I need to have my 260 ready to go by tomorrow for my neice's senior prom BUT I have a severly stained cockpit thanks to these little red things that fall off the trees(almost like a budding flower but in its early stages, like when the tress just start to come back to life after winter). The cockpit is now a dull brownish red that will not come out with regular cleaner. I was wondering if anyone knew of a good cleaner to get this out. I was thinking Soft Scrub but the guy who detailed it said that it would eat the gelcoat. The local marina sugessted using comet cleaner but lightly. They said it would eat the finnish some but thats all they knew of that would get the stains of those red things out with the exception of rubbing compund. Any help would be much appreciated and will save me a tounge lashing buy my neice. Thanks, Brad
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Bob Fliegel
"Tre Wax" Fiberglass Rubbing Compound.
I picked it up at West Marine. I try not to use it too often and, again, it is fiberglass rubbing compound. I do not use very much and it is pretty watered down when I am applying it, but it really works great. I think the reason I had to use the rubbing compound is because I did not have an good coat of wax on the fiberglass to begin with. Last year, pior to putting the boat in the water, I waxed the hull, below the rub rail. This spring I noticed that the only part of the boat that really needed significant cleaning was everything above the rub rail (the area which I failed to wax). After a season in the water and the winter in the driveway, water was still "beading" on the hull which I had waxed the prior season, and there was no significant dirt accumulation. This season I am waxing everything including the mast, all stainless and the windows (a friend says that wax on the windows reduces "UV" damage. Also, I have found that there is nothing better for cleaning the "non skid" surfaces on the boat than the fiberglass rubbing compound applied with a fine brush and lots of water. Regards, Bob
I picked it up at West Marine. I try not to use it too often and, again, it is fiberglass rubbing compound. I do not use very much and it is pretty watered down when I am applying it, but it really works great. I think the reason I had to use the rubbing compound is because I did not have an good coat of wax on the fiberglass to begin with. Last year, pior to putting the boat in the water, I waxed the hull, below the rub rail. This spring I noticed that the only part of the boat that really needed significant cleaning was everything above the rub rail (the area which I failed to wax). After a season in the water and the winter in the driveway, water was still "beading" on the hull which I had waxed the prior season, and there was no significant dirt accumulation. This season I am waxing everything including the mast, all stainless and the windows (a friend says that wax on the windows reduces "UV" damage. Also, I have found that there is nothing better for cleaning the "non skid" surfaces on the boat than the fiberglass rubbing compound applied with a fine brush and lots of water. Regards, Bob
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Buddy Richardson
Soft Scrub w/ Bleach
Don't use Comet. It's much more abrasive than Soft Scrub. It is the bleach in Comet that makes it work. Soft Scrub with Bleach (green label) is okay on fiberglass gelcoat. I use it to get rid of bird poopy stains on my Hunter 28. Just go easy, let the bleach work and follow with a good wax or polish.
Don't use Comet. It's much more abrasive than Soft Scrub. It is the bleach in Comet that makes it work. Soft Scrub with Bleach (green label) is okay on fiberglass gelcoat. I use it to get rid of bird poopy stains on my Hunter 28. Just go easy, let the bleach work and follow with a good wax or polish.
Stained Rudder -- Solution
One time my rudder got severely stained in a lake that was filled with some kind of alge(sp?). Someone on HOW suggested toilet bowl cleaner to remove the stain. I wiped toilet bowl cleaner on the rudder (while wearing rubber gloves)and almost immediately, the stain disappeared. I didn't even have to scrub it! Good Luck.
One time my rudder got severely stained in a lake that was filled with some kind of alge(sp?). Someone on HOW suggested toilet bowl cleaner to remove the stain. I wiped toilet bowl cleaner on the rudder (while wearing rubber gloves)and almost immediately, the stain disappeared. I didn't even have to scrub it! Good Luck.
Try any scrub (yes even comet)
But do not scrub it on. Just make a damp paste of any bleach containing product and let it sit for an hour or so then rinse off. The bleach is what is doing the job. I understand that a flour paste made with bleach will also work but is messier.
But do not scrub it on. Just make a damp paste of any bleach containing product and let it sit for an hour or so then rinse off. The bleach is what is doing the job. I understand that a flour paste made with bleach will also work but is messier.
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Dave Busby
I use Boatlife...
fibreglass cleaner, (powder). It works very well. Just sprinkle it on and brush it a little, works great. Most boat stores don't sell it any more.
fibreglass cleaner, (powder). It works very well. Just sprinkle it on and brush it a little, works great. Most boat stores don't sell it any more.
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Pat H
Bleach Solution
Try sparying on a 25-50% solution of bleach in water. Leave it for a few minutes and take a broom or stiff brush and scrub.
Try sparying on a 25-50% solution of bleach in water. Leave it for a few minutes and take a broom or stiff brush and scrub.
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Bart
CHEAP AND GOOD CLEANER
The boat life cleaner,if you read the label is oxalic acid. ie WOOD BLEACH. You can get it at any good hardware store for $5-6.00. Enough to clean your boat for about 3-4 seasons. Mix a heaping tablesoon in a gallon of hot water. You can use gloves if you want to but they are not necessary. A good scrub brush and a sponge and just a bit of elbow grease. and then rinse. I was amazed. Let me know if it works, bart5008@aol.com
The boat life cleaner,if you read the label is oxalic acid. ie WOOD BLEACH. You can get it at any good hardware store for $5-6.00. Enough to clean your boat for about 3-4 seasons. Mix a heaping tablesoon in a gallon of hot water. You can use gloves if you want to but they are not necessary. A good scrub brush and a sponge and just a bit of elbow grease. and then rinse. I was amazed. Let me know if it works, bart5008@aol.com
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