boat was vs. dish soap

[sikz3]

I have been using dish soap to wash the boat, but I recently bought boat wash but it does'nt get really sudsy like dish soap. Is there an advantage to using boat wash other than it's environmentally safer. (I was boat at home on trailer not in the water) Thanks

 

[grahamh]

Re: boat was vs. dish soap

I think dish soap is too harsh to use, it takes off any wax that might be on the boat. Boat wash cleans the boat without taking the wax off.

 

[180Fisherman]

Re: boat was vs. dish soap

Dish soap, in addition to being a detergent, is also a degreaser. It will clean your boat much better than a boat or auto soap but like has already been said, don't bother waxing your boat cause it'll take it right off.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: boat was vs. dish soap

Agreed with the above. It will get it cleaner, but it will strip the wax off of it. Boat wash and car wash solutions are not as abrasive and clean the surface without stripping the wax.

 

[sikz3]

Re: boat was vs. dish soap

So I guess I will just wash it one last time with dish soap then give a hand wax afterwords, then in the future only use car or boat wash right?

 

[cbavier]

Re: boat was vs. dish soap

right.

 

[coolbikeguy]

Re: boat was vs. dish soap

if it starts to get to cruddy through out the season give her a good dish soap bath and a fresh wax. no biggy. i know these days everybody is busy with family work kids etc and the last thing you want to do is wax a boat but its not like you have to use dish soap each time. maybe do it 1/2 way through the season and the final wash of the year. that was she has a good coat of wax for the winter. cbg

 

[henrye718]

Re: boat was vs. dish soap

You know I have been using this Rain-x windshield washer fluid. If you have ever tried Rain-X and watch how the water beads after use it is amazing. The washer fluid works pretty much the same without the work of applying it like wax, the water still beads off like crazy. Im thinking this is a really good boat wash since its like spraying on a wax that you dont have to wipe off, just use it like soap and your done.

 

[tboltmike]

Re: boat was vs. dish soap

You know I have been using this Rain-x windshield washer fluid. If you have ever tried Rain-X and watch how the water beads after use it is amazing. The washer fluid works pretty much the same without the work of applying it like wax, the water still beads off like crazy. Im thinking this is a really good boat wash since its like spraying on a wax that you dont have to wipe off, just use it like soap and your done.

What about the UV protection of Rain-X?

 

[puddleboater]

Re: boat was vs. dish soap

Sorry to rain on everyone's parade. I use dish soap to wash all of my previous boats every time. The last boat I owned for twelve years and it didn't look any worse than newer boats. Add to that, that boat was used exclusively in saltwater. If anything, sun exposure did more damage to the gelcoat than did the dish soap. The bottom part of the hull, which was not exposed to sunshine, still looked glossy and brand new like the day it came off the dealership.

Whether you use dish soap or boat/car soap, it's still a good idea to wax your hull at least once a year to protect it from UV damage/oxidation.

Just my .02.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: boat was vs. dish soap

not sure what makes you think that if you wash with boat wash rather than dish soap you aren't taking the wax off at all. lots of the boat washes bead water after because they have silicone in them... they also have surfactants and detergents much like dish soap. aothough not all dish soaps are created equal...

I've pretty much never used anything but dish soap on (joy works just fine) boats, motorcycles from custom harleys to fast jap bikes, cars, trucks, etc, etc, etc... there's no substitute for doing a good job with polish and wax as needed as well. if you don't have even a mild degreaser in the detergent, it doesn't take the dirt off either...

 

[henrye718]

Re: boat was vs. dish soap

What about the UV protection of Rain-X?

Not really a replacment for waxing just a wash\lubricant to keep everything from sticking and staining, so next time you wash everything comes off with just a quick wipe and a rinse.