Hot take: My old way of cleaning a hull was just dumb

Back when I started, my method for a big hull clean in Seattle was to just go down with a scraper and a brush and start scrubbing like a maniac. I'd be down there for like 4 hours, come up exhausted, and the boat captain would always say, 'You missed a spot.' It was a total mess. What changed was a job last fall on a 60-foot yacht. This old timer on the dock saw me gearing up and said, 'Kid, you're gonna wear yourself out. Start at the stern and work in strips, like mowing a lawn.' I tried it, and it cut my time in half. Now I use a grid pattern with a reference line, and I don't miss a single barnacle. Has anyone else had a simple tip that saved your butt on a basic job?

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blair6306mo ago

Wait, did you say you use a scraper on fiberglass?

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xena_jackson6mo ago

Metal scrapers are fine if you know what you're doing. Plastic blades just don't have the edge to get through tough buildup. You just need a light touch and keep the angle flat. People make it sound way more dangerous than it really is.

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linda3356mo ago

Read a forum post where someone said using a metal scraper can break the glass fibers and make a mess. They recommended using a plastic razor blade instead. Seems like the safer way to go.

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