Cleaning Toons in Water
Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner
Cleaning Toons in Water
I keep my boat in the water (no lift) from March-October. This time of year, the scum/algae starts to build-up and in the past, I just left it alone and let it flake off over the winter when I pulled it out. This build-up obviously affects performance (speed and fuel consumption) so since I have a new toon this year (purchased the new Southbay in March) I have decided to try to clean them while in the water. I am going to have to float and clean as we dont have anywhere to beach it and I really dont want to drag my trailer up to my camp and pull it out of the water.
So to make a long story short, any of you have advice on what to use? Plastic putty knife? Scrub brush? I dont think I should get agressive with brillo/steel wool pad so any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
So to make a long story short, any of you have advice on what to use? Plastic putty knife? Scrub brush? I dont think I should get agressive with brillo/steel wool pad so any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
SOLD - 2009 20' Bentley w/4 Stroke 90hp Mercury
SOLD - 2011 SouthBay 522CR w/115 4 Stroke Mercury
2014 Xcursion 23RF XS package w/150 4 Stroke Mercury
SOLD - 2011 SouthBay 522CR w/115 4 Stroke Mercury
2014 Xcursion 23RF XS package w/150 4 Stroke Mercury
Re: Cleaning Toons in Water
A big cat with a long tounge. Or a plastic scrapper pad.
2001 22' Tracker Regency (sold)
2001 Mercury 90 HP (sold)
Elm Grove, La
Lake Bistineau
2001 Mercury 90 HP (sold)
Elm Grove, La
Lake Bistineau
Re: Cleaning Toons in Water
My toon lives in the water 365. I use a plastic putty knife and then a brush. The brush helps get the areas along the seams and knocks the rest off that the knife left. I use a few noodles for floatation.
- lakerunner696
- Posts: 863
- Joined: Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:23 pm
- Location: Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma
Re: Cleaning Toons in Water
I recommend a short handled stiff brush, then scotchbrite pads. We don't keep in slip but still get a scum line. This is what we use very successfully.
PS tie a cord to handle in case it slips from grip
PS tie a cord to handle in case it slips from grip
Loyd, AKA Angry Ol Bastard & Betty Meeks
Beautiful Lake Tenkiller Oklahoma
2008 F150 Lariat Super Crew
2004 Tracker Regency, 2010 Evinrude E-Tec 90
Haul Rite trailer
God bless our country, God damn it's enemy's.
Beautiful Lake Tenkiller Oklahoma
2008 F150 Lariat Super Crew
2004 Tracker Regency, 2010 Evinrude E-Tec 90
Haul Rite trailer
God bless our country, God damn it's enemy's.
- badmoonrising
- Site Admin
- Posts: 10066
- Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 7:04 pm
- Location: Chesapeake City, Maryland
Re: Cleaning Toons in Water
If the build up is bad enough to affect performance, best way to prevent 99 percent of the build up is to use anti-fouling paint. Some people think anti-fouling is only for saltwater boats, that's a myth. The upper Chesapeake has low salinity in the spring and gets saltier during the summer, so we have issues with freshwater algae, saltwater (red) algae and then late summer, barnacles.
If it's not that bad, scrub every other week.
If it's not that bad, scrub every other week.
Ed, Cheryl, Ethan and Aspen.
2013 Sun Tracker Party Barge 22 w/90 HP Mercury, "Hellrhighwater 2"
2014 E-350 Extended XLT.
Chesapeake City ,MD
2013 Sun Tracker Party Barge 22 w/90 HP Mercury, "Hellrhighwater 2"
2014 E-350 Extended XLT.
Chesapeake City ,MD
Re: Cleaning Toons in Water
The best way to minimize toon scum is to take 10 minutes at the end of every boating day, and scrub the bathtub ring with a Scotchbrite pad.
You can use steel wool and abrasives, but they'll scratch the boat. Most serious cleaning products are muriatic acid based.
Now that you're behind the eight ball, I'd still stick with the Scotchbrite pad, a scrub brush and elbow grease. And, don't try to float around doing the job. Find some place you can get your feet on the ground (underwater), and it'll 1/3 as much work.
You can use steel wool and abrasives, but they'll scratch the boat. Most serious cleaning products are muriatic acid based.
Now that you're behind the eight ball, I'd still stick with the Scotchbrite pad, a scrub brush and elbow grease. And, don't try to float around doing the job. Find some place you can get your feet on the ground (underwater), and it'll 1/3 as much work.
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150
Re: Cleaning Toons in Water
Many thanks for the suggestions. I figure this is about a 7 beer job but work on the water is better than "fun" at the house.
SOLD - 2009 20' Bentley w/4 Stroke 90hp Mercury
SOLD - 2011 SouthBay 522CR w/115 4 Stroke Mercury
2014 Xcursion 23RF XS package w/150 4 Stroke Mercury
SOLD - 2011 SouthBay 522CR w/115 4 Stroke Mercury
2014 Xcursion 23RF XS package w/150 4 Stroke Mercury
-
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2011 1:19 pm
Re: Cleaning Toons in Water
If you want to take some of the drudgery out of the job you could consider a Motor Scrubber. Its a battery powered, 8" scrubber. The scrub head is completely submersible.
I use one for other cleaning tasks.
http://www.motorscrubbers.com/
I use one for other cleaning tasks.
http://www.motorscrubbers.com/
Gi-Gi 2001 Sweetwater Challenger 18'
40 hp Merc
2005 GMC Envoy
2011 Mid States Trailer
Austin Lake in SW Michigan
40 hp Merc
2005 GMC Envoy
2011 Mid States Trailer
Austin Lake in SW Michigan
- Ron Burgundy
- Posts: 3113
- Joined: Sun Aug 08, 2010 5:28 pm
- Location: New Port Richey, FL
Re: Cleaning Toons in Water
Are there any marina's nearby? I have one near me that recommends powerwashing your toons. I haven't tried it yet, but they say if you do it every 3-4 months it will keep them pretty clean. You will still need to do some light scrubbing in between trips.
