Spring (canoe) Cleaning

[gumpus]

One of the few chores I kind of like is cleaning up canoes that have been used through the winter with zero TLC. I feel like I owe it to the boats. This year I bought a buffer so my 2011 Osprey and 2011 Keewaydin 15 got buffed for the first time. The champagne Osprey only had oxidation on the bow but after buffing just the bow it looked like a much lighter color than the rest of the (deceptively dirty) boat so I had to do the whole thing. I use Boat Guard to spiff up the interior and Badger Oil on the wood. I think the (late) original owner of the red Kee15 ("Brian's boat") would be pleased.

 

[yknpdlr]

I'm about to purchase a buffer and am looking for the best methods for cleaning up last season's water stains on my canoe hulls. Harbor Freight has one or two (Bauer and Hercules models) that I am considering getting one of this week.

 

[Alan Gage]

You just made me feel like a terrible boat owner.

My approach to washing canoes (you get washed when you're in the lake) is similar to my approach to washing cars (you get washed when it rains).

Alan

 

[gumpus]

I'm about to purchase a buffer and am looking for the best methods for cleaning up last season's water stains on my canoe hulls. Harbor Freight has one or two (Bauer and Hercules models) that I am considering getting one of this week.

I bought the Ryobi because I have other 18V Ryobi tools and batteries. Works great. Quiet. Just over $40.

I have no idea of "best way" to clean up boats; in the past I just used Dawn and non-abrasive cleanser and then 303, and lived with some light oxidation/staining. I have had good results with the 3M 09009 and recommend it. I'm not sure if the newer stuff in the purple bottles is the same. I'm also not yet sure how much I like BoatGuard but it's an easy way to refresh the interior. You may need your sense of humor when you learn that the polish/wax costs more than the buffer.

 

[gumpus]

You just made me feel like a terrible boat owner.

My approach to washing canoes (you get washed when you're in the lake) is similar to my approach to washing cars (you get washed when it rains).

Alan

You treat your boats like your car? Not sure I understand your logic.

The buffed and waxed Osprey is so slick that it tried to launch itself at a dirt put-in! The slick surface adds about 0.5 mph in my imagination.

 

[yknpdlr]

The buffed and waxed Osprey is so slick that it tried to launch itself at a dirt put-in! The slick surface adds about 0.5 mph in my imagination.

Maybe so, and one might think so, but have you ever seen the physics of the surface of a golf ball?

 

[Gamma1214]

You just made me feel like a terrible boat owner

I never wash cars or boats either (ok, sometimes I rinse out the mud before portaging).

Don't get me wrong, Gumpus' look great all spiffed up but I, personally, don't care nearly enough about cosmetics to spend any time on them.

 

[MyKneesHurt]

I like to see someone take care of their boats! I'm not going to, but I like to see it.
I just left one of mine in an open Vermont shed for the winter to see what would happen. Temps bottomed out at -12F.
Today or tomorrow's the day to drag it out and inspect it. My boats and truck get washed when it rains.

 

[gumpus]

Maybe so, and one might think so, but have you ever seen the physics of the surface of a golf ball?

My understanding based on one technical paper is that it may be worth striving for a surface no rougher than 320 grit sandpaper and the first 3 feet of the boat are most important since that's the only area where you have any chance at laminar flow. But I'd welcome more or better information. The abrasive polishes do remove small scratches so I think there is potential to improve boat efficiency by a tiny bit.

Kinda funny to get called out for excessive maintenance for buffing my boats once in 15 years.

 

[gumpus]

I like to see someone take care of their boats! I'm not going to, but I like to see it.
I just left one of mine in an open Vermont shed for the winter to see what would happen. Temps bottomed out at -12F.
Today or tomorrow's the day to drag it out and inspect it. My boats and truck get washed when it rains.

I've stored composite boats with aluminum gunwales outside unprotected for years with no ill effects. Over the winter I bought a used boat that was stored outside in a mostly-enclosed shelter and after cleaning it one of the things I found were hairline cracks in the gunwales in multiple places. I was wondering if it was from super cold temps.

 

[MyKneesHurt]

super cold temps.

As far as I know, it's not actual temperature that affects wood so much as humidity fluctuations, so if you had an especially humid season followed by an especially dry season, that might be enough to put some cracks in a gunwale. I assume you're up north somewhere, which should be nice and moderate in terms of humidity.

