I need some new information on cleaning the plastic gray rub rail(Hull - deck joint). The rail is resisting my efforts to clean it. In some previous posts Spray "9" was suggested. It does a pretty good job but their are still some persistant dark stains on it that remain. They were black but now they are faded somewhat after cleaning--but are still there. Regular boat soap won't even touch it. I tried Amazon mildew stain remover-no joy. Spray "9" better but still not good enough. The problem is I want to restore the rub rail to like new condition without hurting it. Sometimes cleaning plastic can degrade it if you use a solvent that is too strong. I would not enjoy trying to replace that entire rub rail if it became damaged. Would chlorine bleach hurt this? I know it can have a very bad effect on plastics. How about acetone? Does anyone know precisely what this rub rail is made of? If this were known it might lend itself to proper ways to clean and preserve. I am not happy with myself for letting this go so long. Please advise.
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Pete
rubbing compound
try some rubbing or polishing compound on the rub rail,use a sponge or green scrubbie depending upon how bad it is. After you clean it 3 m makes a product designeed for plastic and vinals that will keep it looking nice! Good Luck !
try some rubbing or polishing compound on the rub rail,use a sponge or green scrubbie depending upon how bad it is. After you clean it 3 m makes a product designeed for plastic and vinals that will keep it looking nice! Good Luck !
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S Cohen
Rub Rail
I cleaned the rub rail on my boat this weekend using Soft Scrub. This was recomended on this site before and I decided to try it. I had large black marks and they are all gone. The rub rail looks new. I wish I would have done it earlier in the season.
I cleaned the rub rail on my boat this weekend using Soft Scrub. This was recomended on this site before and I decided to try it. I had large black marks and they are all gone. The rub rail looks new. I wish I would have done it earlier in the season.
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Ken Osborne
rub rail
You don't mention what year your boat is, but I have a 336 with the older rubber rub rail. I use " Soft Scrub " cleaner you can find anywhere household products are sold. It works extremely well. Sounds like you have the newer thin rail. Don't know how Soft Scrub will work on plastic, but might be worth a try. Good luck. Ken
You don't mention what year your boat is, but I have a 336 with the older rubber rub rail. I use " Soft Scrub " cleaner you can find anywhere household products are sold. It works extremely well. Sounds like you have the newer thin rail. Don't know how Soft Scrub will work on plastic, but might be worth a try. Good luck. Ken
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Kevin
Scrubbing Bubbles with bleach
Hey, try scrubbing bubbles with bleach. Spray on, leave for a while, spray and scrub a bit and I'll bet whatever you have comes right off. Works great on my H320. Takes very little elbow grease at that!
Hey, try scrubbing bubbles with bleach. Spray on, leave for a while, spray and scrub a bit and I'll bet whatever you have comes right off. Works great on my H320. Takes very little elbow grease at that!
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Tom
Cleaning rub rail
Mine is the gray '98 model rubber version. Thank you all for the suggestions. I'm going to take another shot at this on Saturday. Pete, you mention a product by 3M--do you know the name? Does anyone think 303 would work OK on this? I think I'm going to take some before and after pictures of this project and report back to you all. Thanks again for the help.
Mine is the gray '98 model rubber version. Thank you all for the suggestions. I'm going to take another shot at this on Saturday. Pete, you mention a product by 3M--do you know the name? Does anyone think 303 would work OK on this? I think I'm going to take some before and after pictures of this project and report back to you all. Thanks again for the help.
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Pete
rub rail cleaner
Tom, the product is called 3m Marine Outdoor Vinyl cleaner conditioner and protector (part number 09023. Cost about $5 a bottle.Check the 3m web site (link below) look in the marine site or use key work search.there are a lot of good products by 3m on this site.Hope the polishing compound or soft scrub works. It should as I had great results and brought the rub rail back to like new condition.
Tom, the product is called 3m Marine Outdoor Vinyl cleaner conditioner and protector (part number 09023. Cost about $5 a bottle.Check the 3m web site (link below) look in the marine site or use key work search.there are a lot of good products by 3m on this site.Hope the polishing compound or soft scrub works. It should as I had great results and brought the rub rail back to like new condition.
