i have a 1986 hunter 31 and great shape but for wsome pretty worn out topsides. does any have any ideas about giving them a really good cleaning? Materials, process?
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Couple of things to try.
Terry: One of the things that I have used is the West Marine non-skid cleaner. You just use it straight from the bottle. Use a brush and scrub the decks. Let it stand for 5-10 mins, and scrub again. Rinse and see how that works. For stuborn spots use a little soft scrub on the tuff stops. If you need something a little more potient you should look into the Island Girl products. These products are stronger and can actually soften the caulking under the cleats and around your windows so be careful. Island Girl also is comming out with a non-skid sealer so this may be worth checking out too.
Terry: One of the things that I have used is the West Marine non-skid cleaner. You just use it straight from the bottle. Use a brush and scrub the decks. Let it stand for 5-10 mins, and scrub again. Rinse and see how that works. For stuborn spots use a little soft scrub on the tuff stops. If you need something a little more potient you should look into the Island Girl products. These products are stronger and can actually soften the caulking under the cleats and around your windows so be careful. Island Girl also is comming out with a non-skid sealer so this may be worth checking out too.
Here's What I Do.
Why spend lots of bucks. I use mildew and mold bathroom cleaner. Less than $2 and works great. Dave Laing
Why spend lots of bucks. I use mildew and mold bathroom cleaner. Less than $2 and works great. Dave Laing
Soft Scrub works great for me
I might have to try that mildew cleaner, though. The trick is once you get it clean, it's pretty easy to keep it looking good. I squirt Soft Scrub all over the deck, scrub the whole thing with a long-handled scrub brush, and hose it off. Takes about 30-40 minutes, or approximately the length of one Jimmy Buffett CD. I try to do that at least once a week, plus spot-cleaning any major stuff IMMEDIATELY (bird crap and spilled strawberry daiquiris can be especially nasty.)For really tough stuff a little bit of rubbing compound will help, but make sure you wax it immediately afterward.
I might have to try that mildew cleaner, though. The trick is once you get it clean, it's pretty easy to keep it looking good. I squirt Soft Scrub all over the deck, scrub the whole thing with a long-handled scrub brush, and hose it off. Takes about 30-40 minutes, or approximately the length of one Jimmy Buffett CD. I try to do that at least once a week, plus spot-cleaning any major stuff IMMEDIATELY (bird crap and spilled strawberry daiquiris can be especially nasty.)For really tough stuff a little bit of rubbing compound will help, but make sure you wax it immediately afterward.
Toilette bowl cleaner
Best stuff, cheap, and makes the birds feel like they're sh**ing in a clean bathroom.
Best stuff, cheap, and makes the birds feel like they're sh**ing in a clean bathroom.
Plain Water and...
... a pressure washer. Several years ago we bought a Karcher 1200 psi pressure washer that was at Costco and it has really worked out well. In the Pacific Northwest one of main problems is mold and mildew - birds that sit on the top of the mast, dust that settles out of the air, and a humid (wet?) atmosphere all conspire to turn the topsides green then black. Every nitche collects the stuff. Along comes the pressure washer and it can all be blasted away with just plain water. No soap, detergents, chemicals, or anything. One of the best parts (don't tell anybody) is my wife really likes to run it! See if you can find someone in your marina that has one and talk to them about it. Maybe they can give a demo? From an environmentally holistic perspective, the idea that one can use just plain water sounds really good; however, somewhere there is an electric power plant generating the electricity that runs on hydro, nuclear, oil, gas, or the like so the pollution source is in effect transferred to there.
... a pressure washer. Several years ago we bought a Karcher 1200 psi pressure washer that was at Costco and it has really worked out well. In the Pacific Northwest one of main problems is mold and mildew - birds that sit on the top of the mast, dust that settles out of the air, and a humid (wet?) atmosphere all conspire to turn the topsides green then black. Every nitche collects the stuff. Along comes the pressure washer and it can all be blasted away with just plain water. No soap, detergents, chemicals, or anything. One of the best parts (don't tell anybody) is my wife really likes to run it! See if you can find someone in your marina that has one and talk to them about it. Maybe they can give a demo? From an environmentally holistic perspective, the idea that one can use just plain water sounds really good; however, somewhere there is an electric power plant generating the electricity that runs on hydro, nuclear, oil, gas, or the like so the pollution source is in effect transferred to there.
