Spring cleaning and waxing

[FourPoints]

I went through the whole Patent Pending Maine Sail polish process on my hull last year. Very pleased with the results, now it's time to plan for the first season of maintenance following all the hard work. I read through the year 2 link from last year (http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=117227), but had some questions and wanted to get some specific feedback on a few things you can see on my hull. I took some pictures last weekend of how the hull looks after nearly 1 year.

If you look at the pictures you can see a spot that looks like rust, and a spot that looks really cloudy. I've got a half dozen or more spots like these around the boat. Also, there is a bunch of dark streaks where water runs off the deck and down the hull.

1) What can I do to clean these unsightly blemishes up
2) before waxing this year, what should I use to clean the rest of the hull
3) should I really re-finesse the hull, wouldn't that remove any remaining wax and leave me back at bare gel coat?

 

[r.oril]

Mobile Detail Svc

I have though of having a mobile detail service do my boat this year. I can have them work on the boat right outside of my office where I can watch them. At 69 it is a bit of a workout and hard on the Aspirin Bottle, LOL.
Good or Bad Idea?

 

[bobtigar]

I believe what you have is what we call in S Fl the Inner Coastal Smile. Its caused from the impurities in the water that stain the hull along the waterline. You can remove it with toilet bowl cleaner.

Put on rubber gloves and old clothes. Apply the tb cleaner to a rag and rub off the stains. Very easy..usually only 1 swipe. CAUTION...do not allow the cleaner near painted surfaces. When you are finished rince thoroughly. Bob

 

[Ken Palmer]

Blemishes like the rust and deck run-off stains will show right through the wax. Better to address them before you wax. I have never tried the toilet bowl cleaner, but have never had rust while sailing Lake Ontario. I do have the dark run-off stains and use a product from Poli Glow called Clenz All. I just checked their web site and didn't see it listed any more. I am sure there are other products folks will suggest.

 

[Amos Cape]

I used acetone and Lacquer thinner to remove the stains from the hull and deck. I did have areas( bilge discharge) that I used a blade to remove water stain. Then I did Maine Sail polish process on my hull. It looks like a almost new hull and deck know.

 

[Rich Stidger]

The brown water stains can be removed with pretty much anything that has oxalic acid. Toilet bowl cleaner, lime and rust removal products, etc. There is a product called "Slimy Grimy" that is sold to the marine community that is particularily effective. But all of the oxalic acid products that I have tried work.

Home Depot has a product called "Rust Away" (I think that is the name), and it is a powder that when mixed with hot water and sprayed on the stain, the stain just melts away. No rub, no scrub. Sometimes a second application is required. It couldn't be easier.

 

[FourPoints]

what impact does using any of these products have on the gelcoat / remaining wax? I did the entire process last season, and 3 coats of wax on the hull before launching. If I use some soapy water to clean the dirt off hull, the water still beads, indicating I still have a good base of wax.

How would the rust stain get to the hull, through the wax?

 

[Rich Stidger]

The oxalic acid appears to have no impact on the gelcoat- I've used it for years. As for the remaining wax, I don;t have a definate answer. However, since this stain is down at the water line I suspect that there isn't a lot of wax left there after a season of sailing.

I also don't know if the stain is on top of the wax or on the gelcoat. I am imagining that the wax is not a total barrier-type of coating, but that it has a lot of small gaps in it. In any event, I would expect that you would need at least some touch-up of wax this season.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

I don't really have much to add to this discussion except that wax doesn't last anywhere near as long as some have implied here and certainly any strong detergent, acetone or polishing compound will remove any traces remaining. The appearance of water beading is indicative of a relatively clean surface, not wax residue. If you are in doubt, drop some water on any smooth unwaxed clean surface and observe the surface tension effect.

 

[Maine Sail]

You can wash the hull with Black Streak Remover and use On/Off Gel on the rust/tannin stains and you'll be ready for polishing.

I like the gel because it stays in place and does not drip down onto your bottom paint nearly as bad as a straight liquid does.

 

[bkuether]

Before going crazy with the chemicals....

