How many gallons of water to wash a Mac?

[oldsalt16]

Hi everyone,

My Mac is in a mast-up storage lot in Southern California. Awhile back, the water was cut
off in the wash down areas in the name of conservation & political correctness (equal parts
each, I think). I am considering the idea of buying a portable water storage tank and basic
pump that I can transport in my truck to the boat, rather than trailering 30+ miles (each way)
to my home for a wash down. Does anyone have some advice regarding the size of my
proposed tank? How many gallons of water are needed to wash a Mac? Also, any advice on
an appropriately sized and inexpensive pump will be welcomed.

Thanks guys!! I've been an avid reader of this forum for years.

[DaveB]

Go to a do it yourself car wash.
Dave

Hi everyone,

My Mac is in a mast-up storage lot in Southern California. Awhile back, the water was cut
off in the wash down areas in the name of conservation & political correctness (equal parts
each, I think). I am considering the idea of buying a portable water storage tank and basic
pump that I can transport in my truck to the boat, rather than trailering 30+ miles (each way)
to my home for a wash down. Does anyone have some advice regarding the size of my
proposed tank? How many gallons of water are needed to wash a Mac? Also, any advice on
an appropriately sized and inexpensive pump will be welcomed.

Thanks guys!! I've been an avid reader of this forum for years.

[oldsalt16]

Dave,

Thanks for the response. But the DIY car washes within by radius are in very
congested areas with limited room to maneuver. It's possible, (I've done it)
but it's a hassle, not to mention climbing up/down to feed the meter. I'm hoping
that if I rub enough of those quarters together, I can come up with another way.

Thanks again

[Catigale]

Bucket of soapy water to wash

15 minutes to rinse at 2 gpm from hose = 30 gallons should do it??

Harbor freight will sell you a 12 VDC pump motor for about 30 USD, with hose fittings.

[Craig LaForce]

If you get a power washer, it should save some water. the pressure makes every bit of water used more effective. You might still need a pressurized hose supply for the water it does use though. Not sure, I don't have one, but keep thinking it would be a good thing to have.

there is a good product also that is a chelating type of soap that you just squirt on the deck, spread around with a brush and then rinse off about 5 minutes later.
I think Starbrite sells it, called nonskid deck cleaner.

Hope this helps until you move to a state that has water and freedom and stuff like that.

[hart]

I use that starbrite non-skid deck cleaner sometimes. That's exactly right, all the water you need is just to rinse it off. But unless you rinse it off really well it leaves streaks in the black gel coat and on the windows. I've found that if I continue to wipe the black with a brush as I rinse it comes off easier and streaks less. No idea how much water it takes though. 30 gallons sounds like a good start to me.

[jschrade]

I got a suggestion, MOVE! I would have to move if I was in your shoes. If I didn't I would go to jail for saving water by beating down those tree hugging fruitcakes that came up with that law and urinating on them so I wouldn't have to flush and waste water.

Good advice, we fled San Diego in the mid-80's and the last family/friends we had in the area just left (to Arizona).

Jim

[DaveB]

When I do a 300 mile 5 day to the Florida Keys I don't wash it down until I get home. I do have a Aluminum Tandum Trailer and all Galvinized fittings. Even my short 3-4 day trips to Launch ramp ,the trailer is out in the parking lot for those times.(City Duel water on lawn sprinklers do more damage to truck when parking at ramps)
In Florida during the Summer we hope for a Thunderstorm on the way back and usually happens so no quarters are spent, also plenty of do it yourself large car washes here for truck and boat.
Do you have water retrictions at your home for hoseing down boat like we do?
Dave

Dave,

Thanks for the response. But the DIY car washes within by radius are in very
congested areas with limited room to maneuver. It's possible, (I've done it)
but it's a hassle, not to mention climbing up/down to feed the meter. I'm hoping
that if I rub enough of those quarters together, I can come up with another way.

Thanks again

[Hardcrab]

I keep our boat at the same place, and it does suck with no water.
The story I heard, along with the "save the water" gimmick, was that some yahoo's were also washing their cars and that p*ssed off the powers to be, so we all get to share the misery.

Since no other move to option is anywhere as good as this, we bit the bullet and run quarters through the public water machines at .25 per minute.
(Same amount of water is used in the long run, so the "saving water" argument is not happening anyhow).

Pretty steep rip-off.

10-12 quarters with good, logical quarter management.
I keep a couple of rolls in the glove box.

It's ugly when I'm solo, climbing up and down to feed the thing.

[Ivan Awfulitch]

I use that starbrite non-skid deck cleaner sometimes. That's exactly right, all the water you need is just to rinse it off. But unless you rinse it off really well it leaves streaks in the black gel coat and on the windows. I've found that if I continue to wipe the black with a brush as I rinse it comes off easier and streaks less. No idea how much water it takes though. 30 gallons sounds like a good start to me.

I use this too. I find that if I give it one last quick scrub with my soft brush before rinsing that I can get rid of the streaks and spots. Also, I use a Mr. Clean car wash kit (don't use the soap part) as when you use the spot free rinse (which is a very fine mist and very low water flow) that I get no spotting on the black, even washing in the hot sun.

[hart]

Oh. Good tip. I'm definately going to try that. Thanks!

[rwmiller56]

No water restrictions up here in Northern Calif. All boat wash-outs are open. In fact, according to my backyard rain gauge, we got 22 inches of rain last season, which is 22% over normal.

We're happy to divert some of the water to the Southern Calif desert, for a fee, of course

[McTexan]

I think I would probably try it with 10 gallons....a gallon or two with soap/bleach out of a bucket with a long handled brush to wash, and the rest for rinsing out of a large sized pump-up garden sprayer. (After you're done you can keep it on board for use as a pressurized cockpit shower for cleaning up or cooling off, or whatever.) I'd probably tip the boat back or forward as much as possible and work from the uphill end down, a section at a time, and I'd try to avoid doing it in full sun, to minimize evaporation.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Using a small electric pressure washer actually makes the water stretch a long ways. They use very little water. I'm actually headed out to the driveway right now to powerwash mine from the two weeks it just spend out in Puget Sound.

How about a wash up when you are out cruising? It's not uncommon to see people out with their hose and bucket washing the boat in their slip. Each marina has it's own rules, and you'll need bio-degradable boat soap, but perhaps you should locate a couple marinas nearby where you can wash the boat. Spend a night out relaxing in the boat and then give it a wash in the morning before heading back to the ramp.