Clean and Clear Mastering the Main Steps for Boat Dock Perfection
Apart from the appealing sight of a clean boat dock, its durability also matters a lot. Cleaning boat docks is a highly important thing to do because since they’re made out of wood, they can easily deteriorate. If you follow all the necessary steps to clean boat docks properly, then you might never have to deal with any problems.
Boat dock maintenance is crucial for a boat owner. As much as you take care of your boat, you need to have a solid and clean boat dock where your boat will rest when not in use. There are a couple of ways to clean your boat docks. Pressure washing is one of the most commonly used. Here are some of the techniques and tips that we recommend you use to properly clean and maintain your boat docks.
Pressure Washing
Some professional cleaners may suggest different cleaning methods depending on the material of their vessel. Pressure-treated wood will give your setup a clean and appealing look. While using pressure washing, there isn’t much work to do besides thoroughly cleaning all the important parts with pressurized water.
However, some softwood docks need to be carefully cleaned because a lot of pressure can harm the lumber. The work should therefore be carefully undertaken to avoid splitting or harming any wood surface. Cleaning pressure-treated lumber requires using the appropriate cleaning products that will not cause harm to the environment as done with stiff brushing.
Avoid Products that Have Ammonia and Phosphorus
Some lakes across the US have been observing the presence and impact of chemicals in the water. Ammonia and phosphorus cause some serious concerns, but they also appear on most household cleaning supplies every day. It is commonly found in dishwasher detergents and other household cleaning products.
When too little ammonia is absorbed into the water, the health risk is increased. The latter could result in algae blooms if oxygen is reduced in water. There are no negative effects of using detergents with these ingredients on your dock, but they can have serious effects on the environment. Most professional dock cleaning companies keep this into account so they are not violating any natural laws.
Inspect Your Dock Before You Start Cleaning
Before you begin the task, inspect the dock thoroughly. Observe any rotting boards sticking up and any problems with stability in your dock. You should replace the boards and repair them before you clean them. Also inspect any deckings, steps, or other accessory items on the dock carefully. Please take care of all the repairs that must be done before cleaning.
Sometimes, nails sticking out of the wooden panels can fly away during the pressure washing process. That can not only cause injuries to you or others but can also cost you a new wooden panel to install later on.
How Do I Clean a Boat Dock?
The cleaning process is easy for boaters. Instead of using hard water or cleaning tools on the dock, you can take a pressure washing off your boat dock. It is an effective cleaning solution using cleaning products safe for the environment.
Pressure Wash Your Boat Dock
Once the surface of the dock has been prepped, it will be ready for washing. Use a setting from 750 to 900 PSI for delicate material. You need to also use wider nozzles at 45 degrees and 60 degrees to prevent any damage.
In the case of durable materials such as composites and concrete, however, the pressure of water can be applied for eliminating unwanted substances from the surface. It is possible to use a 10-inch nozzle to clean the boat dock. Whatever the materials you use, be careful about it all. Pressure washing can lead to injury if used incorrectly.
Conduct a Pre-Inspection
Before cleaning your vessel dock, check out everything in the vicinity. Make sure the board is free and rippling from any cracks, dents, or scratches. The lumber must be treated as soon as possible to keep the water from absorbing and causing additional damage.
A primary inspection will help determine the appropriate pressure-washing technique and attachment. Typically softer washing is better for boat docking containing softwoods. Wood, composites, and concrete are tough and resistant to higher pressures hence, high pressure can be used on them.
Apply an Eco-Friendly Cleaning Solution
A boat dock cleaning kit can get rid of all that grime from your boat dock. What makes pressure washing useful in this situation is that there’s an easy-to-clean and safe soap for your cleaning. Commercially available cleaning solutions do not contain toxic chemicals such as ammonia or phthalates that cause water pollution or harm aquatic animals. Pressure washer manufacturers use patented cleaning products for their work environment.
Use a Brush or a Scrubber to Clean the Surface
The docks are usually cleaned manually or with a scrub attachment depending on their condition. It provides a perfect complement to Soft washing because you use less sprayed water.
Damaging Factors for Your Boat Dock
Where there is a boat dock, there is water. That’s very obvious. The condition of the water is in surrounding your boat dock matters a lot. If you live someplace where there are reported cases of acidic rain or chemical residues in the water streams, then the lifespan of your boat dock will be affected.
So, the first thing we have to do is identify the negative forces affecting the waterways and their properties and determine what causes them to have a shortened lifespan or become unsafe in general to that extent.
Weather and Climate
Even in normal weather outside, it can affect the life of docks. All small dock components are rusting with time. The worst scenario is corrosion and erosion. Aside from storms, we should be careful with our storm forecast. They may even be smashed severely at beaches where a dock is situated nearby. The docks also suffer a typical decline. This occurs with all types of materials used for dock construction or docks and posts.
Water and Marine Forces
Just releasing water will only degrade boat piles and piers. It is mainly a concrete pile that does not always work, especially on residential buildings. Almost everything in a seabed impacts the lifespan of an individual dock from plankton to crustaceans. Typically these living beings do nothing to docks or bridges. But are a danger to people or equipment who might accidentally get in.
Repairing a Dock
Docks must be treated as a kind of treatment for your water-sport gear and they should also be maintained. It is necessary to constantly repair or replace its parts to keep it safe.
Wood Panels
This problem should not be fixed using carpet. Use a plastic splint to remove holes or splits. If a nail or screw comes back during a test, determine whether a replacement of the board is required if necessary. It’s just vanity statistics because hardware loosens in isolation or with changing weather. Therefore maintenance needs to be done at least whenever possible, not just when something breaks apart.
Sealing
Docks constructed from wood are particularly prone to sunlight, moisture, or changing temperatures. Therefore, we strongly suggest you use treated lumber. Once you have completed all the steps of cleaning, apply a sealant.
Conclusion
Cleaning docks is as important as keeping your boats in good condition. If you care about the durability of your boat docks, then you should certainly consider regular cleaning. A regular cleaning routine will also allow you to discover problems in the boat dock if any. Loose boards and screws sticking out can be fixed by yourself or by a professional dock repairing company. The dock contributes significantly to the smooth operation of Watersports, Tours, and rental facilities in the region. It alone can help attract visitors who can help attract more families with children into the watersport industry. This makes it an absolutely good decision to clean your boat docks regularly.
FootHills Dock & Lift Repair offers a variety of boat and boat lift maintenance services. With the winter season approaching, you can rely on our services as we can effectively help you winterize your boat. We guarantee that your boat will retain its original condition after the season ends. We also provide lift removal, dock resurfacing, boat and dock maintenance, dock cleaning, and others. Contact us today and book an appointment!