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Rich Lamond
Cleaning rub rails
The best thing I have found to clean the rub rail is Greased Lightning. Its cheap ($2.99) compared to any "marine" cleaner. On the real dark spots where the lines rub the rail, you need to scrub a little. Otherwise, you spray it on and wipe it clean with a pad and hose it off. Then I put a little Armor All or other protectant on it. Looks new! I've also bought a Wen 4" orbital buffer ($29.95 direct from Wen on the internet). The large buffer is good for the hull, but is too big to use on the topsides. Clean the boat first. Then use 3M Finess It II followed by McGuires' Flagship wax. It takes a little time, but the boat will look like it just came out of the showroom.
The best thing I have found to clean the rub rail is Greased Lightning. Its cheap ($2.99) compared to any "marine" cleaner. On the real dark spots where the lines rub the rail, you need to scrub a little. Otherwise, you spray it on and wipe it clean with a pad and hose it off. Then I put a little Armor All or other protectant on it. Looks new! I've also bought a Wen 4" orbital buffer ($29.95 direct from Wen on the internet). The large buffer is good for the hull, but is too big to use on the topsides. Clean the boat first. Then use 3M Finess It II followed by McGuires' Flagship wax. It takes a little time, but the boat will look like it just came out of the showroom.
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charlie
think about it
is it that important to you if so scrubaway no body will notice !!! anal boat owner
is it that important to you if so scrubaway no body will notice !!! anal boat owner
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Ron Hughes
Rubrail cleaner
Tom, I have had great success cleaning my 40.5s stern white rubber rubrail using Star Brite silicone polish and some elbow grease. It will easily remove my diesel "mustach" and the yellowing that always seems to appear. It must be the solvent in it the suspends the wax before drying that does it, but it works very well for me. All Good Wishes! Ron s/v "Best Revenge" h40.5
Tom, I have had great success cleaning my 40.5s stern white rubber rubrail using Star Brite silicone polish and some elbow grease. It will easily remove my diesel "mustach" and the yellowing that always seems to appear. It must be the solvent in it the suspends the wax before drying that does it, but it works very well for me. All Good Wishes! Ron s/v "Best Revenge" h40.5
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John
Try Lysol
Have you tried Lysol (HCl)? Let it sit for about 5 minutes before rubbing it off with a damp cloth.
Have you tried Lysol (HCl)? Let it sit for about 5 minutes before rubbing it off with a damp cloth.
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Tom
Soft Scrub
The Soft Scrub worked really well. Didn't take long at all. Thanks Ken for the suggestion. Someone mentioned that 303 works well to preserve the rubber rub rail and provide UV protection. Anyone tried 303. One guy said he uses it for everything instead of wax even on the fiberglass. I don't know anything about it.
The Soft Scrub worked really well. Didn't take long at all. Thanks Ken for the suggestion. Someone mentioned that 303 works well to preserve the rubber rub rail and provide UV protection. Anyone tried 303. One guy said he uses it for everything instead of wax even on the fiberglass. I don't know anything about it.
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Larry Templeton
Try M.E.K.
We tried several things including soft scrub, but MEK is by far the easiest. Leaves an as-new appearing surface and doesn't seem to cause any degradation. We've been using it for about 2 years now with no discernable negative consequences.
We tried several things including soft scrub, but MEK is by far the easiest. Leaves an as-new appearing surface and doesn't seem to cause any degradation. We've been using it for about 2 years now with no discernable negative consequences.
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Tom
MEK
Larry, Is MEK methyl ethyl ketone or is it a Brand Name for a product. If so, where might it be found? Thank you for the suggestion.
Larry, Is MEK methyl ethyl ketone or is it a Brand Name for a product. If so, where might it be found? Thank you for the suggestion.
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Miguel Gonzalez-del-Rey
Mek
Mek is Methyl Ethyl Ketone be careful not to drop it on your boat, with time it will attack your fiber glass....
Mek is Methyl Ethyl Ketone be careful not to drop it on your boat, with time it will attack your fiber glass....
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Bob F
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