Recently I have noticed little blue/green dots appearing on the gel coat of my Hunter 35.5. They look (and behave) like spots of ink. If I rub at them they smear. I have yet to find a pattern to where the spots are appearing. I've noticed these on other boats in the marina but the marina guys have never seen this before. Has anyone else seen these? What the heck are they?. Our theory is that it is some sort of bug or its droppings. Another possibility is pollution but I am surprised by the color. Thoughts on cleaning them off? I have not tried an exhaustive set of cleaners but they are generally hard to remove completely. My Island Girl Pink has not arrived yet (sigh) and I am hopeful that it will do the trick. Thanks Jeff
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Spider Guts.....
Sounds like you have the leftovers of little critters such as spiders. I tend to see them more toward the end of the season, although I don't know why that would be the case. Maybe it's time for the babies to be born ?? Jeff
Sounds like you have the leftovers of little critters such as spiders. I tend to see them more toward the end of the season, although I don't know why that would be the case. Maybe it's time for the babies to be born ?? Jeff
Try some Clorox Gel.
Jeff: We get the same TYPE of crap in our non-skid. One of the things I have used is Clorox Gel. Just pour it on a DRY area and see if it helps disolve the gooo. You should have a VERY stiff brush to scrub the area too. This stuff has worked on some spots. When this fails I get the Island Girl Pink in a spray bottle and a little stiff brush. It may take a little elbow grease but it does lift the crap out of the non-skid. Once you get it cleaned up you can scrub down the entire non-skid area with Island Girl Pink and then apply the non-skid sealant. This should make future maintenance MUCH MUCH easier in the future. Please follow up on your resolution.
Jeff: We get the same TYPE of crap in our non-skid. One of the things I have used is Clorox Gel. Just pour it on a DRY area and see if it helps disolve the gooo. You should have a VERY stiff brush to scrub the area too. This stuff has worked on some spots. When this fails I get the Island Girl Pink in a spray bottle and a little stiff brush. It may take a little elbow grease but it does lift the crap out of the non-skid. Once you get it cleaned up you can scrub down the entire non-skid area with Island Girl Pink and then apply the non-skid sealant. This should make future maintenance MUCH MUCH easier in the future. Please follow up on your resolution.
I have them too
As best I can tell they are spider poop. I use a product sold at West marine called Krazy Klean. It's a spray on cleaner that removes almost everything including stubborn stains in the gel coat. My wife has a phobia about spiders -- really bad -- and it amazes me how many of the little buggers live aboard our boat. I tried a product called Spider Kill , but it stains the decks, and when women sat on it in their bathing suits it caused a skin rash. So we just live with the spiders, well until Lesley smashes 'em anyway. Our slip is not far from the gas dock, and they have a big Citgo sign that stays brightly lit all night, so the spiders use our boat (especially the stern) to weave their traps for the flying insects. I haven't decided what's messier, the spider poop, or the smashed spiders all over the place when Lesley gets the fly swatter. Watching her uncover the mainsail is a hoot sometimes
As best I can tell they are spider poop. I use a product sold at West marine called Krazy Klean. It's a spray on cleaner that removes almost everything including stubborn stains in the gel coat. My wife has a phobia about spiders -- really bad -- and it amazes me how many of the little buggers live aboard our boat. I tried a product called Spider Kill , but it stains the decks, and when women sat on it in their bathing suits it caused a skin rash. So we just live with the spiders, well until Lesley smashes 'em anyway. Our slip is not far from the gas dock, and they have a big Citgo sign that stays brightly lit all night, so the spiders use our boat (especially the stern) to weave their traps for the flying insects. I haven't decided what's messier, the spider poop, or the smashed spiders all over the place when Lesley gets the fly swatter. Watching her uncover the mainsail is a hoot sometimes
Spiders
I haven't tried it yet, but I've been told that spiders don't like lemon cleaners. It may be worth a try.
I haven't tried it yet, but I've been told that spiders don't like lemon cleaners. It may be worth a try.
Greased Lightening
We have had them on occasion from spiders and from blind mosquitos (a Florida thing). Greased Lightening has worked the best. Comes in a spray bottle at Walmart, etc. Strong stuff, don't let it set on aluminum or will leave spots. It also will remove the brown stuff that grows or collects on the gray rub rail.
We have had them on occasion from spiders and from blind mosquitos (a Florida thing). Greased Lightening has worked the best. Comes in a spray bottle at Walmart, etc. Strong stuff, don't let it set on aluminum or will leave spots. It also will remove the brown stuff that grows or collects on the gray rub rail.
