San Diego based sailors

[Brian D]

Do you have tiny black spots on your deck? I scrubbed my deck today and found all these tiny black spots. Couldn't get them up. I don't think the deck is pitted. I am sure these spots will come up with the right tools (chemicals or carefully used razor blade).Thanks

 

[Joseph Shirley]

Are you near a power plant or near any big ships?

Power plants and ships normally blow tubes once a day if they can and the soot particles can do that. The soot is high in sulphur and is acidic and will burn if you get into your eyes My boat was in Seattle once moored near a main highway and I had black stuff all over my decks, but that turned out to be rubber particles from auto tires. Who would have believed it! My stuff came off fairly easy, but soot is a lot harder.

 

[Joe]

what are your neighbors doing....

...about them? or is it just your boat?

 

[Brian D]

The boats around me are not maintained!

Pretty much the people around me do not wash their boats. So I can't ask them, I never see them.I was talking to a boat owner on another dock and he said it is from the airplanes. My boat is a few miles south of San Diego International Airport. So he may be on to something. And there is a power plant to our south. The dominant winds are from the west thought. I have seen the wind direction in the early morning coming from the south. It very well could be soot.