Black spots and spiders

[rajhnsn]

Just came back from the boat this weekend and noticed black spots that looked like burn holes in the jell coat. I thought that the recent 4th of July fireworks were a little too close. There were also many spider webs on the outside of the boat also. After chasing down and killing a few hundred spiders I noticed that certain ones were leaving a black stain when they were smashed. The stain is very difficult to remove. Does anyone have experience with removing these spiders and the stains?

 

[Ross]

My choice is carpet cleaner concentrate, diluted and sprayed on and wiped off.

 

[Ron McCoy]

In the summer around the Solomons Island, the mayflys lay their eggs - they're tiny black spots. Some marine soap and water will cure the problem.

 

[rpwillia]

Dollar Store Orange Cleaner

Stuff does amazing stuff, is only $1.00 and smells really nice. Spray it on, let it sit for a few seconds, scrub lightly and rinse off.

 

[lfisher53]

Get some "Awesome" cleaner from the Dollar Tree store. Spray it on and the spider stains melt away. Good stuff.

 

[rajhnsn]

So spider stains are pretty common. I don't ever remember seeing them before.

 

[fifedog]

So spider stains are pretty common. I don't ever remember seeing them before.

Yup. Gottem too. Seems to be the year for those little gnatty,mayfly,whatever-they-ares. "Freckles" all over my cockpit area, perhaps from landing on the hot (it's been really hot here) fiberglass. Agree on marine soap and scrub brush, comes right off, with a bit more effort in corners. Wifey went to hose away a couple of spiders, to which I told her leave the "crew" alone.

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

Totall Awesom from Dollar General will melt them right off. Spray it on, leave if for a minute and then rinse off with water. If any remain, repeat and they will be gone.

 

[Merlin Clark]

Get some "Awesome" cleaner from the Dollar Tree store. Spray it on and the spider stains melt away. Good stuff.

Do you know if this stuff is safe for painted surfaces?

 

[wflowe2]

I use the awesome stuff too. It's only a dollar so what have you got to lose. Works great unless you dilute it like the instructions say. I use it full strength from the spray bottle.

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

I use it on my Hunter 356 with no ill effects. Cost $1 with spray bottle. For $2 more, you get a large bottle without the spray and use it to refill the spray bottle. No scrubbing needed for bird droppings and spider droppings.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Another vote for "Awesome"...

gets the "spider poop" off easily if you let it soak for a few minutes and then hit it with a wet sponge then rinse. Doesn't affect gel coat or paint or Cetoled teak for that matter. Simple Green works, but not as well or as cheaply.

Spiders are a scourge on the Chesapeake!

 

[Steve Dion]

Dan:

Maybe your spiders are constipated on the east coast. When I use "Awesome" on our poo it melts it away in seconds.

 

[Deadhead]

Ditto on the Totally Awesome

I have used it for a couple of years now. Gel coat has not been affected but I make sure to use plenty of water to rinse it completely. In addition to spider scat the Totally Awesome works well on purple bird droppings.

I am on the Sassafras River and fight spiders on a daily basis. Bayer makes a home pest product in a blue gallon container that really works well to keep the spiders away. I spray along my toe rail & lifelines. Also on the zippers in the dodger & bimini. And I spray the dock and my dock lines to minimize the possibility of parachutists coming aboard.

But I still keep a spider wand close at hand to collect the really tough SOB's who manage to run the gauntlet.

Regards.
DH

 

[Ross]

Re: Ditto on the Totally Awesome

Spiders come in on the wind. Some days my standing rigging is trailing gossimer fifteen feet long. When the light hits it it shines like the silk that it is.

 

[rajhnsn]

Thanks for all the ideas. Sounds like Awesome is the way to go. One benefit of the spiders may be that they are keeping the bugs to a minimum. We have not found any inside the boat yet either.

 

[tkanzler]

I've used Starbrite Spider & Bird Stain Remover from West Marine with great success. At $14 for a spray bottle, it better work well.

This thread has just saved me $13 for the recommendations for Totally
Awsome, just like that. :dance:

rajhnsn - thanks for starting this thread.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=10104&subdeptNum=10379&classNum=10381

 

[Merlin Clark]

After reading the reviews above, I asked and the Mrs picked up totally awesome orange. Is this the right stuff?
I used West Marine boat wash (that I got for free) over the weekend and it didn't seem to do much more than make the water sudsy. Didn't seem to clean as well as my usual Dawn dish washing liquid.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Steve D...

The Bay spiders are meat eaters, hence the more difficult clean up. Those Calif spiders are probably vegetarians...:dance:

 

[Dan Johnson]

DH...

I'll be at GYB Thursday--gas dock T-head. Stop by for a cold one!