 

[Chip]

Gumpus, are you sure that isn’t a scarf joint in the gunwale?

I scrub off mud after a canoe trip. I bring a small push broom and a 5-gallon bucket. With the bucket, I dump river water into the boat, then use the broom to swish it around and loosen the mud, then flip the boat over to drain. Often our river water is grungy with a layer of pollen and oily looking goo that leaves a bathtub ring on the outside of the hull, and I use the broom and river water to remove as much of that as possible. Takes only a few minutes. It’s worth it to have a relatively clean boat the next time I get in it.

The other time I wash my boats is when I am going to work on them, when I do a more thorough scrub before bring them into the shop. McCrae taught me that. It helps to be able to see what you are going to be fixing!

Speaking of oily goo—The other day a naturalist taught me that the oily goo is often a product emitted from microorganisms in the riverbed. The naturally occurring sheen breaks up when you disturb it, unlike the petrochemical oil sheen.

 

[gumpus]

Gumpus, are you sure that isn’t a scarf joint in the gunwale?

I scrub off mud after a canoe trip. I bring a small push broom and a 5-gallon bucket. With the bucket, I dump river water into the boat, then use the broom to swish it around and loosen the mud, then flip the boat over to drain. Often our river water is grungy with a layer of pollen and oily looking goo that leaves a bathtub ring on the outside of the hull, and I use the broom and river water to remove as much of that as possible. Takes only a few minutes. It’s worth it to have a relatively clean boat the next time I get in it.

The other time I wash my boats is when I am going to work on them, when I do a more thorough scrub before bring them into the shop. McCrae taught me that. It helps to be able to see what you are going to be fixing!

Speaking of oily goo—The other day a naturalist taught me that the oily goo is often a product emitted from microorganisms in the riverbed. The naturally occurring sheen breaks up when you disturb it, unlike the petrochemical oil sheen.

I'll have to look more closely. They do look like scarf joints and they don't look like a problem but I have never seen scarf joints on a Bell. It's an adventure to clean up a used boat and after about 8 hours of cleaning I can finally assess any concerns that didn't wash off. Used boats seem to try to tell you their story.

I should try to learn from you and maybe make an effort to spend a minute or two on boat cleaning at the take-out before loading. I always wait until the boat is loaded to wipe off the pond scum ring but then I can't reach some areas. My Advantage seems to concentrate all the dirt and sand from your shoes right in the middle so every darn time I pick it up it dumps a handful of sand on my head which means I have sand in my scalp until my next shower.

 

[gumpus]

Well Chip they must be scarf jointsvsince there are 5 or 6 that look identical. I have never seen scarf joints on factory gunwales. Thank you for posting.

 

[daydreamer]

Those boats look great Gump, particularly those beautiful decks. My tough love approach to our car involves hoping and wishing for a rainy day every once in a while, but otherwise my idea of my cars "tip top condition" does not mean showroom smell nor pristine shine. I do however take it through the nearby touchless car wash. I splurge on the wax option. I wonder if I car-topped my canoe through this car wash whether we could fit?

 

[Boatman53]

Any brown water stains on gel coat will disappear with a wipe or two of clear vinegar.
Cleaned many scum line on the big boats that way.
Jim

 

[gumpus]

Those boats look great Gump, particularly those beautiful decks. My tough love approach to our car involves hoping and wishing for a rainy day every once in a while, but otherwise my idea of my cars "tip top condition" does not mean showroom smell nor pristine shine. I do however take it through the nearby touchless car wash. I splurge on the wax option. I wonder if I car-topped my canoe through this car wash whether we could fit?

Thanks daydreamer. Those decks are an example of why I like an oil finish and am going through the PITA process of removing the varnish from the used boat I bought over the winter.

For my vehicle I do a little more than wait for rain or I'd never be able to see through the rear window but my biggest concern is having an unexpected passenger since my interior is embarrassingly filthy by any standard. Front passenger seat used for canoe gear (and wife) and rear seat is dog territory. If any rain got inside plants would sprout.

 

[gumpus]

Any brown water stains on gel coat will disappear with a wipe or two of clear vinegar.
Cleaned many scum line on the big boats that way.
Jim

Thanks for the tip, I need to try that.