The Do’s and Don’ts of Pressure Washing Your Boat

Using your boat frequently exposes it to the harsh effects of water. Slime, barnacles, and salt residue can all accumulate on the side of your boat if you don’t wash it enough. 

Regular pressure washing is essential for keeping your vessel looking as good as the day you bought it. Unlike garden hoses, pressure washing effectively removes stubborn stains. However, it is important to understand the do's and don'ts of pressure washing to ensure that your boat looks its best.

Do: Prepare Your Boat Before Pressure Washing 

Gather Necessary Supplies 

The first step is having the correct supplies ready to go. For a quality pressure wash, you want to have the following:

• Pressure washer

• Safety gear (goggles, waterproof gloves, and ear plugs)

• Nozzles

Use a pressure washer that has at least 2,000 PSI and 1.3 GPM. This pressure strength can clear tough grime and debris from hard-to-reach areas. Wearing safety gear may seem like a lot, but it’s important when dealing with high-pressure water. Sufficient safety gear provides full protection against possible injury or long-term damage. Make sure you have enough nozzles on hand in case you need to use different pressures, angles, or wider sprays.

While you’ll want to have at least 2,000 PSI, it should be noted that different boating materials require specific PSI. For example, gel coat requires 1,000 to 1,500 PSI, painted aluminum needs 1,200 to 1,800, while wood material like teak requires around 1,000 to 1,200 PSI.

Inspect and Protect Sensitive Areas 

Take a good look around your boat and where you’ll be cleaning. Cover any sensitive areas that could be damaged when hit with water. Cover anything that contains wiring or has a more delicate surface. An example area to cover would be something like electronic displays, such as your boat’s navigational system. 

Additionally, make a note of any areas of your boat that could be prone to water damage. This will let you know the areas to avoid with the high-pressure water spray. 

Choose the Right Cleaning Solution 

Now, you may want to just grab the closest soap available, but pressure washing requires certain kinds of soaps. You’ll want to find marine-specific detergents as these contain chemicals that provide a great clean but won’t directly harm the boating materials. A good example of this is vital oxide, as this contains boat-safe chemicals that rid up to 99% of grime and bacteria.

Make sure you avoid detergents that are ammonia-based or contain harsh chemicals like bleach. These substances contain too strong of chemicals that can directly corrode the surface of your vessel.

Don't: Use Excessive Pressure 

Understand PSI Levels 

PSI stands for ‘pounds per square inch,’ which in regards to pressure washing indicates that a 1-pound force of water is applied to a unit area of the boat per square inch. A good rule of thumb is to keep your PSI in a range of 1,000 to 1,500, starting with a lower pressure before steadily increasing the pressure.

When you get to the higher levels of PSI, avoid areas that have gel coating. The amount of pressure will damage them, especially older or worn coatings. Additionally, avoid hitting decals or other sensitive areas with high pressure; instead, start low and spray from the middle and work to the edges at a 90-degree angle.

Avoid Directing High Pressure at Soft Materials  

When working with high-pressure wash, you’ll want to know the soft materials that make up your vessel. These are typically areas or sections that contain rubber, vinyl, or certain softer plastics. These will be the areas where you’ll want to use a much more gentle spray, as increased pressure will clear off grime but also directly damage the material itself. 

This is where your various nozzles come in handy. Find a wide nozzle, as it provides a gentle spray of water that easily clears dirt and grime off softer surfaces. 

Test a Small Area First 

You may be eager to get cleaning done, but when using equipment like a pressure washer, a preliminary test goes a long way. Pick out a spot you or your passengers normally would not see and give it a quick spray down. Check for any discoloration or damage, as this will indicate if you are using the proper cleaner and pressure settings.

Do: Use Proper Technique 

Maintain Distance 

Ideal pressure washing is maintaining a good distance between your washer nozzle and the surface of your boat. Even at the lower settings, the amount of pressure at too short of a distance can etch the surface. The ideal distance is around 15 to 20 centimeters; this distance provides a strong cleaning spray without the chance of hurting the boat. 

Use Wide, Even Strokes 

• Describe the proper motion.

• Avoid staying in one spot too long.

• Overlapping strokes prevent streaking.