Topside cleaning
According to the "experts", be careful in using Soft Scrub. They don't use it or recommend its use, as it roughens up the surface (it has a mile abrasive in it), and therefore the surface will tend to become dirtier much more readily in the future.
According to the "experts", be careful in using Soft Scrub. They don't use it or recommend its use, as it roughens up the surface (it has a mile abrasive in it), and therefore the surface will tend to become dirtier much more readily in the future.
topsides?
there seems to be some confusion here. according to chapman's, the "topsides" refers to "the sides of a vessel above the waterline." So if you're really talking about the topsides, use wax; if you're talking about the deck, try oxalic acid. Works great on fiberglass or teak decks. Much cheaper if you buy it in a hardware store rather than at West Marine. Oxalic acid is also the best way to clean the yellowish "mustache" off the topsides at the bow. In that case, the gel form (brand name = FSR, which stands for "fiberglass stain remover") is much handier, although it's overpriced.
there seems to be some confusion here. according to chapman's, the "topsides" refers to "the sides of a vessel above the waterline." So if you're really talking about the topsides, use wax; if you're talking about the deck, try oxalic acid. Works great on fiberglass or teak decks. Much cheaper if you buy it in a hardware store rather than at West Marine. Oxalic acid is also the best way to clean the yellowish "mustache" off the topsides at the bow. In that case, the gel form (brand name = FSR, which stands for "fiberglass stain remover") is much handier, although it's overpriced.
topsides, no decks yes..duhh
thanks for actually looking it up. your suggestions all are appreciated. power washer sounds like a plan, scrub before or after i wonder. seems like youd want to treat stains before that hihg power rinse.
thanks for actually looking it up. your suggestions all are appreciated. power washer sounds like a plan, scrub before or after i wonder. seems like youd want to treat stains before that hihg power rinse.
Paint
This summer I painted my non skid with Interlux Brightside polyurethane paint w/a dulling agent additive. It looks GREAT! I used the "Seattle Gray" which is almost the exact same shade of gray as used on the new Hunter's decks. The key to a professional look is a good quality masking tape and lots of patience. I used a 1" 3M tape and a very thin 1/8" tape (found at a automotive paint store). The thin tape is good for sharp turns and round paterns(like around the fuel cap). Good Luck, Bob S/V Lady Di II
This summer I painted my non skid with Interlux Brightside polyurethane paint w/a dulling agent additive. It looks GREAT! I used the "Seattle Gray" which is almost the exact same shade of gray as used on the new Hunter's decks. The key to a professional look is a good quality masking tape and lots of patience. I used a 1" 3M tape and a very thin 1/8" tape (found at a automotive paint store). The thin tape is good for sharp turns and round paterns(like around the fuel cap). Good Luck, Bob S/V Lady Di II
Re: Paint
I did exactly the same thing as Bob, using the same paint and color and flattening. The only other thing I did was to add some ot the Interlux anti-skid material, which is like a man-made sand. Looks and works great on my H33. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
I did exactly the same thing as Bob, using the same paint and color and flattening. The only other thing I did was to add some ot the Interlux anti-skid material, which is like a man-made sand. Looks and works great on my H33. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
after you washer, you should viper
After cleaning the deck area, toss a nice rubber snake into the cockpit to keep the birds away. It works better than an owl and a rubber snake is always handy for a laugh when an unsuspecting guest goes on board.
After cleaning the deck area, toss a nice rubber snake into the cockpit to keep the birds away. It works better than an owl and a rubber snake is always handy for a laugh when an unsuspecting guest goes on board.
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