Was a bad boy and didnt wash the boat over the winter. I now have some mold in nonskid and some smooth areas. So, question is will a bleach solution harm polycarbonate/lexan etc windows when it runs off the deck during the rinse?
Mold in gelcoat
- Thread starter Mark Maulden
- Start date
As usual my answer doesn't address your question:
I found that 3M non-skid deck cleaner, a stiff brush, and elbow grease worked pretty well when I had Mold/Algae or whatever in the non-skid.
Now for your question:
I don't think a mild bleach solution will hurt the non-skid. As for your concern about polycarbonate/lexan I can't confidently answer.
I found that 3M non-skid deck cleaner, a stiff brush, and elbow grease worked pretty well when I had Mold/Algae or whatever in the non-skid.
Now for your question:
I don't think a mild bleach solution will hurt the non-skid. As for your concern about polycarbonate/lexan I can't confidently answer.
Mark,
We've had boats here since 1983. In the 17 years we've had this boat, I've never had an issue. Except for last year. Somehow the north side of my boat got a HUGE dose of mold all over. Deck, nonskid, hull, etc.
I tried everything listed on this forum for the past decade (I did a search on mold).
One day my wife said: "Try this, it works in our bathroom." Lysol Mold & Mildew Remover. Tilex would be an alternate.
No muss, no fuss, worked great. Squirted it on, waited a few minutes and everything came right off.
I just LOVE stuff that doesn't require elbow grease.
No grease left in my elbow!
Didn't harm our portlights.
We've had boats here since 1983. In the 17 years we've had this boat, I've never had an issue. Except for last year. Somehow the north side of my boat got a HUGE dose of mold all over. Deck, nonskid, hull, etc.
I tried everything listed on this forum for the past decade (I did a search on mold).
One day my wife said: "Try this, it works in our bathroom." Lysol Mold & Mildew Remover. Tilex would be an alternate.
No muss, no fuss, worked great. Squirted it on, waited a few minutes and everything came right off.
I just LOVE stuff that doesn't require elbow grease.
No grease left in my elbow!
Didn't harm our portlights.
Caution about using mold/mildew formulas and or bleach.. be VERY careful not to get any of the full strength stuff into/on the upward looking swedges for any wire rope fittings like forestay, backstay, mast shrouds.. In full strength or even diluted, this stuff will attack stainless that is under lots of residual stress (as from swedging) and cause cracking.. it is not an immediate process, but it is cumulative..
This stuff is harmful to living things at full strength, but by the time it gets into the water, it will have been diluted to be pretty much non toxic. It further degrades in sunlight and leaves a non toxic salt..
This stuff is harmful to living things at full strength, but by the time it gets into the water, it will have been diluted to be pretty much non toxic. It further degrades in sunlight and leaves a non toxic salt..
Sitting here at Deer Harbor, i caught a detailer on the dock and she uses Tilex on Sunbrella...not sure I'm ready for that. But Tilex might be a solution...i was thinking of making a slurry of corn starch/water/and a little clorox..thicken it up a bit for some soak time with a little scrub and rinse. I think some sailing over the winter would also help. I wonder if some saltwater rinses would also help... Like Stu, i didn t have this problem till this spring. Probably cuz of the VERY mild winter. Not one flake of snow...
Just power wash the deck. Keep the nozzle far enough away from the surface and use lowest pressure possible. Also don't directly spray at base of stanchions, deck fittings, etc. to prevent blasting out bedding/sealant. Just need water with no soap. Environmentally friendly, quick, & easy. I usually do mine after winter to clean up crud and mildew that has formed on the non-skid. Doesn't get any easier nor effective.
As promised
photo 1 is before ....2 is during with on and off applied .....3 is after rinse off
tried to label them in ms paint but i am not very good a that
ok i cut some lexan of a drop in the shop and peeled off the protection ...took pics of before during and after ...looks like on and off won't hurt the lexan
photo 1 is before ....2 is during with on and off applied .....3 is after rinse off
tried to label them in ms paint but i am not very good a that
Attachments
Gelcoat Mold Removal
Last year was the first year I used our electric Karcher pressure washer to clean the boat. In years past it was always soap and brushes. Never again. The Karcher did a wonderful job at removing all that stubborn mildew stuff, black spots, especially the deep stuff on the non skid areas and the dark swirly stuff on the gelcoat. Our Karcher is a 1500 PSI electric model, I think. Used to clean the Sunbrella canvas and various ropes. A bit slow, but certainly better than all those chemicals, soaps and brushes.