Imagine your pressure washer hose like a paint brush and simply “draw” in a horizontal motion. Spray across the boat’s surface in a wide motion, making sure you are keeping even lengths. Avoid only spraying one area and instead begin overlapping your strokes. Overlapping your sprays helps to prevent the chance of uncleared dirt and grime creating streaks. 

Rinse Thoroughly 

You’ll probably notice a lot of suds after spraying the surface. Leaving suds to sit is no good since the residue can attract more dirt and grime to the surface. This can ruin the whole point of cleaning. Rinse suds off using a clean rinse. To do this, take a wide nozzle and go top to bottom using a low-pressure spray with only clean water.

Don't: Neglect Safety Precautions 

Wear Protective Gear 

Pressure washing your boat is not like scrubbing a car; the high-pressure water will hurt a lot if it hits you with something shielding you. Always wear your safety gear, which includes:

• Eye Protection (goggles, etc)

• Gloves (waterproof or otherwise)

• Ear Protection (plugs, etc)

Each of these provides vital protection of your body from potential injury. Possible spray to the eyes can severely damage your eysight. High pressure wash to bare skin, like your hands, can cause potential nerve damage, among other cuts and abrasions. 

Finally, plugs are a must as pressure washers are not the quiet type of equipment, so if your wash takes a while, the noise can do a number on your hearing. A great quote to go by for pressure washing is from Boat Owner Magazine: “Safety first protects against injuries.”

Be Mindful of Surroundings  

Safety is key, not just for you but for anyone and anything nearby. Before you let loose with the high-pressure spray, make sure people and pets are far away from your washing area so they don’t become an unintended target. To prevent overspray, make sure you are maintaining a good distance, using a wider angle nozzles, and covering any possible targets of the spray or mist. 

For any run-off, make sure your clean your boat near an area that has good drainage, such as grassy patches or a marina’s designated drain section. It also helps to use marine-specified detergents as many are biodegradable, reducing the effective runoff that can have on the environment. 

Follow Manufacturer's Instructions 

Make sure you are reading the manuals when it comes to both your boat and your pressure washer. This will detail the proper way to clean your boat, along with the exact settings for a safe and effective wash. Performing a cleaning without proper instruction could void possible warranties as it would link to user error. Reading the instructions may seem like a long step to take for simply cleaning, but taking the right steps beforehand not only gives your vessel a great cleaning but extends the life of your equipment. 

Do: Regularly Clean and Maintain Your Pressure Washer 

Flush the System 

After each cleaning session, you will want to flush your washer out completely. This clears out all the different chemicals, soap, and possible debris inside. If left uncleared, all of those items accumulate over time, which can disrupt the functions of the washer. The simplest way to flush out your pressure washer is to take a garden hose and give a proper spray down, cleaning the detergent intake area and insides. 

Inspect Hoses and Connections 

The next part of maintenance is checking all your hoses and connections. Continual use of the pressure washer can wear down on these parts, creating issues like leaks, cracks, or other damage over time. When you spot these issues, always replace the parts promptly, as using them can heavily affect the efficiency of the washer. For example, the presence of small leaks can cause the pressure build-up to be lost, creating a much less effective spray. 

Store Properly 

When the system is completely flushed out, there could be water remaining from the pump. You’ll want to completely drain this out as standing water could lead to mold or other issues that affect the washer. The best locations for storage are protected, dry locations, such as a garage. Make sure your storage area is also heated somewhat, as the freezing temperatures can halt the various components in the washer, causing it to be unusable. 

Enjoy a Sparkling Clean Boat 

1. Recap the key do’s and don’ts.

2. Reiterate the benefits of proper pressure washing.

3. Encourage readers to use the tips provided.

4. Final thought: A clean boat is a happy boat

That was a lot of great information. Let's recap all the essential do’s and don’ts. First, the do’s: make the proper preparations before washing, use the proper technique, and regularly clean and maintain your washer. Next, the don’ts: excessive force and neglecting safety precautions.

Taking all these tips to heart, your next pressure washing will produce immaculate results for your vessel. Not only will your boat be sparkling clean for a cruise around the marina, but your washing methods will keep the vessel safe from harm. 

We’ve talked a lot about washing your boat, but what about the drying part? That comes easy with The Absorber by CleanTools. This drying towel uses a spine-like pore structure that grabs and dries moisture with lightning-fast efficiency. Available with a convenient storage tube for travel, you’ll never want to leave the dock without it.