Cleaning the boat, in the lake?

Shortstop · 06-27-2012, 06:48 AM

Are there any cleaners that are truely acceptable to use to clean the outside of your boat while it's in the lake? I mean, scrub the deck and hull then rinse the soapy runoff into the lake. I see products like Simple Green that are marked as biodegradable, but that still produces a soapy looking runoff.
I have found that much of the dark slime at the water line and elsewhere can be washed off at a sand bar with a brush, lake water and no product. But, sometimes, there are areas that need a product.
I did search on 'Cleaning' before I posted and found a thread discussing effective cleaners, but none to be used in the lake.

Thanks, Tom.

mhtranger · 06-27-2012, 07:16 AM

Saw this on Ship Shape TV Aussan Natural Cleaners. When I watched it showed them cleaning the deck and then hosing it off into the water.

BroadHopper · 06-27-2012, 07:22 AM

Many boat wash are biodegradable. It does not mean that it is harmless to the plants and fish in the water. You will good stares and possibly a scolding or two.

Anyone who washes their vehicle on land will notice the soapy water goes into the storm drains and eventually runs into the lake! So where is all the vehicle and boat soap go? In the lakes or rivers.

So I guess it is OK to wash your boat on a trailer but it is not OK to wash in the lake. Go figure.

I notice the marinas wash boats and the water runs into the lake. In the fall the chemicals to wash the months of slime on boat bottom are caustic. Guess where that runs off to.

My thoughts.

SAB1 · 06-27-2012, 08:22 AM

No, it is not really a good idea to introduce any soap to the water by washing your boat in the lake. Nothing loves soap more that plants growing in the lake. Same for the fertilizer leaching in off lawns. The lable on the soap containers says it is biodegradeable but doesn't tell you the period in time in which occurs. Paper towels are biogradeable too but think how long they float around before they are gone.

RLW · 06-27-2012, 08:33 AM

Shortstop, I just noticed that you are fairly new to the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends. Think your best way of doing the cleaning is to pull the boat and take it away from the lake to do the cleaning that you want to do. I take my boat out onto the driveway and all the sud'z soap runs into the woods and the leaves which acts like a fantastic filter.

LIforrelaxin · 06-27-2012, 09:04 AM

ShortStop,

Welcome to the forum... Please note you will get a wide variety of answers to the question you have asked.....

My personal opinion is that the only thing I do in the water is what can be down with out chemicals of any sort..... Other then that the boat gets pulled....

NoBozo · 06-27-2012, 09:55 AM

This cleaning question was asked on the (NASBLA) Boating Safety exam. The correct answer was: Hydrogen Peroxide. You can't make this stuff up.

NB

PS: I've never tried it.

jrc · 06-27-2012, 10:28 AM

There is nothing good for the lake about the word biodegradable. Actually they are the worst because they degrade into stuff that feeds the algae.

I use plain water and cleaners that don't make it to the water. A cleaner wax or black streak remover sprayed on and wiped off.

Sure I know the wax gets in the lake as the rain washes it off but we have a DES boat nearby and I don't want no trouble.

meredith weekender · 06-27-2012, 12:36 PM

a MAGIC ERASER works wonders for cleaning your boat while it is in the water. I will typically let the kids swim and i will grab a noodle and a magic eraser and head to work.

Woodsy · 06-27-2012, 01:26 PM

DO NOT USE A MAGIC ERASER ON YOUR FIBERGLASS.... it will scratch your gelcoat! A friend of mine found out the hard way!

It is however awesome for the vinyl upholstery!

Woodsy

Bear Islander · 06-27-2012, 02:49 PM

At our camp we always used a "pure-castile" soap in the lake. Pure-castile soaps are made from vegetable oils. You can even brush your teeth with it but make sure it is 100% pure-castile. There is a nature store in Center Harbor that sells a 100% pure-castile named Dr. Bronners.

Kamper · 06-27-2012, 03:16 PM

I remember reading somewhere that's it's not legal but I've seen lots of folks doing it. You'll need to ask "the Authorities" to know for sure.

Good luck!

SAB1 · 06-27-2012, 03:24 PM

If you read the DES site technically anything considered "waste water", and washing a boat is considered waste water as noted there, you have to have a permit to dispose of in body of water. So I would not want to get caught doing so.

jrc · 06-27-2012, 05:56 PM

I've heard that the DES complains about people washing a boat with plain water using a pressure washer. Again using the waste water standard.

I never saw this happen and it could be BS, but it kind of fits.

BroadHopper · 06-27-2012, 07:13 PM

The DES appears to have a very loose standard. I know of many camps on the lake whose shower, sink, washer water drains into a dry well and the water eventually drains into the lake. The reason the owners get away with it is that DES normally puts the die in toilets. Toilets waste are usually treated through a septic system and thus pass. I know of a number of camps that use the old out house method.

So the dry well water has mega soap chemicals and it gets into the lake.

Bear Islander's castile soap may be legit, but I know someone on Glidden Cove who got fined for showering next to the lake with this soap. So what gives?

Jonas Pilot · 06-28-2012, 07:43 AM

... except for "So the dry well water has mega soap chemicals and it gets into the lake." BH

In all fairness I would have said ...

