Voyagers already using earth-friendly soaps?

To the editor: Tim Queeney’s recent Marine Tech Notes column on boat soaps was timely and interesting (“Boat soap and the environment,” July/Aug. 2007). However, I believe he may have missed the boat (so to speak) on this topic. Most boaters use proprietary boat soaps that are already low surfactant-ph neutral, products that are friendlier than the standby detergents that he spoke about in the article. Also not mentioned was the fact that detergents strip off expensive wax jobs and protective treatments along with the dirt, so unless you are going to re-wax or paint the boat, there is little reason to use these harsh products.

 

William Solberg sails a Tartan 3800 out of Marina del Rey, Calif.

By Ocean Navigator