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So, may be a silly question but I'm new to the world of boat lifts. I was able to get a spot in the local marina with a lift, water and electric. And the dock is covered to boot. My question is what is the proper etiquette for washing while on the lift? And more specifically using a cleaner. I've read up on some "environmentally friendly" stuff but was wondering if its ok to do while in the marina.

If you are on a Corp of Engineers Lake they may fine the crap out of you if you get caught or someone turns you in. You can use a power washer, just don't use any soap. You can also get a sponge mop to scrub all scum lines off and swab the deck.

Ytmsn wrote: Wed Jun 05, 2019 5:12 pm If you are on a Corp of Engineers Lake they may fine the crap out of you if you get caught or someone turns you in. You can use a power washer, just don't use any soap. You can also get a sponge mop to scrub all scum lines off and swab the deck.

Well that is exactly where I'll be so good to know...

I just wipe mine down with hot sauce every weekend before the mooring cover goes on. Then once a year I’ll load it on a trailer to really scrub the hull

I keep my boat pretty clean all summer by wiping it down with Adam's Gloss and Guard or Hot Sauce every time it comes out of the water. I wipe the interior down at least a couple times every weekend, and never have a need for a power washet.

I've been washing on the lift for years on an army corps lake and the Mississippi. I'm not aware of any Army Corps rule that says you can't do that. I am aware of a requirement that the soap be environmentally friendly (that was also a rule for my marina). My marina (who has a permit and lease from the army corps) washes boats by hands and with a pressure washer. They use Simple Green. I used Meguiar's M4232 Flagship Premium Wash-N-Wax. It's biodegradable (per the back of the bottle).

Here is my technique. Fill up a 5 gallon bucket with soapy water. Rinse port side of boat with water. Wash boat with a brush on a pole. I use a starbrite extendable pole and a yellow soft brush. Rinse the port side of boat. Towel dry. Repeat for starboard side. I do the boat in half because otherwise I get water spots (it's fairly hot and dry in North Texas in the summer). Children who complain about being hot or having to wait get sprayed with the hose:) If I have a reason to be doing this quickly, I can do it in 20 mins for an R7. I pour the bucket of soapy water in the lake. I'm anal about keeping my boat clean and this works great. I've never had problems with scratches when I use the soft brush.

CaptainTom wrote: Wed Jun 05, 2019 6:18 pm
Here is my technique. Fill up a 5 gallon bucket with soapy water. Rinse port side of boat with water. Wash boat with a brush on a pole. I use a starbrite extendable pole and a yellow soft brush. Rinse the port side of boat.

I use the same brush, but I also use a Karcher pressure washer which will pull lake water as I don't have water at my dock.

I use biodegradable soap and 2 different brushes (stiffer for the swim platform and any other deck areas, and soft for everything else). Been doing it this way for many years with no issues. Also use hot sauce in between washes with a microfiber mop.

Hot sauce. That's all i use now. First time down after a long winters nap i might use actual soap. That's about it.

Interior i wipe down at the start and end of a weekend and maybe a couple times in between if needed.

Table Rockin wrote: Thu Jun 06, 2019 11:27 am Hot sauce. That's all i use now. First time down after a long winters nap i might use actual soap. That's about it.

Interior i wipe down at the start and end of a weekend and maybe a couple times in between if needed.

+1 on Hot Sauce

We had our boat on a lift year round for about 3 years before moving back over to covered storage. On the lift as most have said, end of the day hot sauce with microfiber towel wipe down and that's it. We had it hauled out once a year for service, wash and wax.
Being in covered dry storage, I do the same with just the hot sauce. (don't have to put the cover on in season either = lighter work load getting on and off the water )
Interior gets vinyl sauce wipe down every outing, and condition sauce every other weekend pending use.

Maybe a dumb question, but what is hot sauce?
Where do I buy it?

Krob1114 wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2019 7:48 am Maybe a dumb question, but what is hot sauce?
Where do I buy it?

Boat Bling. Their stuff, along with 303’s products, seem to be some of the favorites among everyone here.

https://www.boatbling.net/shop/hot-sauce (You can find it on amazon and other places too)

I’m thinking about starting a post (maybe we can do a sticky, similar to the boat buying one) around detailing and maintenance products?