I took a couple of the Mr Clean magic erasers to my hull and deck this spring and can't believe how much it will take off. I had a brownish scum line, that I normally apply the oxalic acid to, and the magic eraser was able to get it out. Also on areas where normally I need cleaner wax to get the gel coat clean, the magic eraser was able to remove most of that dirt too.

If you want to try them, understand they do start coming apart pretty quickly under scrubbing pressure. I buy them in the box of 4. Buy the "Heavy Duty" ones, the regular ones disintegrate pretty quickly.

Also remember the 5 step rule. Find the questionable spot, and take 5 steps back. If you can't see it, no one else can either.

 

[FourPoints]

You can wash the hull with Black Streak Remover and use On/Off Gel on the rust/tannin stains and you'll be ready for polishing.

I like the gel because it stays in place and does not drip down onto your bottom paint nearly as bad as a straight liquid does.

To make sure I'm understanding correctly, Once I use the On/Off Gel, Black Streak Remover, or Magic Erasers, I'll need to re-polish the the hull with Finesse-IT, or should I just go straight to re-waxing?

 

[robertsapp]

Magic Erasers are great, but be aware that they're made of melamine foam, and are abrasive. What you are doing when you "clean" with a magic eraser is sanding the surface with a very fine grit abrasive. If it's OK to sand the surface, then go for it. If you wouldn't take buffing compound to it, leave the Magic Eraser in the drawer.

 

[Tereza]

What effect do all these products have on our waterways?

Since I have just a tiny (14'5) hull, it's a bit easier perhaps for me to be green...I try a reasonable combination of low-impact products and ease of use. Magic Eraser seems to be pretty low impact, though it IS an abrasive, so you'll probably need to wax over it.

Aah..though the water in the birdbath outside is still frozen at the moment, thoughts ARE turning to spring and prepping for sailing season!!

 

[FourPoints]

What effect do all these products have on our waterways?

Since I have just a tiny (14'5) hull, it's a bit easier perhaps for me to be green...I try a reasonable combination of low-impact products and ease of use. Magic Eraser seems to be pretty low impact, though it IS an abrasive, so you'll probably need to wax over it.

Aah..though the water in the birdbath outside is still frozen at the moment, thoughts ARE turning to spring and prepping for sailing season!!

I'm sure the cleaning and waxing products have far less of an impact than spilled fuel, bilge contaminants pumped out, bottom paint (both on the hull, and when removed), and engine exhaust have... And that's not even talking about motor boats!

Depending on what part of Candlewood you are on, you're only about an hour north of me, so I'm guessing the weather isn't much different for you, I want the 50+ degree weather back we had not to long ago, it was 28 this morning! I've got a long list of projects planned for this weekend, I hope the weather cooperates...

 

[william24424]

From Maine Sails thread

Followed the process. Pleased with results.

 

[shemandr]

Does anyone have a suggestion for cleaning the hull prior to waxing when there is no water available?
I have been using, (Avert your eyes, MS), 1 step cleaner- polisher, to clean my hull. I will not have access to a hose for quite some time - maybe until after lauch. I would like to try the Collinite this year, as Rx'ed, but do not want to apply it to a dirty hull.
Is there an alternative to hauling buckets?

 

[alexco38]

A boat prep contractor came to our yard with a 50 gallon drum of water and an 12v pump on a pickup truck. Good idea.

 

[FourPoints]

Does anyone have a suggestion for cleaning the hull prior to waxing when there is no water available?
I have been using, (Avert your eyes, MS), 1 step cleaner- polisher, to clean my hull. I will not have access to a hose for quite some time - maybe until after lauch. I would like to try the Collinite this year, as Rx'ed, but do not want to apply it to a dirty hull.
Is there an alternative to hauling buckets?

buy a super soaker from walmart?

 

[islandjim]

Just finished cleaning the slim line off my boat. A spray on KABOOM and let it sit a few minutes, then poured CLR on a sponge and took it right off. I rinse with clean water as I use the CLR as it will leave a dirty looking section if allowed to dry at all. Next weekend it is polymer wax time with the buffer. A little touch up to the bottom and all I will need is the nicer weather.