Not Again

[Rick Ellis]

I took a friend out on the boat yesterday. After parking his car in the parking lot he mananged to step in some hot tar. I now have tars tracks running up the starboard side of my boat. Any ideas how to remove tar from fiberglass?

 

[Brent Headberg]

Tar Remover

Rick, tar can be easily removed with WD-40. In the Bahamas at some of the beach resorts they have handy WD-40 tar wipes when you leave the beach. Lots of tar on the beaches in the Bahamas.Good Luck,Cap'n Brent

 

[Rick Ellis]

Okaie dokie

Thanks Cap'n

 

[Victor Robert]

Citrus cleaner from Home Depot

I have the same problem from time to time. Can't figure where the tar is coming from. I have had good success in cleaning it with an orange colored citrus cleaner/degreaser product sold by the gallon at Home Depot (might be made by DEP). Also useful for general boat cleaning. Just be careful because it makes the deck slippery until its washed off.

 

[Paul Akers]

Mineral Spirits/Paint Thinner

These will cut it and remove it. Try it on that gummy residue from old fenders, also.

 

[Tom Akin]

How about pine tree sap??

The boat I just bought has a similar problem. It was parked under a pine tree for 5 years. That sap seems solvent resistant as can be... Any good tips for getting it off? Normal solvents seem to bounce off.

 

[Steve Dion]

Clorox Gel.

I have had some success using Clorox Gel. It seems to actually disolve the sap. All trees are different, but it is worth a try.

 

[Garry]

Go Jo

My daughter used to get pine tree sap in her hair! and I finally foud that Go Jo or one of the other waterless hand cleaners that mechanics use will remove it without difficulty.