals to a litre of hot (not boiling) water, and that’s enough for one and a half 35 foot boat hull water lines, apply with a squeezed sponge wearing gloves, or a foam floor mop on a stick.
Avoid dribbles as it makes antifoul near the water line look stripy, also not healthy for anodised alloy toe rails etc if not thoroughly rinsed off.

CB

[zaphod]

Jun 28, 2023 18:17:04 GMT Charlie-Bravo said:

Oxalic acid removes rust stains, Bar Keepers friend is a dilution containing a little oxalic acid.

Best use for oxalic acid is for removal of brown / yellowing stains just above the water line, it’s simply a wipe on, then wipe off or hose off and the stains are gone, so easy. it also removes polish wax, re applying that is not as fast or easy.

I buy it in crystal form by the kilo on fleabay, mix in a measuring jug 100 ml of crystals to a litre of hot (not boiling) water, and that’s enough for one and a half 35 foot boat hull water lines, apply with a squeezed sponge wearing gloves, or a foam floor mop on a stick.
Avoid dribbles as it makes antifoul near the water line look stripy, also not healthy for anodised alloy toe rails etc if not thoroughly rinsed off.

CB

Yes, I used Barkeepers Friend on my waterline yellowing just last week and it worked wonders, so I tried it on the rust stains and it didn't touch them.

[Charlie-Bravo]

Your rust stains might shift with a stronger mix, or attempt to soak them with white wine vinegar for hours then scrub with a nail/toothbrush. Vinegar I used with great success on the inside of a vintage bike petrol tank which was very rusty, filled it up and two weeks later it looked like new, hopefully your spots would clear in less time.

CB

[Don Reaves]

A final report on my experiment with Simple Green: I think the correct summary would be TANSTAAFL (there ain't no such thing as a free lunch).

I think the procedure helped for a while, but by late August, the deck was getting sort of dingy. Yesterday, I did a full clean using a fairly low-powered pressure washer. You know you've waited too long when it feels like you're painting a grey deck with white paint. Luckily, it does a good job and isn't much work. (Yes, I know Jeanneau tells you not to use a pressure washer, which is why mine is not very powerful.)

[ales]

Starbrite Black streak remover.
Works perfect.
No pressure wash, just a soft brush and water.
My SO43DS looks snowwhite after 21 years

[bereboot]

Sometimes i use water with bio tex .put it on in the evening and rinse the morning after with a brush. The deck becomes very clean this way. Only inconvenient: it also removes the wax.