I surrender to the gods of filth: Admission is the first step to recovery

[Rich Stidger]

OK, I guess I am just anal about keeping everything clean. There is almost nothing I hate more than admitting defeat. However I am giving up on removing the stains from my 10 year old Achilles Hypalon dinghy. I have tried everything in my cleaning arsenal to no avail.
Here is what I am trying to remove - safely....

These stains appear as streaks and random spots. These are not on the surface, but seem to be embedded in the material.
Knowing that Google is my friend, I have searched the World-Wide-Web and listed every product that was recommended by actual humans who claim to have successfully cleaned their dinghy. Then I tried every suggestion if I had the cleaner.

Here is a list of the suggested cleaners that appear to do nothing:
Amazon Inflatable Boat Cleaner
Totally Awesome Cleaner and Degreaser
Super Clean (Wal-Mart)
Gojo Hand Cleaner
Butt wipes (I know, I wondered how this was discovered)
Marine Clean by POR-15
Greased Lightning
Shout laundry stain remover
MEK
Wesley's Bleche-White tire cleaner

The only product that even was a little successful was ZEP brand Industrial Purple Cleaner and De-greaser from Home Depot. However I don't want to scrub aggressively with a terry cloth towel a 6" square area for 3 minutes to achieve a small result. A second application in the same manner was 90+ % clean. And the terry towel had traces of the dinghy color after cleaning. Other scotch-type pads were tried with poorer results.

There were other suggested products but I don't have those available. They were:
Zylene
Toulene (supposedly recommended by Dupont, but I couldn't find the note)
TR Seapower Inflatable Boat Cleaner and Preservative
Household mold remover
Rydlyme

So I give up. It is what it is. It's only a boat. (I am rationalizing...)

If any of you smart people know of a product that actually works on stains that look like what I have, please let me know. After I sober up and my throbbing arm recovers, I might actually try your ideas.

BTW, I was successful in removing general surface dirt using Meguiars Car wash liquid followed by a scrubbing with Spray Nine in small areas. However the stains described above remained.

 

[Kermit]

Try Starbrite hull cleaner.
And if that doesn't work...

 

[JRacer]

Try Lysol toilet bowl cleaner, wear rubber gloves. Apply to the dry surface and let work a little while or use a boat scrub brush. then rinse. it tends to work better on the dry surface. Assume a wet surface dilutes it a bit.

barring that, looks like rubbing compound and the buffer may be needed.

 

[Alan Gomes]

I vote for giving up. This is a dinghy, right? As in something you use to get to and from the dock when you are anchored out? I think it looks much too nice already. You really should take steps to make it look less tidy in order to dampen a potential thief's enthusiasm for pilfering it.

 

[Mark Maulden]

I use Bon Ami and white scotchbrite. Then 303 protectorant. For PVC...

 

[capta]

ZEP brand Industrial Purple Cleaner and De-greaser is a lye based cleaner and I would be VERY careful with that stuff. Our bottle got a hole in it and it destroyed the varnish and the teak/holly laminate flooring wherever it went. Not only that but at full strength it will take off your fingernails.
Definitely NOT a product to be used anywhere on a boat without extreme care.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Can't offer any other stain removers other than scissors, however once you do get it clean, you can make it easier to clean next time by finally applying Meguiars vinyl and rubber cleaner (it DOES NOT clean squat) ........

........... but what it does is leave a slick surface (silicone ?) which doesn't allow grime to penetrate and stick with time. Armorall will leave the same slick surface and is probably half the price.

I've used it on the pontoons of the hard dink and on the boat's rub rail for 15 years and they can still pass for new.

 

[Johnb]

Practice mind over matter...if you stop minding it does'nt matter

 

[justsomeguy]

So I give up. It is what it is. It's only a boat. (I am rationalizing...)

You've done a man's job. I echo http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?members/alan-gomes.108837/. Too bad she won't live.

 

[SFS]

...However I don't want to scrub aggressively with a terry cloth towel a 6" square area for 3 minutes to achieve a small result.

Rich, this thought is the key in the lock. I used to be anal about everything, and am not so much any more. I was finally able to embrace the notion that sometimes "good enough" really is.

 

[Chris & Lenore]

Two things that work. Had the same issue in the past with the dinghy as well as the hull.

Oxalic acid will remove the black streaks and not damage anything. Several products contain it but the cheapest source is cleaner for wood decks (as in the deck at your house). Check the ingredients and get the one that's oxalic acid. A gallon is less than $10 at Lowes (think it's Behr brand).
Wipe it on and watch the black vanish. Hose off with lots of water after.

