I have a Hunter 146. A tear in my cover caused leaves to enter and stain my cockpit. I have tried light wet sanding, compounding, and mineral spirits, all recommended in my manual but none of them worked. A sight on u-tube recommended muriac acid but I am afraid to try this. The Hull of this model is ABS plastic and I think the cockpit is fiberglass, but not sure. Open to any suggestions. Also has anyone had trouble with the self bailing hose in the stern coming of regularly. Maybe I need a longer one. Parts site had no listing for this part and there is no listing in my owners manual.
Cockpit stains
- Thread starter eclark
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Don't quite understand what you are describing. Is the black retic hose that sits in the hull coming off the cockpit drain (which is an elbow inside the hull). If that is the case, the clamp has come off at the elbow end. Hard to fix as you will be working blind unless you stick a webcam in side the hull and connect that to a laptop topsides. That's what I did when I had to work in that area to install my hiking straps. Have a look at the article I wrote in the H15/H146 owners modification section of this forum. I have some photos of the inside of the hull that will give an idea of what it looks like in there.
I have had some luck with marks and slight stains using Mr. Clean Magic Erasers - found in most discount hardware/grocery stores on my Hunter 216 of same composite.
dont be afraid of using the muratic acid on the hull... the fiberglass or gel coat is basically plastic. so is any paint that you may have on it. acid of any type does not react with or harm most types of plastic so you will be fine.
but DONT get on glass windows, cuz it will etch window glass...
BUT.... there are less powerful acids that will work also, and as many recommendations as to what type to use.
you can dilute the muratic with about 50% water... oxalic acid is just another type of acid, so is sulfuric or hydrochloric which are combined to create truck wash acid... it will all work, but you need to protect your self from it... if you spray it, DONT breath the mist... if you splash it on yourself or your clothes, rinse it off quickly and wash with soap to neutralize it...
its all safe to use if you take the proper precautions, and its GREAT for removing organic stains from boat hulls.... washing with soap afterwards is recommended, and applying a good carnauba based wax to close the pores in the gelcoat or paint will prevent the staining from happening again.
undiluted acid is also a great tool for removing rust from regular steel or stainless steel parts..... keep the part wet for about 10-20 minutes and the rust will be gone (then rinse well).... some heavily rusted steel parts may need to be tanked in the acid overnight but it will take it to clean, bare metal without any rust left.......
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