Best little 110v pressure washer?

[Numbknots]

Say friends,

I am looking to purchase a good little 110v pressure washer for cleaning off the "green/black" stuff from the boat (down at the marina)

The Marina frowns on us using a big gas unit and it is a pain to haul around and hook up. I have seen ones made by and or distributed by

Sears, Toro, Karcher, and a few others. Seems it makes sense to have the kind that are on wheels and look similar to a upright vacuum?

Any real time experience??

Thanks,

Tim

[Randygh]

I purchased a Karcher gas engine pressure washer from Costco for Father's Day 2004. It is a small unit (3 hp I think), fairly quite and easily moved on its inflated tires. I really like the unit. I use it to wash down the boat after every outing. It is a wonderful pressure washer with 5 different nozzles and a soap siphon. I haven't used an electric washer but it may work as well as mine.

[Numbknots]

Randy,

Thanks, I have also a gas one. I need to be pretty discrete and quite as well as easy to put on the boat and move around. I have plenty of 110 AC and water.

Tim

[heymagic]

Tim, we have a Karcher 110v . Missy used to detail cars for a while and it worked very well for us. I think you should come borrow it and see if it will work for your needs. It just sits it the basement these days. If you like it they are available at Costco. If you don't we saved you some money !!

[Numbknots]

Gene,

Thanks for the offer. I will take you up on it. The one I was looking at was at costco. Seems it was about $150 give or take. I will likely be up between Christmas and newyears, would that be ok? (I will call first be fore heading up Oly way. You guys have a wonderful Christmas, I am so jazzed about selling the house, sure hope to be able to spend some more time boating!!

Tim

[SomeSailor]

I've seen some of the newer electrics that operate like paint sprayers and only energize on-demand. Would be great for a boat.

I always thought a bilge mounted HP pump would be a sweet add-on for a bigger boat. Rig the fittings to an accessable manifold above decks somewhere and all the noise would be in the bilge. A couple of 50' pressure hoses and you could wash the boat down and not make much noise at all.

[Numbknots]

SS,

Sharp minds think alike :argh I was thinking the same thing. I am looking into doing that and valving it into the "Saltwater pickup" for the anchor wash as well as tying it into the 'city water' pressure line. A small highpressure pump, doesn't draw more then my inverter would carry as well it could run off of shore power 110v? I have seen this (deck connection on large yachts, but not the schematic drawings.

Tim

[SomeSailor]

I've got a friend here in Everett that owns Everett Hydraulics. I'm sure he could build up any length of high pressure stainless you'd need. Run it alongside the hull from the engineroom to the outside somewhere in the gunnels. Just connect up and wash her down.

Man... think of the squirt gun you'd have too... :)

Ever take the nozzle off a 2600psi paint gun and shoot it across several back yards? :D

[SomeSailor]

Even better would be an engine driven pump... Bracket one up to a motor with an AC clutch on the front. No noise... no electricity...

How cool would that be? Just start a motor and wash her down... :)

http://www.generalpump.com/pwimages/2Plunger.gif

That pump is $299 (2200psi), probably cost ya a hundred more for the clutch, belt and brackets. :D

[Numbknots]

SS,

Perhaps an Air conditioning clutch could be adapted? I am not sure what size motor it would take? My 4.5gpm gas washer uses a 13hp Kohler motor???

I am liking the portablility of the little electric one with the low pressure siphon and detergent tank build in? Sears had the Karcher for $189, costco $160, haven't looked elsewhere yet.

Tim

[SomeSailor]

I'm not talking about a separate motor. Run it right off the main motor. An air conditioner clutch, some brackets and you're in there. These like 1800 RPM so you'd just have to know what RPM your motor idles at and pulley it accordingly. The clutch would only allow it to load when activated, so it would just sit there when not in use.

[bradvo]

Tim, I go a Karcher 110v at At Lowes for 99 bucks last month and it works great, Very small and it fits under the Brow stowage area just great. Great for cleaning the non skid on decks also. Has adjustable wand included.
Brad

[Numbknots]

Brad,

Thanks, I think I will take Gene up on checking his Karcher out next time up to the boat (between Christmas and New years). How is the furnace working out?

Merry Christmas,

Tim

PS: sold the house, so should free up a couple of boat units this spring :P Hope we can hook up during the boat show.

[Roel Jansen]

I too have a small electric Karcher, use it to clean the garden stones, works great and at my Marina they also day in day out use a Karcher for cleaning the boat boat bottoms! Karcher is the no 1 brand over here in Europe.

[Branch Office]

BOUGHT A KARCHER 110V FOUR YEARS AGO, STILL WORKS GREAT. IT WILL TAKE THE DECALS OFF YOUR BOAT SO BE CAREFUL. NICE THING IS YOU CAN ADD SOAP IN THE TANK.

[SomeSailor]

Cool... you got your login fixed... Welcome back :)

[Numbknots]

After checking out "Missey's" Karcher pressure washer a month or so ago I determined that the size was about right!

I ordered a Karcher K520m through Amazon $248 delivered.
http://karcher-usa.com/showproducts.php?op=view_prod&param1=23&param2=&param3=

Last week (during the summer) I took it up to the boat and hooked it up to dock water and 110 and it worked just great, not enough pressure to ruin stuff and the siphon worked good for distributing some (bio-degradable) of course?? soap and then rinsing it off. Well the boat is no longer green, now if I can find a "machine" that will wax it as easily???

The great thing is this unit with the retractable handle will fit in the Trunk, truck, lazarette, and is quite enough not to botter the neighbors, (plan on being able to use it to wash the car, cat, dog, and 4 wheeler as well

Thanks Gene for the demo!

Tim