Alright let's dive straight in. My aluminum fishing boat looked like hell after sitting dock-side all winter – stained, grimy, waterline crud, the works. Needed a serious scrub down. Went hunting online like everyone else, got lost in a sea of shiny promises from boat wash soaps. "Best in 2024!" they all screamed. Yeah, right.

The Grime & The Setup

First things first, I dragged the boat onto my driveway. Sun was beating down, perfect day for a messy job. Grabbed my pressure washer – an old workhorse, nothing fancy – a couple of big buckets, sponges, and soft-bristle brushes. I ain't risking scratches on the hull. Then I laid out the contenders I finally settled on ordering:

• The Big Name Brand Foam Cannon Liquid: Costs an arm and a leg, claims it clings forever and dissolves scum.
• That Purple Gel Everyone Talks About: Supposedly cuts through salt and oxidation like butter.
• The Cheap Concentrated Liquid: The no-nonsense option, simple ingredients.

Made three sections on the boat: bow, stern, mid-section. One for each soap. Gotta compare apples to apples under the same sun, right?

The Washdown Rumble

Started with the Foam Cannon Liquid. Pumped it into the cannon. Man, it foamed up real thick like shaving cream, looked impressive covering the bow. Let it sit like the instructions said, "dwell time" they call it. Hit it with the pressure washer. Some stuff came off easy, yeah, but the stubborn waterline stains? Nah. Needed a second hit and some serious elbow grease with a brush. Felt kinda... weak? For the price, expected more magic.

Next up, The Purple Gel. Squirted that thick gel right onto the stern section. Worked it in with a wet sponge. You could smell it working – strong chemical smell, made my eyes water a bit. Used gloves, thank god. After scrubbing, rinsed. Wow, the scum practically melted. That stern side started shining way faster than the bow. But damn, that smell lingered, and my hands felt weird even with gloves.

Finally, cracked open the Cheap Concentrate. Mixed a capful into a bucket of water. No fancy foam, just plain soapy water. Dumped it on the mid-section and attacked it with the same scrub brush. Figured I'd be there all day. Honestly? Shock. It cut through the surface grime almost as fast as the purple gel, and no harsh fumes. The tougher spots needed a bit more scrubbing, but it got there. Rinsed clean, no weird residue.

Results & My 2024 Pick

Left the boat wet in the sun to dry naturally – best way to see water spots or residue. Checked it an hour later:

• Foam Cannon Section: Cleanish, but a few faint stains remained. Shiny but... expensive shiny.
• Purple Gel Section: Shiniest spot on the whole boat! Seriously deep clean. But that smell stuck around near the drain plug.
• Cheap Concentrate Section: Clean as a whistle! Maybe not quite the same mirror shine as the purple stuff, but seriously good for pennies per wash. Zero weird smells, zero residue.

So what's the actual 2024 winner for this real-world scrub down? Not the one with the loudest marketing. The Cheap Concentrated Liquid took it home, hands down. It works damn well, costs next to nothing, doesn't gas you out, and rinses clean. For my dirty aluminum boat? That's the keeper. Purple gel was strong, yeah, but the fumes and cost? Hard pass for regular use. Save your cash and elbow grease for fishing, not washing.