using Muriatic acid to clean hull. dry or wet hull ?

[BobJohnson]

Need to pull my boat out of its wet slip next week and give it a mid summer hull cleaning. The cleaner I used last fall had a requirement that the hull be dry before spraying on. (for life of me can't remember the name of cleaner). I am sure that cleaner was acid based, so this time thinking of just using diluted muriatic acid.

Question... for those of you who have cleaned hulls with diluted muriatic acid, do you apply it to a dry boat or can you apply it to a wet boat?

Wet would be better, since I will be pulling it out of a wet lake to clean it, but will do what is right and not just convenient.

 

[Julian]

Most muriatic acid is diluted with water....so having some still on the boat will, at worst, just dilute it a little more. You'll want a hose around to rinse it off as you go anyway, so I don't see you having an issue.

 

[davel501]

Go to Ace Hardware and get a product called Magic Acid or Acid Magic...can't remember . You can spray it on with a garden sprayer (keep it close to the hull) then wait for the chain scum to melt off and wipe the stubborn stuff away with a rag or soft brush.

 

[justason]

I use muriatic acid when I clean my patio....after the rinse I add/sprinkle baking soda to neutralize the acid and not allow any further etch to the stone.....rinse again

Adding this $0.02 in case it may be valuable on the trailer frame if its painted vs galvanized.....or any plastic/rubber components.....

never used it on on anything other than stone/concrete products....

 

[Joey Martinez]

if you have a galvanized trailer cover it!! spray on with pressure sprayer then splash off with hose works amazing no need to get it wet and should still work if wet as well

 

[BobJohnson]

Go to Ace Hardware and get a product called Magic Acid or Acid Magic...can't remember . You can spray it on with a garden sprayer (keep it close to the hull) then wait for the chain scum to melt off and wipe the stubborn stuff away with a rag or soft brush.

thanks Dave... here it is.

 

[jcyamaharider]

I use "The Works" toilet bowl cleaner and a dollar store foam mop. Works like a champ!! Keep the hose around for rinsing like others have said.

 

[scokill]

Oxalic acid...5lb bag from multiple suppliers on Amazon. Same ingredient as in starbrite hull cleaner but much cheaper. Mix 1 cup to 1-2 gallons of water and put a little dish soap in as surfactant. Spray with pump sprayer, let sit 10 min, rinse off. As with any acid wear eye protection and gloves when mixing and applying.

 

[Matt Phillips]

x2 on the oxalic acid (deck cleaner) + diluted in water + in a pressurized container (like a week sprayer). spray on, then wipe off. with three people, I can clean my boat at the end of the season in about 90 minutes...that's completely top to bottom.

 

[Noko]

Make sure you wear some rubber gloves and eye protection.

 

[davel501]

thanks Dave... here it is.

View attachment 40386

That is the stuff. Get everything ready to go before you pull the boat because the chain muck comes off easier before it dries on. Like @Noko said, rubber gloves and eye protection are a must. Watch the vapors from that stuff too. I like to use a fan to keep the vapors and mosquitos off of me.

Keep it off your trailer too. I use plastic and keep water running on the trailer as much as possible.

 

[BobJohnson]

thanks Dave... here it is.

View attachment 40386

used this Acid Magic today and it worked like a charm. Thanks. Cleaned her up and then it was hard putting her right back in the slip knowing just going to get dirty again. But, much rather have it in a wet slip and ready to go when we get to her. We have to drive 45 min just to get to the marina, so once there, I want to just go.
Thanks for all the suggestions...

before and after shots...

 

[Dave burke]

Great job. I have to take mine out soon so will try this. How do you all get right under the boat? With a mop? And what about under the trailer bunks? Thx.

 

[Matt Phillips]

I use the method suggested by my neighbor. dilute the acid (wood bleach) in a plant sprayer. Spray on, wait about 5 minutes and then wipe off with a damp sponge. I do use kitchen dishwashing gloves to protect the hands from the bleach. The only way to get down under the boat is to get on your back and get a shirt dirty (I usually pick one that will just go in the trash afterwords). then rinse and wash again with soap. With 4 people, I can usually clean my boat up inside and out in about 90 minutes. I've also learned to park one set of trailer wheels on the curb in front of the house as this makes it easier to slide under the trailer.

This method also takes any wax that was on it off, but hey, it needs a good waxing after being in the lake all summer.

 

[zipper]

I use Starbrite Hull Cleaner, with oxalic acid. Completely cleaned my hull after sitting filthy thru the winter. Poured into a bucket with a little water. I used a car wash brush, the kind you connect to a hose with an on/off valve. Dip the brush in the bucket, apply to the hull, let sit and watch it disappear before your eyes. Turn on hose and rinse away. Give an extra rinse to the carpet bunks and the trailer. Here is a pic. of the section I did first vs the rest. I did not need to crawl under the boat. I did pre wet the carpet bunks before applying.
I started off using the Gel formula in the spray bottle and found the spray pump to be a POS that put more on my hand and the ground than the hull. You can see it dripping. I went to the hardware store and bought a bigger bottle of the regular formula that I used to clean the rest with the bucket and brush.

 

[davel501]

Great job. I have to take mine out soon so will try this. How do you all get right under the boat? With a mop? And what about under the trailer bunks? Thx.

The bunks clean the hull where they make contact

 

[BobJohnson]

and to get other areas of the hull, between bunks, I use a garden sprayer and a mop and bucket. Actually getting ready to leave the house soon to head to lake and do this today. end of season here... sad day.