MacGregorSailors.com

In my never-ending quest to pour money into the hole in the water that is my Mac, any thoughts, cautions re: pressure washers? I'm concerned re: too high pressure causing damange vs. getting the topside clean (some mold specks just won't go away).

Very mild soapy bleach will be much easier than pressure washing IMHO. Just a few fluid ounces in a gallon of hot, soapy water and a good brush.

second that, 2500psi on macgregor applied gelcoat is not a good idea.could lead to large bare patches of exposed fiberglass .

I've tried a pressure washer topside, but care is definitely needed. The soapy bleach suggestion is where I'd start.

In fact, this season we discovered a great commercial product that is essentially just that - in a spray bottle - soapy bleach -- it's X-14 Mildew Stain Remover, VERY effective
http://www.x14brand.com/products/mildew-stain-remover/

X-14 is not carried by everyone [only by Shop-Rite in our vicinity], but they have a handy retail store locator linked to the "Shop" tab at the top of their web site.

Was thinking more along the lines of a 1400-1500 psi electric pressure washer.

I'll also need an shore power adapter, evidently.

raycarlson wrote:second that, 2500psi on macgregor applied gelcoat is not a good idea.could lead to large bare patches of exposed fiberglass .

I have an electric pressure washer of ~ 1700psi that I use at the end of each season to blast the accumulated "stuff" off my bottom paint.
Even with that pressure, however, I'd suggest using great care on the topside gel coat.
I have had to fill a couple of voids in the nonskid on our cockpit seats because some tiny flaw in the surface allowed the pressurized water in.
Hence, my recommendation of a chemical approach.

You Guys are killing me.... hahahahha... Pressure washer Not A Bead Blasters!! I have used most often? My cheap electric $100 1700# unit? A few times my brothers expensive gas driven $700 3800# unit? You choose $$$ both work .. more care/caution is needed using the bigger unit.. Top Sides? Rinse it...come on guys.. Bucket of soapy water and a brush.. let it sit a few minutes, do it again , rinse it off..... still have a few problems? address them as individuals.. You dont Punish the whole family for one persons issues do you??.. Bottom..Lots of products out there to choose from.. Mary Kate ,Slimy Grimy ...Muriatic acid diluted 3 to 5 parts water to 1 part acid.. lots of them, some nastier than others.. a Few are Citric acid based if your green like Kermit..

dlandersson wrote:Was thinking more along the lines of a 1400-1500 psi electric pressure washer.

I'll also need an shore power adapter, evidently.

raycarlson wrote:second that, 2500psi on macgregor applied gelcoat is not a good idea.could lead to large bare patches of exposed fiberglass .

I dunno...gonna be 90 degrees today...and 96 degrees tomorrow.

As we used to observe in operations...nothing is too difficult for the person who doesn't have to do it.

Divecoz wrote:You Guys are killing me.... hahahahha... Pressure washer Not A Bead Blasters!! I have used most often? My cheap electric $100 1700# unit? A few times my brothers expensive gas driven $700 3800# unit? You choose $$$ both work .. more care/caution is needed using the bigger unit.. Top Sides? Rinse it...come on guys.. Bucket of soapy water and a brush.. let it sit a few minutes, do it again , rinse it off..... still have a few problems? address them as individuals.. You dont Punish the whole family for one persons issues do you??.. Bottom..Lots of products out there to choose from.. Mary Kate ,Slimy Grimy ...Muriatic acid diluted 3 to 5 parts water to 1 part acid.. lots of them, some nastier than others.. a Few are Citric acid based if your green like Kermit..

dlandersson wrote:Was thinking more along the lines of a 1400-1500 psi electric pressure washer.

I'll also need an shore power adapter, evidently.

raycarlson wrote:second that, 2500psi on macgregor applied gelcoat is not a good idea.could lead to large bare patches of exposed fiberglass .

d. : I went out and did mine today ... just to see what I would see.. You Owe Me a Six Pack..!!
Just short of a 100 degrees out in the Burbs today.. OMGoodness where did all the crude come from after 20 short months of sitting( dont ask )
90+ % rinsed right off.. Biggest PITA ? Cleaning and re-cleaning out the motor well drain..

Yes, but you live in Chicago...so you're just not "right" in the head.

Divecoz wrote:d. : I went out and did mine today ... just to see what I would see.. You Owe Me a Six Pack..!!
Just short of a 100 degrees out in the Burbs today.. OMGoodness where did all the crude come from after 20 short months of sitting( dont ask )
90+ % rinsed right off.. Biggest PITA ? Cleaning and re-cleaning out the motor well drain..

Your Killing me d. Nope I didn't scrub her though.. I tried my pool to no avail.. that water is 90.. like swimming in your own XXXXX I mean to say, I do have 8 grand-kids.. Burbs bud not in ....45 miles Due West.. Hotter in the summer colder in the winter..I dont winter cover, its fiberglass..

dlandersson wrote:Yes, but you live in Chicago...so you're just not "right" in the head.

I use a Simonize 1600 PSI electric pressure washer all the time with no gelcoat problems at all. It removes all algae stains left behind from under the rope/lines and blasts bird droppings easily. Best of all it involves minimum elbow grease. Now if you want to get really serious about bright clean gelcoat non-skid included the best route is maximum elbow grease at the season start. Give the whole boat a good pressure wash, then a good hand wash with soap & water, make sure she is clean and all stains removed then give it a good clean with fiberglass cleaner/wax then a good wax with paste wax. You can get a product for the non-skid called Sure-Step from Aurora Marine, there are other products as well but I have found that a good cleaning and waxing at the season start makes for easy cleaning throughout the whole season. Dirt and stains do not adhere well to a waxed surface and come off readily, the only downside is once you apply a wax coat the pressure washer is off bounds till season end as it may remove the wax if you get the spray too close to the surface, otherwise with care you can use a pressure washer.

Yo, you got eight grandkids, you got a labor pool.

Divecoz wrote:Your Killing me d. Nope I didn't scrub her though.. I tried my pool to no avail.. that water is 90.. like swimming in your own XXXXX I mean to say, I do have 8 grand-kids.. Burbs bud not in ....45 miles Due West.. Hotter in the summer colder in the winter..I dont winter cover, its fiberglass..

dlandersson wrote:Yes, but you live in Chicago...so you're just not "right" in the head.

Come - on guy's
The pressure washers have ajustable nozzles to adj. spray pattern & pressure @ least mine does !

Acid Rain will clean yer boat for nothing ! , the last time I was in Chicago you's had lots of that stuff

J

Lots of acid, anyway.

Highlander wrote:Come - on guy's
The pressure washers have ajustable nozzles to adj. spray pattern & pressure @ least mine does !

Acid Rain will clean yer boat for nothing ! , the last time I was in Chicago you's had lots of that stuff

J