My boat has some black mildew (?) spots on the rough surfaces of the deck. I scrubbed with a brush and marine soap, but they are stubborn to come off. Does anyone have any suggestions for any easier cleaning method which will also bring up a shiny white? My friend suggested Clorox clean-up but I don't feel that is marine-safe.
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What I use (doesn't work well)
I use StarBrite Hull Cleaner, which contains oxalic acid, on "biomatter" on the hull and deck. Biomatter is what I call the green, yellow and brownish stuff that falls out of the sky onto the deck and sticks to the hull along the water line. I get lots of tiny black dots that need a lot of scrubbing. I guess that's what you have too. I found that my electric pressure washer will blast them off but I can't use it when the boat is in the marina slip, which is the entire sailing season. I haven't looked for a cleaner that works on these spots yet. I have various things to try: Spray Nine (which I think is a "Fantastic" clone), CLR, bleach. I have some "Black Streak Cleaner", but I think that's from the black streaks caused by aluminum or maybe silicone caulking. What have you tried? ...RickM...
I use StarBrite Hull Cleaner, which contains oxalic acid, on "biomatter" on the hull and deck. Biomatter is what I call the green, yellow and brownish stuff that falls out of the sky onto the deck and sticks to the hull along the water line. I get lots of tiny black dots that need a lot of scrubbing. I guess that's what you have too. I found that my electric pressure washer will blast them off but I can't use it when the boat is in the marina slip, which is the entire sailing season. I haven't looked for a cleaner that works on these spots yet. I have various things to try: Spray Nine (which I think is a "Fantastic" clone), CLR, bleach. I have some "Black Streak Cleaner", but I think that's from the black streaks caused by aluminum or maybe silicone caulking. What have you tried? ...RickM...
You can use Tilex
But I don't know about it being "marine" safe. It contains bleach which kills the mold. You can spray on and wipe off after a few minutes without getting any in the water and it won't damage the fiberglass. I would use it on white surfaces. If you have gray area to clean, try it on a small spot first.
But I don't know about it being "marine" safe. It contains bleach which kills the mold. You can spray on and wipe off after a few minutes without getting any in the water and it won't damage the fiberglass. I would use it on white surfaces. If you have gray area to clean, try it on a small spot first.
Starbrite
I use the Starbrite Deck cleaner with teflon. Spray, let it sit, brush and rinse. It does great on non-skid and on the black marks left by rain around drains and windows. $6.00 Wal-Mart. I also use the Starbrite Hull Cleaner on the bottom and have had good results. Again you have to let it sit a few minutes.
I use the Starbrite Deck cleaner with teflon. Spray, let it sit, brush and rinse. It does great on non-skid and on the black marks left by rain around drains and windows. $6.00 Wal-Mart. I also use the Starbrite Hull Cleaner on the bottom and have had good results. Again you have to let it sit a few minutes.
Rick? why can't you use washer in the slip?
Is it a regulation of your marina? That sure seems odd. Doesn't your marine use a pressure washer to clear all the finger piers? Or is it because you don't have AC power in your marina? Just curious? As for stubborn stains, I use a bit of Soft Scrub, let it sit, scrub, rinse, done.
Is it a regulation of your marina? That sure seems odd. Doesn't your marine use a pressure washer to clear all the finger piers? Or is it because you don't have AC power in your marina? Just curious? As for stubborn stains, I use a bit of Soft Scrub, let it sit, scrub, rinse, done.
Rick's marina
JC - We call it a marina but it's just a dock. No facilities at all. No AC or water. My pressure washer is designed to hook to a garden hose. I don't know if it would "suck" water out of the lake if i just stuck the end of the hose into it. I imagine people use some kind of water filter in this case? If the above worked, and I had a gas-powered generator, I could use the washer at the slip. My 4-month sailing season is so short I can keep the boat clean enough with a bucket and brush and lake water. ...RickM...
JC - We call it a marina but it's just a dock. No facilities at all. No AC or water. My pressure washer is designed to hook to a garden hose. I don't know if it would "suck" water out of the lake if i just stuck the end of the hose into it. I imagine people use some kind of water filter in this case? If the above worked, and I had a gas-powered generator, I could use the washer at the slip. My 4-month sailing season is so short I can keep the boat clean enough with a bucket and brush and lake water. ...RickM...
Rick....Ah..Ha !
That sure make sense. My electric pressure washer is the same, with AC power and garden hose. Nice that you are on a lake. Fresh water, no salad bar under your boat. Have fun sailing.
That sure make sense. My electric pressure washer is the same, with AC power and garden hose. Nice that you are on a lake. Fresh water, no salad bar under your boat. Have fun sailing.
Rick
don't try to suction water with your pressure washer, you will damage it. they are not designed to pull suction. I use a submersible pump on a rope to feed my pressure washer.
don't try to suction water with your pressure washer, you will damage it. they are not designed to pull suction. I use a submersible pump on a rope to feed my pressure washer.
Bleach is "marine safe"
Bleach breaks down into salt water. It is also extremely corrosive to aluminum. Rinse it quickly from masts, toe rails, and other aluminum fittings. See the archives for many discussions about using bleach.
Bleach breaks down into salt water. It is also extremely corrosive to aluminum. Rinse it quickly from masts, toe rails, and other aluminum fittings. See the archives for many discussions about using bleach.
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