5 Tips For Cleaning Boat Hulls

Looking for 5 tips for cleaning boat hulls? Cleaning boat hulls can be difficult because you don't want to use chemicals that can pollute the water. It is always best to haul your boat out of the water to clean the boat hull, but that's not always possible. If you are not able to haul your boat out of the water, you will need to have a diver go down to clean the boat hull.

1. Cleaning boat hulls with water. In many cases, you will be able to clean your boat hull with fresh water and some elbow grease. If you are unable to haul your boat out of the water, one of the most important tips for cleaning boat hulls is to not allow soap to enter the water. When soap enters the water, it is likely more algae will grow, which takes oxygen away from the marine life.
2. Catch basins. Many marinas offer catch basins. With a catch basin, you can pull your boat out of the water and into the catch basin. You will then be able to use cleaning products to clean your boat hulls. Just make sure you give your boat hull a good rinsing to wash off the cleaning agents before hauling your boat back into the water.
3. Ablative paints. If your boat hull is painted with ablative paints, never clean the boat hull in the water. Ablative paints contain copper that is released into the water when cleaned. Copper is harmful to fish and studies have shown that when ablative painted hulls are cleaned, the concentration of copper in the water can be as high as twenty parts per billion.
4. Least abrasive materials. When cleaning boat hulls, you want to use materials that are not abrasive to prevent paint from being scrubbed off the boat. When cleaning marine growth off boat hulls, a soft sponge should do the trick. To remove tough hard growth, you may need to use a heavy duty cleaning pad. Try to stay away from stainless steel pads unless you need to clean metal areas on your boat hull that aren't painted.
5. Cleaning products. When cleaning boat hulls, it is very important to keep the environment in mind. If fresh water and elbow grease are unable to effectively clean your boat hull, try baking soda, lemon juice or vinegar. If you must purchase cleaning products, look for boat hull cleaning products that are biodegradable and phosphate free.