-Ron Burgundy, "Stay Classy San Diego"
2005 Fiesta Fish n' Fun 20' 50HP Yamaha 2 Stroke
Fishing and Cruising Florida's Islands
The cure for anything is saltwater – sweat, tears, or the sea. Isak Dinesen
2005 Fiesta Fish n' Fun 20' 50HP Yamaha 2 Stroke
Fishing and Cruising Florida's Islands
The cure for anything is saltwater – sweat, tears, or the sea. Isak Dinesen
Re: Cleaning Toons in Water
I use a scrubber that works basically like a scotchbrite pad with a handle on it.
Similar to this:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_66469-1738-206_ ... facetInfo=
I keep a couple of these on the boat all the time. They're cheap and work pretty well. Ditto what was said above about doing your scrubbing in shallow water vs floating around.
Similar to this:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_66469-1738-206_ ... facetInfo=
I keep a couple of these on the boat all the time. They're cheap and work pretty well. Ditto what was said above about doing your scrubbing in shallow water vs floating around.
2011 South Bay 525CR
115 HP Yamaha
115 HP Yamaha
- thebiminibuddy
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Tue May 03, 2011 8:09 am
- Location: Kent Lake, MI
- Contact:
Re: Cleaning Toons in Water
I agree with lakerunner696
Simple and efficient.
![nana :nana](./images/smilies/nana.gif)
Re: Cleaning Toons in Water
I keep my barge in almost year round, and i use toakley's setup about every other month
playcat
Boatless for now
Never another I/O
Kerr Reservoir, VA
Boatless for now
Never another I/O
Kerr Reservoir, VA
Re: Cleaning Toons in Water
Thanks for the additional suggestions!
No marina nearby so this is going to be a floating job as I dont care to deal with my trailer. Some of you guys are mentioning "scum line" (which I also have) but this is the growth underneath the tubes. In Louisiana, the algae in the water grows faster than the grass in your yard. Then again, we can comfortably boat well into October and crank it up again in March so I can deal with the trade-off. If I had some of the yankee blood found on this forum running in my veins, I could easily boat year-round.
Will let you know how my project turns out.
No marina nearby so this is going to be a floating job as I dont care to deal with my trailer. Some of you guys are mentioning "scum line" (which I also have) but this is the growth underneath the tubes. In Louisiana, the algae in the water grows faster than the grass in your yard. Then again, we can comfortably boat well into October and crank it up again in March so I can deal with the trade-off. If I had some of the yankee blood found on this forum running in my veins, I could easily boat year-round.
Will let you know how my project turns out.
SOLD - 2009 20' Bentley w/4 Stroke 90hp Mercury
SOLD - 2011 SouthBay 522CR w/115 4 Stroke Mercury
2014 Xcursion 23RF XS package w/150 4 Stroke Mercury
SOLD - 2011 SouthBay 522CR w/115 4 Stroke Mercury
2014 Xcursion 23RF XS package w/150 4 Stroke Mercury
Re: Cleaning Toons in Water
Here's an update on my log cleaning project. Tried the two types of scrub brushes suggested and after a few minutes, I then tried this little gadget and it worked great:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... 3992211701
Finished the job in less than an hour. The pot scrubber took off the growth in no time with very little elbow grease needed (much less work than scrubbing). Being anal, I did followup with a quick scrub.
When I had my Bentley (with 50hp), I never cleaned the toons (just let the growth flake off when I pulled her out of the water each winter). You can sure see the difference with a 115hp pushing clean toons vs. a 50hp pushing clean toons. I didnt GPS the speed difference but I would be willing to bet that the growth effected performance by 25-30% (possibly more).
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... 3992211701
Finished the job in less than an hour. The pot scrubber took off the growth in no time with very little elbow grease needed (much less work than scrubbing). Being anal, I did followup with a quick scrub.
When I had my Bentley (with 50hp), I never cleaned the toons (just let the growth flake off when I pulled her out of the water each winter). You can sure see the difference with a 115hp pushing clean toons vs. a 50hp pushing clean toons. I didnt GPS the speed difference but I would be willing to bet that the growth effected performance by 25-30% (possibly more).
SOLD - 2009 20' Bentley w/4 Stroke 90hp Mercury
SOLD - 2011 SouthBay 522CR w/115 4 Stroke Mercury
2014 Xcursion 23RF XS package w/150 4 Stroke Mercury
SOLD - 2011 SouthBay 522CR w/115 4 Stroke Mercury
2014 Xcursion 23RF XS package w/150 4 Stroke Mercury
- Ron Burgundy
- Posts: 3113
- Joined: Sun Aug 08, 2010 5:28 pm
- Location: New Port Richey, FL
Re: Cleaning Toons in Water
Good to hear about the improved performance. Have you ever considered antifouling paint?
-Ron Burgundy, "Stay Classy San Diego"
2005 Fiesta Fish n' Fun 20' 50HP Yamaha 2 Stroke
Fishing and Cruising Florida's Islands
The cure for anything is saltwater – sweat, tears, or the sea. Isak Dinesen
2005 Fiesta Fish n' Fun 20' 50HP Yamaha 2 Stroke
Fishing and Cruising Florida's Islands
The cure for anything is saltwater – sweat, tears, or the sea. Isak Dinesen