Pressure Washers and Macs

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:26 pm

I'm buying a pressure washer for among other things, cleaning the exterior of my Mac. My question to the panel; what psi should I go with for overall use (Mac cleaning and general purpose around the house)?

Thanks guys!

beene · Post by **beene** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:48 pm

From my experience with boat hulls over the last 11 years..... DOES NOT MATTER!

I have still not found a good slime removal product. All I know is power washers need help to get the hull clean. By themselves, they just don't seem to cut it, the slime that is.

G

Robert · Post by **Robert** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:09 pm

Steve,

Buy the biggest most powerful pressure washer that you can comfortably handle, including price, storage, moving around in use etc..
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The pressure washer's pressure is a maximum. Buying a low pressure washer to prevent damage is like buying a low power automobile to avoid a speeding ticket. You can damage your hull with a very low power pressure washer and a zero degree nozzle at close range.
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Pressure washers have nozzles. The more power you have the wider nozzle you can power and the wider each pass of the pressure wash will be. Consider cleaning all that surface area in 3/4 inch wide passes compared to doing it with 3 inch wide passes.
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I have a 6.5hp Honda powered pressure washer with 2700psi and about 3GPM. I can wash delicate things like the boat with the 40 degree nozzle and staying a few inches away (3 inch / pass) or I can carve my name in concrete with the zero degree nozzle 1/2 inch away. The power washer can wash white flies off a gardenia without damage to the leaves just do it from a distance.
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All that said, there is no better way to wash a boat than with a brush dunked in soapy water and scrubbing. I liked to use the power washer to get the big stuff off, then brush the whole boat over with the soap and go back after and power rinse. Power washers don't do well to remove a sticky or oily thin film, that's where the brush with soap is used.

David Clarke · Post by **David Clarke** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:45 pm

Steve,
I use a 2500psi model. It's good for getting the general dirt off of the non skid areas rather well. It saves me a ton of work keeping things white and bright. That being said, as mentioned here, I also find that along the water line it can be hopeless against some slime and mud marks. It will also take off decals, and rub rail sealant "if" you get to close. You will learn very quickly how close is ok. It's all in how you use it. When I purchased mine I think it was in the mid range of performance at the time, but I think I would go to 2800psi or above to make it a good duel purpose machine for around the house. Lots of other uses for these things. The black areas and the blue hull I have are the hardest places to keep clean, but I found an excellent detail guy that will do the boat for only 50 dollars and he comes to my door. "Excellent" and all is ship shape. Hope this helps.

baldbaby2000 · Post by **baldbaby2000** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:51 pm

Steve,

I'm not sure how the X is but on the M a word of caution: I got a little carried away with a pressure wand on the ballast valve gasket and put a slight rip in it.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:43 pm

Awesome, thanks. So I'll look around for a 2500-2700 psi model. Anyone know where the "deal" may be found on one of these? Thanks again everyone!

Robert · Post by **Robert** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:52 pm

Steve, If you do some online research you will find that there are only two or three big name pump manufacturers for pressure washers. I would get one of the brand that your local repair shop can work on. Find your local pressure washer repair shop and ask them. Mine was bought at either Home Depot or Lowes, but I made sure it had decent parts. OHV engine with manual separate on/off switch, choke, throttle and gas tank shut off valve. The pump is one of the most common brands - the black one, the other main brand is light blue. They are direct coupled, belt drive units seem to be more expensive and heavier. The unit I have I can lift to store on a shelf or place in the back of my Trooper. If it were any heavier or any bulkier I would have to get help to lift it. I liked the one I saw with the Robin engine on it, but it had a bulkier frame around it sort of like a generator, I cold tell I would not be able to handle lifting that.
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Here's a place to start I bought a generator from them once.
http://www.southwestfastener.com/produc ... Washer.htm
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Here's another one that I have use to buy a replacement engine for a chipper.
http://www.smallenginewarehouse.com/Pro ... ure+Washer
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This one looks a lot like mine except it has the blue pump.
Another Pressure Washer

marsanden · Post by **marsanden** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:37 am

mine works at 2500 psi but its not enough to clean the hull.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:28 am

I have a Karcher electric 1500 psi that was $130 its good for cleaning the top deck but it is slow...you can only clean about a 3 inch swath at a time

It does leave the hull a really nice shiny white colour - the only way I have found to get the boat nice looking for a long trip - The Admiral really likes this so I do it before every 5 day cruise.

I also use it on cars and house and lawn furniture and the like. Nice tool.

On edit - a little undersized if you are going to clean the boat every week. If you want to it at beginning and end of season, its fine.

See my post on air compressor/washer too...

LOUIS B HOLUB · Post by **LOUIS B HOLUB** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:04 am

Catigale wrote:I have a Karcher electric 1500 psi that was $130 its good for cleaning the top deck but it is slow...you can only clean about a 3 inch swath at a time

It does leave the hull a really nice shiny white colour - the only way I have found to get the boat nice looking for a long trip - The Admiral really likes this so I do it before every 5 day cruise.

I also use it on cars and house and lawn furniture and the like. Nice tool.

We have the same unit (made in Germany, not the China model). It does a good job.
But, I usually use an RV hand held mop-brush dipped into a warm soap suds solution for deck and side board cleaning. The cleaning takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours with the brush. The RV mop brush doesnt damage decals, caulking, etc. Sometimes I use a little liquid "car wax" in the suds solution.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:24 am

Ive looked unsuccessfully for a combined air compressor and pressure washer system - always seemed redundant to be buying both.

Does anyone know if you can buy a tool that would attach to a reasonable size compressor and get the equivalent of a 2000-3000 psi gas engine powered pressure washer???

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:03 am

Here's one I found at Lowe's, think this would work?

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=p ... lpage=none

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:25 am

Its about twice the size/capacity of my electric, Steve, so it will do the job...

Robert · Post by **Robert** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:32 pm

It is a good idea when storing your gasoline powered toys to get the carburetor(s) empty so the fuel does not dry there. If the engine comes with a fuel cutoff valve turn off the fuel and run it dry.
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It is also nice if there is a tiny inline fuel filter. If there is a hose between the fuel tank and engine long enough you may be able to add these for very little cost.
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Some engines have a fuel pump but many rely on gravity feed, so if the hose goes all downhill and you add stuff to it, make sure gravity feed will still work.

jasper · Post by **jasper** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 3:03 am

It is interesting you mention about the addition of a fuel filter. My snowblower after warmed up, had a habid of quitting on me. I had to re-start using the choke. A small-engine mechanic advised I add an extra fuel filter in the line to reduce ?turbidity. I did so and never had a problem after with the engine faltering or stopping.

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

Pressure Washers and Macs

Pressure Washers and Macs

Not what pressure, HP = cleaning speed

Shop for the parts online then look local

Check that it has a fuel cutoff valve, or at least a place