"So the dry well water has mega soap chemicals and depending on season, water level and rain fall, could leach into the lake".

NoRegrets · 06-28-2012, 10:41 AM

There are many boats on the lake that are clean.

After a week of being away, a buildup of bird poop, spider poop, pollen, and dust find their way onto our vessels. Some around the airport claim fuel descends on their boats. We should be able to clean and rinse. All of this crap finds its way into the lake with or without the boatd. By keeping a well waxed boat you can rinse off the natural buildup of crap without strong chemicals.

I purchase the recommended boat wash from my home base marina and use it sparingly. It is supposed to be safe for the lake. Sorry if this seems horrible but I will not have dried bird turds and crud ruin my pleasure.

BroadHopper · 06-28-2012, 11:07 AM

I have to agree with Noregrets. Many of us love to keep our boat clean. Spider poops are dificult to clean off. Even with a pro polish layer, the poop are hard to remove.

Most marinas charge you to take out your boat for cleaning. Marinas allow you to wash your boat at the slip and many do. I never heard of DES giving a fine to a boat owner washing his boat in the water.

Worst of all are pine saps. I wonder if anyone has a 'safe' way to remove the saps. Tar and bug remover are very caustic to the environment and to the gel coat.

Jonas Pilot · 06-28-2012, 11:27 AM

I've been on Winnipesaukee thousands of times (since 1983) and never left the boat in overnight, I always have trailered my boats. A boat and a kitchen bare something in common and that is ... "Little chores undone become harder to do big chores". Putting the boat in and taking it out every time I used it made it a lot easier for me to keep the hull clean. I pull the boat out and park it out of the way and give her a quick rubdown with a wet towel. After getting home I use a quick dry spray wax to clean the hull, gunnels, chrome and glass. I've often thought the boats left out in the open must be really hard to keep up. It's got to be awful trying to stay on top during pollen season.

06-27-2012, 06:48 AM	#1
Shortstop Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 25 Thanks: 5 Thanked 14 Times in 5 Posts	Cleaning the boat, in the lake? Are there any cleaners that are truely acceptable to use to clean the outside of your boat while it's in the lake? I mean, scrub the deck and hull then rinse the soapy runoff into the lake. I see products like Simple Green that are marked as biodegradable, but that still produces a soapy looking runoff. I have found that much of the dark slime at the water line and elsewhere can be washed off at a sand bar with a brush, lake water and no product. But, sometimes, there are areas that need a product. I did search on 'Cleaning' before I posted and found a thread discussing effective cleaners, but none to be used in the lake. Thanks, Tom.

06-27-2012, 07:22 AM	#3
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,576 Thanks: 3,214 Thanked 1,103 Times in 794 Posts	Touchy subject Many boat wash are biodegradable. It does not mean that it is harmless to the plants and fish in the water. You will good stares and possibly a scolding or two. Anyone who washes their vehicle on land will notice the soapy water goes into the storm drains and eventually runs into the lake! So where is all the vehicle and boat soap go? In the lakes or rivers. So I guess it is OK to wash your boat on a trailer but it is not OK to wash in the lake. Go figure. I notice the marinas wash boats and the water runs into the lake. In the fall the chemicals to wash the months of slime on boat bottom are caustic. Guess where that runs off to. My thoughts. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

06-27-2012, 08:33 AM	#5
RLW Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alton Bay on the mountain by a lake Posts: 2,023 Thanks: 563 Thanked 444 Times in 311 Posts	*Shortstop,* I just noticed that you are fairly new to the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends. Think your best way of doing the cleaning is to pull the boat and take it away from the lake to do the cleaning that you want to do. I take my boat out onto the driveway and all the sud'z soap runs into the woods and the leaves which acts like a fantastic filter. __________________ There is nothing better than living on Alton Mountain & our grand kids visits.

06-27-2012, 09:04 AM	#6
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,871 Thanks: 1,037 Thanked 892 Times in 524 Posts	ShortStop, Welcome to the forum... Please note you will get a wide variety of answers to the question you have asked..... My personal opinion is that the only thing I do in the water is what can be down with out chemicals of any sort..... Other then that the boat gets pulled.... __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

06-27-2012, 01:26 PM	#10
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,966 Thanks: 80 Thanked 980 Times in 440 Posts	DO NOT USE A MAGIC ERASER ON YOUR FIBERGLASS.... it will scratch your gelcoat! A friend of mine found out the hard way! It is however awesome for the vinyl upholstery! Woodsy __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.

06-27-2012, 07:16 AM	#2
mhtranger Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 130 Thanks: 321 Thanked 69 Times in 40 Posts	Saw this on Ship Shape TV Aussan Natural Cleaners. When I watched it showed them cleaning the deck and then hosing it off into the water.

06-27-2012, 08:22 AM	#4
SAB1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 1,230 Thanks: 190 Thanked 320 Times in 235 Posts	No, it is not really a good idea to introduce any soap to the water by washing your boat in the lake. Nothing loves soap more that plants growing in the lake. Same for the fertilizer leaching in off lawns. The lable on the soap containers says it is biodegradeable but doesn't tell you the period in time in which occurs. Paper towels are biogradeable too but think how long they float around before they are gone.