"ARACHNOPHOBIA"
Geoff: "TRADITIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT OF ARACHNOPHOBIA" "Traditional treatment of arachnophobia is called "systematic desensitization". The arachnophobic writes down the situations with spiders that scare them then categorize them from least frightening to most frightening. They learn relaxation techniques to help deal with these situations. They imagine having to cope with the least frightening situation, and gradually work their way up the list until they are able to cope with the most frightening situation. They then move on to real situations, accompanied by a therapist. They again work their way up from the least threatening to most threatening situation, exposing themselves to real spiders. When they are able to hold a live spider without feeling anxious, they have conquered their phobia." In light of the fact that your wife is probably never going to try this method of treatment for her problem, I have a couple of suggestions. 1. Purchase animal flea collars and place these around the stanchions and pulpits on your boat. These collars are just insecticide. You just cut pieces that are big enough to go around the stainless steel tubes and fasten them on with a piece of whipping lines and a needle. 2. Get some Pest Strips for any areas that the critters (also knows as little SOB's) congergate in the boat. I suggest that you remove these from the living area while you are aboard. They work well in the sailcovers too. I had thought about have the sail maker sew in a pocket into the sail covers so i could have the pest strip in a pocket that was easily removed for replacement. 3. If you are hooked to an A/C source they have these electronic bug repellers that you can purchase from different sources. I do not know if they eliminate all of the critters but seem to keep the populations down. PS: Let me know what she thinks about the "Traditional Medical Treatment" for her problem! <g>
Geoff: "TRADITIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT OF ARACHNOPHOBIA" "Traditional treatment of arachnophobia is called "systematic desensitization". The arachnophobic writes down the situations with spiders that scare them then categorize them from least frightening to most frightening. They learn relaxation techniques to help deal with these situations. They imagine having to cope with the least frightening situation, and gradually work their way up the list until they are able to cope with the most frightening situation. They then move on to real situations, accompanied by a therapist. They again work their way up from the least threatening to most threatening situation, exposing themselves to real spiders. When they are able to hold a live spider without feeling anxious, they have conquered their phobia." In light of the fact that your wife is probably never going to try this method of treatment for her problem, I have a couple of suggestions. 1. Purchase animal flea collars and place these around the stanchions and pulpits on your boat. These collars are just insecticide. You just cut pieces that are big enough to go around the stainless steel tubes and fasten them on with a piece of whipping lines and a needle. 2. Get some Pest Strips for any areas that the critters (also knows as little SOB's) congergate in the boat. I suggest that you remove these from the living area while you are aboard. They work well in the sailcovers too. I had thought about have the sail maker sew in a pocket into the sail covers so i could have the pest strip in a pocket that was easily removed for replacement. 3. If you are hooked to an A/C source they have these electronic bug repellers that you can purchase from different sources. I do not know if they eliminate all of the critters but seem to keep the populations down. PS: Let me know what she thinks about the "Traditional Medical Treatment" for her problem! <g>
Same Thing in CA
We have the same thing here in the California Delta, particularly at a favorite achorage called Mildred Island. I don't know what "blind mosquitos" are, but at Mildred, there are non-biting, mosquito look-alikes whose droppings leave green spots.
We have the same thing here in the California Delta, particularly at a favorite achorage called Mildred Island. I don't know what "blind mosquitos" are, but at Mildred, there are non-biting, mosquito look-alikes whose droppings leave green spots.
mAybE THEY eat hyacinth
Bob C: Maybe they eat hyacinth and drink the water? That would definetly create green misquito crap!
Bob C: Maybe they eat hyacinth and drink the water? That would definetly create green misquito crap!
Flea Collars
I tried Steve's ideas last year - flea collar sections on the stanchions and pest strips in the cabin and chain locker. Worked well for us. We also keep bug spray handy to get the ones that invariably blow over from adjacent boats. Ned and Tani Strain s/v Family Therapy 1995 h336 Chicago
I tried Steve's ideas last year - flea collar sections on the stanchions and pest strips in the cabin and chain locker. Worked well for us. We also keep bug spray handy to get the ones that invariably blow over from adjacent boats. Ned and Tani Strain s/v Family Therapy 1995 h336 Chicago
Spider and Bird poop related
I used to have a bird sitting on the spreaders of my boat so got some pracice at bird poop problems. ALso I used to make sales calls and demos in the SF Sacto delta area where spider poop was a problem. I found that IG Pink works on such poops only if mixed with water (or surface pre-wetted). This would be similar "polarity" to Krazy Clean, Mean Green Castrol Superclean etc. but be careful of aluminum as some have caustic in them for "grease cutting". Aurora ( a Canadian company) actually make a spider poop remover but,in my view, that's sort of like putting different labels on the same product. Non-skid sealant, or our and other resin coatings keep such stains getting to the gelcoat itself- just remove a superficial layer of sealant! Same probably goes for a good wax job or a good acrylic coating. ALW
I used to have a bird sitting on the spreaders of my boat so got some pracice at bird poop problems. ALso I used to make sales calls and demos in the SF Sacto delta area where spider poop was a problem. I found that IG Pink works on such poops only if mixed with water (or surface pre-wetted). This would be similar "polarity" to Krazy Clean, Mean Green Castrol Superclean etc. but be careful of aluminum as some have caustic in them for "grease cutting". Aurora ( a Canadian company) actually make a spider poop remover but,in my view, that's sort of like putting different labels on the same product. Non-skid sealant, or our and other resin coatings keep such stains getting to the gelcoat itself- just remove a superficial layer of sealant! Same probably goes for a good wax job or a good acrylic coating. ALW
Glue strips
Insects are always a concern here in the sub-tropical climate of the Keys. The question is when, not if. We always keep a few glue type insect traps active on the boat. These are simple paper boxes (about 1.5" square) with openings on the sides and adhesive on the floor. Basically fly paper in a box. We buy them at Home Depot or any local hardware store, and replace them every few months. Insects, curious by nature, wander into the trap and just stand there forever. This solves any crawling insect problem before we know we have one by catching individuals before they can multiply.
Insects are always a concern here in the sub-tropical climate of the Keys. The question is when, not if. We always keep a few glue type insect traps active on the boat. These are simple paper boxes (about 1.5" square) with openings on the sides and adhesive on the floor. Basically fly paper in a box. We buy them at Home Depot or any local hardware store, and replace them every few months. Insects, curious by nature, wander into the trap and just stand there forever. This solves any crawling insect problem before we know we have one by catching individuals before they can multiply.
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