Any other hull cleaners?

[Justin_NSA]

I've tried Star brite Instant Hull Cleaner on the brown stains between the bottom paint and boot stripe and it doesn't faze it. Any other products that will get it clean? Their EZ On EZ Off seems too harsh. I was hoping get it clean before I painted the bottom. Now I'll have to mask it good so as not to stain my new paint. For some reason, it's only along the port side. The starboard side is almost entirely clean.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Just plain Oxalic Acid, mixed in water. That's what the "hull cleaner" is, but more costly. I carry Savogran Wood bleach, which is Oxalic Acid Crystals. Works a treat. I've done the entire ICW several times. We call it the ICW` frown

Sold in hardware stores as "wood Bleach"

 

[Mark Maulden]

Try some FSR..fiberglass stain remover...basically gelled oxalic acid.

 

[Joe]

An acid based toilet bowl cleaner will handle the algae scum.

 

[Rich Stidger]

There is a marine product called "Slimy Grimy" that works extremely well. Pricier than the above mentioned generic products, but works faster and more completely. About $25 for a container that will make 5 gallons of working solution. But I also use just plain oxalic acid crystals too.

 

[Kermit]

For some reason, it's only along the port side. The starboard side is almost entirely clean.

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[Justin_NSA]

Thanks guys, you gave me some ideas. I should be able to find something local.

 

[Siamese]

Or, if you run across a product called Zing. I got mine at our local marine supply. It's another acid product that gets applied with a soft brush. stays on for under a minute, and gets rinsed off. I've used it for several years with good results.

 

[Pat]

Hi Justin...on our boat across from you it is our Starboard side that is the worst.(sun angle)..someone said to get it off with pool cleaner i.e. muriatic acid using a paint brush, give it a minute or so to do it's deal, then rinse off...I'm not certain of the
environmental issues...I do it on concrete where it can evaporate vs. leaching into soil or ending up in the water.

 

[deltaten]

Or........

It *could* be th. the brown frown has embedded itself into the gel. Mine has differing amount on opposite sides. Suppose it's fromdock-side vs. bay side?
Mine is NOT coming off; regardless of acid/solvent. When cleaning up last season, I sanded the brown and discovered it ran quite deep; meb. .040"have up, as I didn't wanna go all the way thru just to see how far. I'll just live with it.

 

[bobtigar]

Toilet bowl cleaner works great...BUT, if you waterline stripe is painted on, it will probably remove it.
Try this. Spray on lemon juice, let it set for 24 hours and wash off. Works like a charm, its cheap, its mild and not bad for the environment. Bob

 

[Justin_NSA]

Hi all. Thanks for all of the tips! I went out to the boat with some Ace Hardware Toilet Bowl cleaner and it worked like a charm. Label says it is 8% hydrochloric acid. I made sure I rinsed it off good after. It's a blue gel so it didn't run onto my new bottom paint either. It cleaned up the white hard water on my dark blue boot stripe and removed the dark brown scum on the white fiberglass. Next step is to polish the hull before it goes back in the water. The deck I can do in the slip.
Pat, I think you are right. This boat was kept in the slip at Perry Lake with the port side facing south.

 

[Kermit]

Hi all. Thanks for all of the tips! I went out to the boat with some Ace Hardware Toilet Bowl cleaner and it worked like a charm. Label says it is 8% hydrochloric acid. I made sure I rinsed it off good after. It's a blue gel so it didn't run onto my new bottom paint either. It cleaned up the white hard water on my dark blue boot stripe and removed the dark brown scum on the white fiberglass. Next step is to polish the hull before it goes back in the water. The deck I can do in the slip.
Pat, I think you are right. This boat was kept in the slip at Perry Lake with the port side facing south.

Just make sure you flush twice.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Here are some pics of the before and after. After seeing how much hard water staining came out of the blue stripe, I'm going to do a total acid wash on the hull before polising. I'm doing this bass ackwards. I should have done the wash before I painted the bottom. I'll have to tape on some plastic 'curtain' to protect the paint and trailer.

 

[Roland5048]

I use a product called 'Gel Gloss' for light stains. It's a liquid cleaner/wax. Non abrasive. Comes in a pink, quart can at Home Depot. Works well on stainless, also.