The other product is the powdered Barkeepers Friend but you need to use lots of the powder on a wet rag. It only "works" while the powder is dissolving. Oxalic acid is the active ingredient once again...

As for commercial (and expensive) products the dinghy cleaners from Aurora Products do work well. Main ingredient is oxalic acid.

Wish I could find my before and after pics. The before looks just like yours and the after looks like a new dinghy.

Anyway - no need for damaging chemicals or hard scrubbing.

The same stuff will also get rid of most hull streaks and stains without compounding or even hard work.

Chris

 

[Gene Neill]

You've done a man's job. I echo http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?members/alan-gomes.108837/. Too bad she won't live.

Outstanding Blade Runner reference.


+1 on the toilet bowl cleaner, I use a bargain brand called "The Works". Failing that, I'm in agreement on throwing in the towel. If you really need to clean something THAT badly, my boat is available for you at no charge. Start with the lazarettes, if you would, please. You'll need to remove the hatches.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Oxalic Acid. Available in Ace hardware, ,or others,, as Savogran wood bleach. Pint can Comes in crystal form,, mix with water. I carry it aboard always-removes the "waterway Frown" like it was an eraser.

Toilet bowl cleaner is simply dilute Oxalic, and costs more

 

[Rich Stidger]

If you really need to clean something THAT badly, my boat is available for you at no charge. Start with the lazarettes, if you would, please. You'll need to remove the hatches.

You are too kind. Let me get back to you on this.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Oxalic acid will remove the black streaks and not damage anything. Several products contain it but the cheapest source is cleaner for wood decks (as in the deck at your house). Check the ingredients and get the one that's oxalic acid. A gallon is less than $10 at Lowes (think it's Behr brand).
Wipe it on and watch the black vanish. Hose off with lots of water after.

Wish I could find my before and after pics. The before looks just like yours and the after looks like a new dinghy.

Anyway - no need for damaging chemicals or hard scrubbing.

The same stuff will also get rid of most hull streaks and stains without compounding or even hard work.

Chris

Thanks Chris for your suggestion. Since you say that your dinghy looked like mine, I will try oxalic acid at my next cleaning in the fall of 2017. For now, I'm done. I have put on a couple coats of 303 Protectant (like always) and I am storing for the winter. I do use oxalic acid for my hull brown waterline stains, but I never considered using it on the dinghy. I buy a couple pounds of the dry powder on Amazon for under $10 and mix it with hot water as needed.

And thanks to all for your suggestions. My arm has mostly recovered and I am ready to move on. Until next fall........

 

[justsomeguy]

Outstanding Blade Runner reference.

Thanks. I'm a yuuge PKD fanboi.

 

[jeepbluetj]

You've done a man's job. I echo http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?members/alan-gomes.108837/. Too bad she won't live.

Not only a great reference, in my head I heard Edward James Olmos reading this post.......

 

[Jackdaw]

You've done a man's job. I echo http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?members/alan-gomes.108837/. Too bad she won't live.

 

[JamesG161]

The Hypalon® is made for "chemical resistance", not stain resistance. A close comparison is Neoprene® for automotive hoses. Hypalon® is basically a Sulfonated Neoprene® which improves UV performance.
Here is a link to making a patch...
http://www.nrs.com/repair/hypalon_repair.asp
They say Toluene is used to prepare the bonding surface, but that area is about to be patched.

Clean the buffed surfaces with a lint-free towel and Toluene. The Toluene removes any oils, protectants, and sanding particles. It also prepares the surfaces to take the adhesive. Its use is important for achieving a good glue bond.
______
You are basically trying to clean your side walls of your landlubber tires.
________
Here is my best guess or similar products that should work...
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Magic-800002222-Bleche-Wite-Cleaner/dp/B005R6LOZM
Or any cleaner that has this chemical content....
SODIUM METASILICATE or other Silicate type compound.
______
From your pictures, it looks like there is a Fabric covering the Hypalon®, which may be a different Beast to clean.
Jim...

PS: I made Neoprene® in my youth.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Here is my best guess or similar products that should work...
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Magic-800002222-Bleche-Wite-Cleaner/dp/B005R6LOZM

Actually the Black Magic Bleche-Wite Cleaner is the one I used, not the Wesley. I was mistaken since I use both of them.