Last year was the first year I used our electric Karcher pressure washer to clean the boat. In years past it was always soap and brushes. Never again. The Karcher did a wonderful job at removing all that stubborn mildew stuff, black spots, especially the deep stuff on the non skid areas and the dark swirly stuff on the gelcoat. Our Karcher is a 1500 PSI electric model, I think. Used to clean the Sunbrella canvas and various ropes. A bit slow, but certainly better than all those chemicals, soaps and brushes.
I hate to endorse products but I had my arm twisted this past week to use "Starbrite non-skid cleaner".
This stuff actually worked - took of not just the mold but everything else too. Just squirt on, spread with brush, let sit a few minutes and then brush everything away.
It supposedly leaves a Teflon film that slows further mold formation.
I'm hooked - will not use anything else now.
Chris
This stuff actually worked - took of not just the mold but everything else too. Just squirt on, spread with brush, let sit a few minutes and then brush everything away.
It supposedly leaves a Teflon film that slows further mold formation.
I'm hooked - will not use anything else now.
Chris
I've used it for several years and has worked great. I've gotten to the point that I just spray it on the dirt spots vs the entire boat. Much better and cheaper than maquires deck cleaner. FYI it sells for 6.96 at the local Walmart. Identical bottle - size etc sells for 11.99 at WM.
I have been using Star Brite non skid deck cleaner also for couple years. I bought a gallon from WM last year when it was on sale. Glad to hear that Walmart has it also. Works well and leaves no discoloration. Supposed to leave a film that makes future cleaning easier; however, it doesn't seem to make the bird droppings any easier to remove. Tried Woodys deck sealer for a while; however, where it pooled up, it discolored. Woodys definitely helped in the bird dropping department; you could simply hose off the droppings. Woodys required application every 6 weeks after a thorough deck scrub.
Starbrite didnt touch it. This mold is imbedded in pores. You have to be within ~ 5 ft to see it. I went to Ace and bought a clorox pen. Wiped it on and let soak for a "minute" and scrubbed a bit with little brush and it came clean. I might try a little FSR (cuz i have some) but im liking my corn starch idea for a clorox gel...
Was using Starbright non-skid cleaner with PTFE, but on recommend of Practical Sailor switched to Starbright Super Orange Citrus Boat Wash & Wax. That works much better and in combination with a sunny day, my decks shine bright white. Bleach oxidizes gelcoat, stripes any wax, opens micro pores and leaves a chalky surface that holds moisture and encourages mildew. Especially if you don't rinse seawater off. There is no miracle no-work cure for deck mildew, you have to swab the decks regularly, or spend some time getting them back.
Responding late to this thread. And people have probably moved on.
Anyway, I am in Stu Jackson's camp. A household product might just do as well as a $ inflated marine labeled specialty item.
I have 35 year-on gelcoat. -- It has aged to a wonderful porous patina. Not so much on my topsides, but more so in the cockpit cabin. Black mold grows primarily on the north facing always-in-the-shadow sections. For $1 at Dollar Tree, I use the product as in the below link. This is the 1/2 gallon refill, but its also available (again for $1) in spray bottles. I spray over the affected surfaces. Spraying means just enough to do the job which minimizes the environmental aspect. After a minute or two, the white gelcoat turns a pale yellow. I scrub with a terrycloth face towel. After air drying for a while, I wash off with water. Black mold is normally totally gone, but bad sections might need a repeat. The yellow does go away. Because all looks white and clean again, I always forget to wax inside my cockpit white whichprobably would inhibit regrowth of black mold. Maybe I'll remember this year.
http://www.dollartree.com/household...er-Refill-64-oz-/500c501c502p300084/index.pro
Anyway, I am in Stu Jackson's camp. A household product might just do as well as a $ inflated marine labeled specialty item.
I have 35 year-on gelcoat. -- It has aged to a wonderful porous patina. Not so much on my topsides, but more so in the cockpit cabin. Black mold grows primarily on the north facing always-in-the-shadow sections. For $1 at Dollar Tree, I use the product as in the below link. This is the 1/2 gallon refill, but its also available (again for $1) in spray bottles. I spray over the affected surfaces. Spraying means just enough to do the job which minimizes the environmental aspect. After a minute or two, the white gelcoat turns a pale yellow. I scrub with a terrycloth face towel. After air drying for a while, I wash off with water. Black mold is normally totally gone, but bad sections might need a repeat. The yellow does go away. Because all looks white and clean again, I always forget to wax inside my cockpit white whichprobably would inhibit regrowth of black mold. Maybe I'll remember this year.
http://www.dollartree.com/household...er-Refill-64-oz-/500c501c502p300084/index.pro