Crap

[Meriachee]

There are a couple of spots in the non skid with black crap deep in the crevices. This was present when the boat was new to us, and through a bunch of different chemicals, nothing has even put a dent in it. Tonight I soaked some hull cleaner on it for 10 minutes, then scrubbed the crap out of it, and it didn't do anything either. The stuff, whatever it is, is baked in there pretty good. Any ideas?

 

[Chief RA]

Launch it. your getting picky and grouchy! Chief

 

[Meriachee]

Launch it. your getting picky and grouchy! Chief

It's been in for a week, and I have yet to get the main put on, it's been monsoon or hurricane. Starting to look like a repeat of last year! That was cause to make anybody grouchy! Ha Ha

 

[thinwater]

Tell us what you used. For all we know, they were just different brands with similar chemistry. Must have data.

 

[Meriachee]

I've used various brands of gelcoat cleaner. We always used baking soda on the coal dust we used to get, and today I used Spray Nine hull cleaner, which, by the way works great at the waterline gunk. I tried on and off, and raw vinegar. Nothing has made a dent in it.

 

[Joe]

What tool did you use for scrubbing? I've had good luck cleaning non skid crap out of the tiny crevices with a stainless steel brush.

 

[Bosman]

I have this gel on my boat that is used to remove algae/discolorization marks from the gelcoat/ waterline. On fellow's boat, it removed 7+ years of embedded-in-the-gelcoat algae marks, that otherwise had to be mechanically removed. I can't remember the name Feel free to stop at the marina on the weekend and give it a try.
Bosman

 

[Allan12210]

I spent most of last Saturday cleaning that black stuff out of my non skid. When it's dry the stuff feels like cement. When wet it is super gummy like adhesive residue. My solution was to wet it down with a solution of Simple Green and keep it wet for 20 minutes. After that I had to pressure wash it very slowly to blast it out. The picture shows the rotating scrubber I bought for my Karcher high pressure washer. It was marginally effective. I had to go back to the spray wand. My washer is only 1400 psi. More pressure would have been faster. But the boat does look much better as that stuff was accumulating for a few years now.

Maybe you can zoom in on the picture and let us know if it's the same gunk.

I'm going back Saturday to scrub with a Doodlebug and medium pad. I use Soft Scrub with bleach for the final cleansing. Then I plan on coating with Woody Wax to see if that keeps the stuff away.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Just wait for the birds to crap on it and you won't notice it any more.

 

[The Shadow Knows]

M,

Looking at the photo, reminded me of what I was seeing on my boat several years ago.
To me, it looked like my gelcoat & deck coloring had worn/aged and/or simply deteriorated.
I ended up recoating my deck with Top Secret, a 2 part epoxy marine paint. It's held
up nicely because the secret to longevity is proper prep.
https://www.topsecretcoatings.com/

TS

 

[Chief RA]

Meriachee: I am with you, last year was rough seas and high wind out here. Hope we see fair weather this year! My best, Chief

 

[AXEL]

I get that stuff of using an Orange citrus cleaner (buy it anywhere), Mary Kate Cleaning Detail (easy to find) and a power washer. Comes right off easy.

 

[Meriachee]

I have used a nice stiff brush, and even trying to pick at it with a sharp tool doesn't seem to have much effect. Whatever this is, its harder than the coal dust we used to be plagued with. I was somewhat surprised that the combination of acids in On and Off did not appear to even begin to soften this stuff.
This may be the wrong approach.... maybe some good thinners and a good soaking.

 

[AXEL]

Power washer..

 

[JohnVTX]

Just keep power washer away from teak

 

[Meriachee]

When we buy a party barge to turn into a floating hot dog stand, we'll be sure to get a bigger generator and a Hotsy. Thankfully, there is no teak to deal with and there's no power. I'm pretty sure that the admiral won't condone a Hotsy either.

 

[Ron20324]

"Baked on" might be your problem. A couple time a year I use a nylon bristle brush(like a toothbrush, but a but digger) and any type of cleaner I happen to have (409, Orange, Purple, etc.) I scrub one way then at 90 degrees, and that black comes out better than a deck brush on a long handle.

 

[31seahorse]

Bosman might have been talking about FSR (Fiberglas Stain Remover - a gel), but if On and Off didn't remove the offending material I don't think FSR would either.

Maybe it is time to paint the nonskid.

 

[Terry Cox]

Power washer..

Bingo, that worked on our boat.

 

[Meriachee]

Maybe it is time to paint the nonskid.

Paint? Ah, no. That solution is not even in the realm of discussion. Not only is there clean in this gelcoat, there is a shine in it too. I have access to some far more serious substances than what's been tried previously, but we're getting near the "may react with the gelcoat" stage.