cleaning stubborn algae

[thescotsman]

Hi all,

Anyone any tips on removing algae from the bottom of my boat?

It sits outside the house most of the time, power hosed it to hell last night but some of it won't shift. I know at uni we used to use acid to remove it from glassware, but any tips/tricks for the boat would be appreciated.

I can see it coming down to some hard scrubbing, but something to help would be good...

[donal domeney]

Take it out for a fishing trip this will soften up the algae then get it home as fast as you can and power it down this should help.
If nothing else it's an excuse to have to go fishing.

[thescotsman]

Cheers Donal, it's between engines at the moment as I'm tidying it up for an upgrade to another boat - hence the obsessive cleaning - otherwise I'd try your suggestion. I'll save it for next time I'm looking for a day out.

[red]

this is just a wild guess lee but might be worth giving it a spray of Cilit Bang, leave it for 10mins and use the powerhose then. i've yet to come across anything that stuff wont clear. the powdered version seems a bit better than the spray if you can find it.

[just add water]

Hi Lee.
I had the same trouble recently. I tried everything I could think of. I used clit bang, cif, rubbing compound and hot soapy water. All I can say is use a lot of elbow grease, plenty of scrubbing.
I did speak to a fibre glass supplyer who wouldn't recommend clit bang. He did say that he knows some people use acetone but would not recommend that either.
In the end I went with hot soapy water and a scrubbing sponge.

[bigballs]

sugar soap mate a drop of warm water and give her a scrub, bobs your uncle

[The Austrian]

Hi all,

Anyone any tips on removing algae from the bottom of my boat?

It sits outside the house most of the time, power hosed it to hell last night but some of it won't shift. I know at uni we used to use acid to remove it from glassware, but any tips/tricks for the boat would be appreciated.

I can see it coming down to some hard scrubbing, but something to help would be good...

a wife

[Stan]

bleach 10/1 with water. Leave to rest and get power hose to it.

[thescotsman]

Cheers for the suggestions gentleman. I'll try out a couple this weekend and let you know which one works best.....

[thescotsman]

bleach 10/1 with water. Leave to rest and get power hose to it.

that's the job - used an old paint brush to apply the bleach, had my lunch and the bulk of it came off with the powerhose. Just a few patches to do with another application of bleach and it'll almost be showroom condition lol. Hull seems fine, but wouldn't leave the bleach on for long. My test patch had algae coming off within a minute or two! Half an hour seems fine so far.
Cheers for the suggestions lads.

[Stan]

Great. Now all you have to do is polish the boat up and catch fish!!

[declan65]

Try any "patio cleaner" its got caustic soda in it , dilute down with water and apply to a test patch, leave on for about 10 mins .. powerhose off

[strangford hunter]

absoulutey nothing wrong with using acetone on grp if that doesnt work buy a small tin of y10 out of your local chandelry this will work just apply it and rub it of with a cloth

regards

[PhilD]

I use Starbrite Hull Cleaner which is basically 10% Hydrochloric Acid. Apply with a cloth, leave it on for 10mins and powerhose it off. Works a treat. Heavy butyl rubber gloves/Safety specs are recommended though. I used to apply it be transferring into a sprayer. A gust of wind blew the mist back me and I spent the next ten minutes running my face under cold water.
Still I didn't need to shave for a couple of days after!
Phil

[Dragonfly]

Bleach is the answer:
Otherwise, if you could find a pool equipment supplier, they sell specialist algae removers.
HTH is one brand that I know of.