I recently brought my H40.5 from Jacksonville to Deltaville, VA and spent much of the trip on the ICW. The boat had quite a mustache and the stern also was discolored from being buried while speeding up the dark waters. I didn't have much luck removing these stains. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Bill Jones s/v Bardi Sea
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GoJo
Try GoJo or any of the other waterless hand cleaners that are used by mechanics. It works in the New York waters.
Try GoJo or any of the other waterless hand cleaners that are used by mechanics. It works in the New York waters.
Don't Laugh
Hey Bill, I have a 40.5 also and brought it from Miami to Houston and also spent some time on the ICW. I accidently spilled some "diet 7-up" on the brown stain at the transom, i did not wash it off and about 15 min. later the stain was gone. i used a "mist-er", full strenth (spray heavy) on a dry hull. .....hey, how easy can it get, and what do you have to lose but a can of 7-up ? Take care, Jim Vincent, Toucan
Hey Bill, I have a 40.5 also and brought it from Miami to Houston and also spent some time on the ICW. I accidently spilled some "diet 7-up" on the brown stain at the transom, i did not wash it off and about 15 min. later the stain was gone. i used a "mist-er", full strenth (spray heavy) on a dry hull. .....hey, how easy can it get, and what do you have to lose but a can of 7-up ? Take care, Jim Vincent, Toucan
oxalic acid
HOOCCOCH-2H2O Works great on decks too, especially if you can find the powder in commercial quantities. Or, if you don't mind being overcharged, you can buy a gel form of oxalic acid in most chandleries under the brand name FSR, which stands for Fiberglass Stain Remover.
HOOCCOCH-2H2O Works great on decks too, especially if you can find the powder in commercial quantities. Or, if you don't mind being overcharged, you can buy a gel form of oxalic acid in most chandleries under the brand name FSR, which stands for Fiberglass Stain Remover.
Lemon juice.....
You can take the lemon out of your drink and rub in on the hull or put a little 'Real Lemon' lemon juice on a rag and wipe it. No rubbing needed...... the acid in the lemon juice takes it right off.
You can take the lemon out of your drink and rub in on the hull or put a little 'Real Lemon' lemon juice on a rag and wipe it. No rubbing needed...... the acid in the lemon juice takes it right off.
FSR or Y10.....
will remove this stuff.. We get this all the time up in NY... works great. You can see it disappear when you put it on.
will remove this stuff.. We get this all the time up in NY... works great. You can see it disappear when you put it on.
This works!
Bill, I have found the difinitive answer to this problem. Star Brite silicone marine polish! The stuff drives out all of your dull gel-coat oxidation over time, while replacing it with sacrificial silicone down inside it. This creates a barrier that the UV can eat up instead of your gel-coat. This same barrier stops the soot from entering the gel-coat too. If you use the stuff again and again, it builds up a nice little shine, kind of like brand new! Elbow grease is key, but after a few applications, the soot wipes right off with a little more polish. It seems that the 'moist' portion of the polish acts as a solvent quickly removing soot or scum or whatever. Works great for your gel-coat strip just below the boot stripe too! Each application makes her shine a little more and a bit easier to clean the next time. But at least two applications/year are a must. It contains no abrasives. It is the only product that I use for the exterior gel-coat on Best Revenge, top sides, and cabin top. Not on the non-skid tho'! Too slippery! Ron
Bill, I have found the difinitive answer to this problem. Star Brite silicone marine polish! The stuff drives out all of your dull gel-coat oxidation over time, while replacing it with sacrificial silicone down inside it. This creates a barrier that the UV can eat up instead of your gel-coat. This same barrier stops the soot from entering the gel-coat too. If you use the stuff again and again, it builds up a nice little shine, kind of like brand new! Elbow grease is key, but after a few applications, the soot wipes right off with a little more polish. It seems that the 'moist' portion of the polish acts as a solvent quickly removing soot or scum or whatever. Works great for your gel-coat strip just below the boot stripe too! Each application makes her shine a little more and a bit easier to clean the next time. But at least two applications/year are a must. It contains no abrasives. It is the only product that I use for the exterior gel-coat on Best Revenge, top sides, and cabin top. Not on the non-skid tho'! Too slippery! Ron
After you get it clean,
After it is clean, wipe a coat of New Glass, or a similar product in the mustashe area, it won't return. I do not like nu glass for any other part of the boat, but ir works here and on the waterline. Good Luck!
After it is clean, wipe a coat of New Glass, or a similar product in the mustashe area, it won't return. I do not like nu glass for any other part of the boat, but ir works here and on the waterline. Good Luck!
Hull Cleaner
At West Marine there is a product called Hull Cleaner by Starbrite, I believe. Worked for me.
At West Marine there is a product called Hull Cleaner by Starbrite, I believe. Worked for me.
I use muriatic acid
I have the same problem in NC and the Chesapeake and have had great experience with muriatic acid. It is used for cleaning bricks and swimming pool PH, and can be found for about $2/gal in home improvement stores. No reaction with fiberglass and it works better than anything else I have found (or sold - I work at West Marine). Use gloves, wipe on and work down the waterline. By the time you get to the end, go back and rinse/clean off.
I have the same problem in NC and the Chesapeake and have had great experience with muriatic acid. It is used for cleaning bricks and swimming pool PH, and can be found for about $2/gal in home improvement stores. No reaction with fiberglass and it works better than anything else I have found (or sold - I work at West Marine). Use gloves, wipe on and work down the waterline. By the time you get to the end, go back and rinse/clean off.
Lemon Juice
I once read in SAIL that a sliced lemon would break down that orange tinge. Now I'm assuming that lemon juice would do the same thing. It must have something to do with citric acid.
I once read in SAIL that a sliced lemon would break down that orange tinge. Now I'm assuming that lemon juice would do the same thing. It must have something to do with citric acid.
Ace Fiberglas Cleaner
Ace Hardware's Fiberglas Cleaner Spray works wonders. Don't know what's in it, but the brown stain simply melts away within seconds after spraying it on. Not being a "boating product", it's about half the price of other solutions.
Ace Hardware's Fiberglas Cleaner Spray works wonders. Don't know what's in it, but the brown stain simply melts away within seconds after spraying it on. Not being a "boating product", it's about half the price of other solutions.
One More
I have used 'Sno Bowl' toilet cleaner with good results. I dilute it about 4:1 and rinse well after a few minutes. It removed the stain from my last trip down the ICW.
I have used 'Sno Bowl' toilet cleaner with good results. I dilute it about 4:1 and rinse well after a few minutes. It removed the stain from my last trip down the ICW.
On and Off
I used a product called On and Off which is aptly named to remove these stains from my boat. It cost about $10 a bottle. It uses some kind of acid, maybe Oxalic. So, you have to wear gloves to use it. But, you apply it with a rag and then spray it off. The stain is gone!
I used a product called On and Off which is aptly named to remove these stains from my boat. It cost about $10 a bottle. It uses some kind of acid, maybe Oxalic. So, you have to wear gloves to use it. But, you apply it with a rag and then spray it off. The stain is gone!
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