After attending the boat show last week, I've been really pumped up at the thought of the upcoming boating season. So pumped up in fact that I started my yearly spring boat cleaning early. This week I worked on the vinyl(s), lifelines, fenders, and rub rail. When I bought the current boat a few years ago, I decided to try and stick with specific boat cleaning products. I wanted to be as gentle as practical on the various finishes of this new boat. But while the lifelines responded very well to the vinyl cleaner I use, the fenders and rub rail were unfazed by the specialty products used. So today I resorted to acetone. This is what I used on my previous boat for 16 years. It's the only thing I've found that takes off the oxidized brown crusty layer from the rubrail. It's now back to original, new looking gray vinyl! The fenders also cleaned up brilliantly. The key to making it easy is to keep the rags fresh., as they gunk up quickly. Sometimes I put a coat of cleanerwax over the fresh vinyl to help protect it. Like I mentioned, I used acetone for years with no observed negative effects. But I do think of it as sort of a last resort cleaner. Just thought I'd pass this tip on to those who haven't tried it, and see if anyone has had a different experience Now, come on summer!