Stihl RCA 20: New mobile pressure washer - clean decks even on the high seas

If you can't use your boat for several weeks, the first thing you usually have to deal with when you come on board is seagull scat, dust or sand on deck. This can be tackled with a brush and scrubbing brush - or in a much more relaxed way with a battery-powered pressure washer.

Stihl, a company based in Baden-Württemberg, has now unveiled such a device. The RCA 20 comes in a transport bag that already contains all the useful extras for sailors: the actual device, suction hose, lancet, interchangeable attachment with several spray nozzles, folding canister, two Stihl AS2 batteries and a charger (price: 229 euros, without batteries/charger 169 euros >> available here).

However, the cleaner can also be connected directly to the water hose via a Gardena coupling system. If you use the RCA 20 in this way, you can hose down the entire deck of a 36-foot yacht with one battery charge, provided it is not very dirty. To remove deeper-seated dirt or green algae, you need the second battery, which is also suitable for other Stihl tools, such as the KOA 20 compressor, which is suitable for inflating bicycle tyres or dinghies.

Stihl RCA also works with salt water

With a maximum pressure of 24 bar, cleaning is effortless; however, the spray area remains quite narrow even with the fan nozzle; if you want to make the best possible use of the jet, it measures only a hand span in width.

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The RCA 20 is particularly interesting because it also works away from the mains and even with salt water. To do this, simply lower the suction bell fitted with a microfilter on the supplied hose into the sea. After anchoring, for example, this allows you to remove mud from the ground anchor in no time at all. However, the pressure output is noticeably reduced because part of the available motor power has to be used to pump up the seawater. Power consumption also increases, so that in this mode both batteries are only sufficient for cleaning the cockpit.

The compact size of the pistol-shaped pressure washer, the solid workmanship and the flexible use make the Stihl RCA 20 nevertheless highly recommended.