Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hi guys. It's been a wet and hot summer on the northern border. Thus my 3 rather large tubes have turned green while sitting at my dock. They now have a beard about an inch long

In past years, I have experimented with numerous ways to clean my tubes, both in and out of the water. These include acid washing or pressure washing (on the trailer), manual scrubbing or power scrubbing (in the water).
Currently the best 'in water' scrubber that I have used is the Black and Decker Scumbuster Xtreme. It is discontinued but still available. Rechargeable and fully submersible. It still takes some work to do the job.
Here's a listing for it https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V ... UTF8&psc=1. I usually put onto a beach to use it so that I have some leverage.

I was wondering if anyone has found anything better? I looked at a nice 12VDC scrubber that has a long cord but was spendy at around $200. There also was an Australian 'wand' thingy that manually did a single tube from the dock. I contacted the guy and he said it was only good for round tubes without strakes, so no go there either.

I have been working on an invention for this over the last couple of years with disastrous results during testing

Surely someone has a solution?

I just use the large green ScotchBrite scrubby pads they are 6" x 9" and with two people in the water might take 10 to 15 minute per toon.

A boat lift. Problem solved . ( Sorry, I couldn't resist)

I too believe into keeping boats out of the water and weather--dry storage, boathouse, lifts, trailers.

But you can keep a bunch of Scotchbrite pads on the boat. Before you go out, preferably every 2 weeks or so, assign one Scotchbrite to everyone that goes to the lake with you. It will just take a few minutes to knock off the light green on the hull.

Don't wait a whole year to clean the hull because it's going to be a tough job at that point. I've got a 1985 model Starcraft pontoon that has a hull that still looks like brand new.

teecro wrote:with two people in the water might take 10 to 15 per toon.

10 to 15 pads per toon or 10 to 15 minutes per toon?

I first use some plastic non-stick pan scrubbers to get the growth off as suggested by someone else on this forum. Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/Fox-Run-Pot-Scra ... rs+plastic

I then follow-up with grey 3M Scotch brite pads....I found the green ones to be too abrasive. Grey pads get the job done without leaving scratches and get rid of all of the dullness above the water line. My tubes look great for being in the water all summer.

Using these two items, I can completely clean both of my tubes in less than 15 minutes all by myself while the boat is beached.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-7446-Blending ... +pads+gray

sunedog wrote:

teecro wrote:with two people in the water might take 10 to 15 per toon.

10 to 15 pads per toon or 10 to 15 minutes per toon?

Minutes....

Well thanks for the advice guys. However:
1. I am approaching 60 and not the healthiest. Neither are my passengers. Manual group or solo scrubbing is out.
2. My marina has no bottom. It is basically muskeg (loon sh##). Boatlifts are out. SeaLegs are out. A 'float lift' might be an option.

Surely SOMEONE has found a better way.

The pain is real. The search continues....

tuned wrote:Well thanks for the advice guys. However:
1. I am approaching 60 and not the healthiest. Neither are my passengers. Manual group or solo scrubbing is out.
2. My marina has no bottom. It is basically muskeg (loon sh##). Boatlifts are out. SeaLegs are out. A 'float lift' might be an option.

Surely SOMEONE has found a better way.

The pain is real. The search continues....

So what your saying is that your unable to float in the water with either or both a water-saddle or life-jacket and wave your arms for a few minutes per side?

teecro wrote:

tuned wrote:Well thanks for the advice guys. However:
1. I am approaching 60 and not the healthiest. Neither are my passengers. Manual group or solo scrubbing is out.
2. My marina has no bottom. It is basically muskeg (loon sh##). Boatlifts are out. SeaLegs are out. A 'float lift' might be an option.

Surely SOMEONE has found a better way.

The pain is real. The search continues....

So what your saying is that your unable to float in the water with either or both a water-saddle or life-jacket and wave your arms for a few minutes per side?

THAT is exactly what I'm saying. I have more major medical issues than I can count at the moment. I just choose not to publish too much about it. You have the sound of someone that is young and tough. I once was young and tough. Things change tho. I hope you don't go through the same.

tuned wrote:... THAT is exactly what I'm saying. I have more major medical issues than I can count at the moment. I just choose not to publish too much about it. You have the sound of someone that is young and tough. I once was young and tough. Things change tho. I hope you don't go through the same.

Yes in my early 50's nowhere near as tough as I once was... Hope you find both solutions and health...

teecro wrote:
Yes in my early 50's nowhere near as tough as I once was... Hope you find both solutions and health...

Thanks man. Even in my early 50s I was ten feet tall and bulletproof. Building boat(s). Amazing how fast shite can turn. I can't help but feel that there is a huge market for a reduced-effort hull cleaner. There's a lot of older people running toons and runabouts alike.

tuned wrote:

teecro wrote:
Yes in my early 50's nowhere near as tough as I once was... Hope you find both solutions and health...

Thanks man. Even in my early 50s I was ten feet tall and bulletproof. Building boat(s). Amazing how fast shite can turn. I can't help but feel that there is a huge market for a reduced-effort hull cleaner. There's a lot of older people running toons and runabouts alike.

Yeah all the older retired folks in our HOA's marina have floating lifts for their boats... Not something I can afford at this time thus I keep my boat wet 365 I'm relegated to an annual haul-out with pressure wash with a couple gallons of alum brightener to make quick of it. And scrubbing the toons clean every couple of months whilst enjoying a float and drink....