Cleaning the kayak after a trip

So, after my recent trip, I just simply rinsed the kayak down with freshwater and wiped it down with a cloth.  Just curious, what do you guys do to clean it a little more in the areas with dirt/grime/fish blood?  Just use some type of soap?

I'm a slob when it comes to my boats-- but i figure they have a five year lifespan anyway-- I rinse (maybe), and if it was really wet day (surf, slop), then rinse with salt away, and maybe maybe use a rag to scrub away the blood

On any trip that isn't 30 minutes or less from home, I stop by a car wash place.

I dump all my gear on the ground, and loosen up all the straps on the kayaks.  I use the carwash sprayer to spray down the kayaks, usually getting my GF or fishing buddy to hold them up on one side.  If it's really cold I'll hold the boats and let her rinse.  (we keep our drysuits on and rinse them off as well.

After the yaks get rinsed we rinse off all the gear.  Usually takes 4-6 minutes.  It might cost a couple bucks, but it's worth it to keep $4000 worth of equipment in good condition.

If I'm at a campground I do the same thing, but with whatever fresh water source is available.

We're meant to clean them??

 

I hose them down while rinsing the salt water off the rest of my gear...sometimes...I have some serious blood and guts stains on both...most of the scales usually get blown off by the wind on the ride home....

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

well, it didn't get that dirty from my recent trip other than some fish blood.  but I bought it used and it was a little dirty in some areas, so I've been wanting to give it a good wash anyways. 

So after some searching on the forums, I found an older thread where people mention soap and water, and someone mentioning a drill and toilet brush...haha.  Has anyone here tried using car wash soap or would that not be recommended?

I hose them down while rinsing the salt water off the rest of my gear...sometimes...I have some serious blood and guts stains on both...most of the scales usually get blown off by the wind on the ride home....

+1   

...and if I go to the river only about 1/2 the gear needs washing, if that...

 

  I give my OB a cold shower, with dish soap, then towel dry her. After that, I give her a spray & wipe of 303 protectant.

  After some surf perchin, I use a 5 gal bucket filled with fresh water, dunk the entire reel (reel removed) in the bucket and let set for 5-10 min, flush it out pretty good, then spray the reel down with a liberal coating of reelX.  I'll flush the crank part of the reel out with WD40.
  Waders, get the hose down, Boots get the 5 gal bucket flush treatment.

This is a big problem with those little unwanted clams.  I use 409. Then water. Then water again.  Then before I go I use water a third time. Don't wanna give the equivalent of river herpes to each stretch of water I fish.



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After Freshwater fishing:
Drain water from hull, quick spray all gear, dry outside.  Takes 20 minutes.

After saltwater fishing:
Rinse kayak inside and out, drain water inside hull; dip all gear into bucket of water one at a time briefly; and dry outside. Takes 40 minutes.

BLOOD ON YAK: NEVER CLEAN OFF!! It's good mojo.  Higher resale value with bloodstains on yak.

Peace 2 U

If you really want to clean a yak or boat (like its going up for sale).
Get the cheap liquid dishwasher soap with bleach paint it on the yak, let it stew for a while.
Then blast it off with a pressure washer or carwash sprayer, or whatever you have.
Repeat if needed then treat with plastic conditioner of your choice...

After Freshwater fishing:
Drain water from hull, quick spray all gear, dry outside.  Takes 20 minutes.

After saltwater fishing:
Rinse kayak inside and out, drain water inside hull; dip all gear into bucket of water one at a time briefly; and dry outside. Takes 40 minutes.

BLOOD ON YAK: NEVER CLEAN OFF!! It's good mojo.  Higher resale value with bloodstains on yak.

Peace 2 U

Funny you said that John. After my last salmon 14 I decided to rinse out the blood. Since I was only on the Ar I didn't do the 409 and water. Then i thought the dried cakes blood needed to go. Cleaned it off and didn't get another. 

Hmmmm


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Simple Green 100% strength.

Soak it with the hand pump spray, and keep it misted with water if doing this in the sun.
Allow to sit on the yak for 15mins. 
Rinse it really good. 

Leaves it super clean and smelling fresh!

there is a reason I bought a O.D. green Hobie  (can't tell it is dirty with that OD color), I don't think I have ever washed it since I got it new in 09.  not a good thing to wash the mojo off it!   

Clean em? Store old squid in the hatch. That way nobody will steal it.