Crossed my mind today, with sponge and hose in hand...
I know I'm supposed to but why do I wash the boat down after use?
I sail in salt water, the boat is varnished (and will probably be re-varnished every year) and it normally dries quickly.
What damage are salt deposits really doing to my surface?
Salt preserves wood doesn't it?
Just a thought,
Michael
Why do I wash the boat down?
Why do I wash the boat down?
Tideway 206
11+
Sold the 'Something bigger and plastic', it never got used.
11+
Sold the 'Something bigger and plastic', it never got used.
Re: Why do I wash the boat down?
The wood won't suffer from the salt.
But if dries on top of the varnish, the crystals may harm the surface, and are more likely to when a cover grinds them into varnish. Any slight cracks under the varnish can get salt water in them, and again when they dry, the crystals can swell and damage the varnish.
But in your case with a boat that is sailed regularly and varnished regularly too, I don't think the varnish is a big issue.
What is an issue....and is why I wash my boat down (can't talk for others) is to clean out the salt from all the metal fittings, especially any aluminium ones, and also all sheets/ropes. Salt plays havoc on these.
But with a tideway, with a wooden mast....again, it might not be such an issue.
eib
But if dries on top of the varnish, the crystals may harm the surface, and are more likely to when a cover grinds them into varnish. Any slight cracks under the varnish can get salt water in them, and again when they dry, the crystals can swell and damage the varnish.
But in your case with a boat that is sailed regularly and varnished regularly too, I don't think the varnish is a big issue.
What is an issue....and is why I wash my boat down (can't talk for others) is to clean out the salt from all the metal fittings, especially any aluminium ones, and also all sheets/ropes. Salt plays havoc on these.
But with a tideway, with a wooden mast....again, it might not be such an issue.
eib
Ed Bremner
CVRDA
Jollyboat J3
Firefly F2942
IC GBR314 ex S51 - 1970 Slurp
MR 638 - Please come and take it away
Phelps Scull
Bathurst Whiff - looking for someone to love it
CVRDA
Jollyboat J3
Firefly F2942
IC GBR314 ex S51 - 1970 Slurp
MR 638 - Please come and take it away
Phelps Scull
Bathurst Whiff - looking for someone to love it
Re: Why do I wash the boat down?
[quote="Ed"
But with a tideway, with a wooden mast....again, it might not be such an issue.
eib[/quote]
Not worried about the Tideway, it never gets washed and I've used Owatrol D1/D2 on the hull, all fine.
It is that 'delicate' Merlin I worry about which is plain old fashioned varnish. As mentioned in a previous thread the un-anodised old alloy mast is another cause for concern but really,having read the responses, there is not a whole lot I can do about that (?).
But with a tideway, with a wooden mast....again, it might not be such an issue.
eib[/quote]
Not worried about the Tideway, it never gets washed and I've used Owatrol D1/D2 on the hull, all fine.
It is that 'delicate' Merlin I worry about which is plain old fashioned varnish. As mentioned in a previous thread the un-anodised old alloy mast is another cause for concern but really,having read the responses, there is not a whole lot I can do about that (?).
Tideway 206
11+
Sold the 'Something bigger and plastic', it never got used.
11+
Sold the 'Something bigger and plastic', it never got used.
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- Posts: 51
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- Location: United Kingdom
Re: Why do I wash the boat down?
I wouldn't bother too much with the exterior, but you want to get the salt off the deck to keep it looking decent and avoid abrasion, washing the salt out of the interior is essential if you want it to dry out properly, and washing down metal spars and fittings is just common sense.
Ian Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (FORUM REPLY PREFERRED)
ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk
[at]=@, [dash]=- & [dot]=. *Warning* HTML & >32K emails --> NUL:
'Stingo' Albacore #1554 - 15' Early 60's, Uffa Fox designed,
All varnished hot moulded wooden racing dinghy.
ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk
[at]=@, [dash]=- & [dot]=. *Warning* HTML & >32K emails --> NUL:
'Stingo' Albacore #1554 - 15' Early 60's, Uffa Fox designed,
All varnished hot moulded wooden racing dinghy.
Re: Why do I wash the boat down?
Wash the sails too, or the salt crystals can cut into the stitching.
Rupert