The Following User Says Thank You to RLW For This Useful Post:
ApS (06-28-2012)

06-27-2012, 09:55 AM	#7
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	This cleaning question was asked on the (NASBLA) Boating Safety exam. The correct answer was: Hydrogen Peroxide. You can't make this stuff up. NB PS: I've never tried it.

06-27-2012, 10:28 AM	#8
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	There is nothing good for the lake about the word biodegradable. Actually they are the worst because they degrade into stuff that feeds the algae. I use plain water and cleaners that don't make it to the water. A cleaner wax or black streak remover sprayed on and wiped off. Sure I know the wax gets in the lake as the rain washes it off but we have a DES boat nearby and I don't want no trouble.

06-27-2012, 12:36 PM	#9
meredith weekender Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Meredith / Manchester Posts: 373 Thanks: 87 Thanked 84 Times in 57 Posts	a MAGIC ERASER works wonders for cleaning your boat while it is in the water. I will typically let the kids swim and i will grab a noodle and a magic eraser and head to work.

06-27-2012, 02:49 PM	#11
Bear Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bear Island Posts: 1,764 Thanks: 32 Thanked 441 Times in 207 Posts	At our camp we always used a "pure-castile" soap in the lake. Pure-castile soaps are made from vegetable oils. You can even brush your teeth with it but make sure it is 100% pure-castile. There is a nature store in Center Harbor that sells a 100% pure-castile named Dr. Bronners.

06-27-2012, 03:16 PM	#12
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,306 Thanks: 67 Thanked 171 Times in 127 Posts	I remember reading somewhere that's it's not legal but I've seen lots of folks doing it. You'll need to ask "the Authorities" to know for sure. Good luck!

06-27-2012, 03:24 PM	#13
SAB1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 1,230 Thanks: 190 Thanked 320 Times in 235 Posts	If you read the DES site technically anything considered "waste water", and washing a boat is considered waste water as noted there, you have to have a permit to dispose of in body of water. So I would not want to get caught doing so.

06-27-2012, 05:56 PM	#14
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	I've heard that the DES complains about people washing a boat with plain water using a pressure washer. Again using the waste water standard. I never saw this happen and it could be BS, but it kind of fits.

06-27-2012, 07:13 PM	#15
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,576 Thanks: 3,214 Thanked 1,103 Times in 794 Posts	Des The DES appears to have a very loose standard. I know of many camps on the lake whose shower, sink, washer water drains into a dry well and the water eventually drains into the lake. The reason the owners get away with it is that DES normally puts the die in toilets. Toilets waste are usually treated through a septic system and thus pass. I know of a number of camps that use the old out house method. So the dry well water has mega soap chemicals and it gets into the lake. Bear Islander's castile soap may be legit, but I know someone on Glidden Cove who got fined for showering next to the lake with this soap. So what gives? __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

06-28-2012, 07:43 AM	#16
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	I agree ... ... except for "So the dry well water has mega soap chemicals and it gets into the lake." BH In all fairness I would have said ... "So the dry well water has mega soap chemicals and depending on season, water level and rain fall, could leach into the lake".

06-28-2012, 10:41 AM	#17
NoRegrets Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hudson - NH Posts: 408 Thanks: 233 Thanked 212 Times in 88 Posts	There are many boats on the lake that are clean. After a week of being away, a buildup of bird poop, spider poop, pollen, and dust find their way onto our vessels. Some around the airport claim fuel descends on their boats. We should be able to clean and rinse. All of this crap finds its way into the lake with or without the boatd. By keeping a well waxed boat you can rinse off the natural buildup of crap without strong chemicals. I purchase the recommended boat wash from my home base marina and use it sparingly. It is supposed to be safe for the lake. Sorry if this seems horrible but I will not have dried bird turds and crud ruin my pleasure.

06-28-2012, 11:07 AM	#18
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,576 Thanks: 3,214 Thanked 1,103 Times in 794 Posts	slip renters/owners I have to agree with Noregrets. Many of us love to keep our boat clean. Spider poops are dificult to clean off. Even with a pro polish layer, the poop are hard to remove. Most marinas charge you to take out your boat for cleaning. Marinas allow you to wash your boat at the slip and many do. I never heard of DES giving a fine to a boat owner washing his boat in the water. Worst of all are pine saps. I wonder if anyone has a 'safe' way to remove the saps. Tar and bug remover are very caustic to the environment and to the gel coat. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

06-28-2012, 11:27 AM	#19
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	I've been on Winnipesaukee thousands of times (since 1983) and never left the boat in overnight, I always have trailered my boats. A boat and a kitchen bare something in common and that is ... "Little chores undone become harder to do big chores". Putting the boat in and taking it out every time I used it made it a lot easier for me to keep the hull clean. I pull the boat out and park it out of the way and give her a quick rubdown with a wet towel. After getting home I use a quick dry spray wax to clean the hull, gunnels, chrome and glass. I've often thought the boats left out in the open must be really hard to keep up. It's got to be awful trying to stay on top during pollen season.