Soft scrub
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What about the fish?
I've seen it too. I wonder about washing it off into the water. Isn't it loaded with bleach and other nasty stuff?
I've seen it too. I wonder about washing it off into the water. Isn't it loaded with bleach and other nasty stuff?
Soft Scrub Works - But Use Sparingly
While I don't use it weekly -- it really does a good job 3-4 times a summer when the boat is really grungy. I'll have been away from the boat for about six weeks by the time I return to it in late September. My first job -- clean the boat with a brush and soft scrub. It doesn't seem to affect the gel coat at all -- the PO used it sparingly and so do I. If you search, you can find Soft Scrub without bleach. I used the bleach version once -- still have the khaki shorts with nice white streaks and circles. Can't speak for the fish. They seem to still surface after I've used it. I'd guess the bleach version is a little tougher on the aquatic life.
While I don't use it weekly -- it really does a good job 3-4 times a summer when the boat is really grungy. I'll have been away from the boat for about six weeks by the time I return to it in late September. My first job -- clean the boat with a brush and soft scrub. It doesn't seem to affect the gel coat at all -- the PO used it sparingly and so do I. If you search, you can find Soft Scrub without bleach. I used the bleach version once -- still have the khaki shorts with nice white streaks and circles. Can't speak for the fish. They seem to still surface after I've used it. I'd guess the bleach version is a little tougher on the aquatic life.
Bleach
From what I've read and heard very small amounts of bleach is okay (but don't quote me on it). I'm sure someone here can tell us if that's true. After all, it is in our tap water... But I'd venture to guess there is a ton of other stuff in soft scrub that is a lot worse. A power-boater at my marina told me that it works great for keeping the ducks off his swim platform. Sounds odd but he cleans the platform with it, and rinses it off. It must leave a residue that irritates the ducks feet???!!!?? Manny
From what I've read and heard very small amounts of bleach is okay (but don't quote me on it). I'm sure someone here can tell us if that's true. After all, it is in our tap water... But I'd venture to guess there is a ton of other stuff in soft scrub that is a lot worse. A power-boater at my marina told me that it works great for keeping the ducks off his swim platform. Sounds odd but he cleans the platform with it, and rinses it off. It must leave a residue that irritates the ducks feet???!!!?? Manny
using it depends on the age of your boat
I used soft scrub on my deck prior to using poliglow. A 22 year old boat (at least mine) had pretty much oxidized to the core and could not be compounded to restore any luster to the gelcoat. I don't think I would use it on a new boat, but really, what's the difference between compounding yearly and using soft scrub? I'll agree there are many more harmful additives to that product and it was not intended for environmentally friendly eco systems. But we are all a little ga-ga over shiny gleaming gelcoat. I suppose an owner could make up something close (home made)with a diluted bleach ratio to obtain the same effect. Who has the time? Why hasn't the marine industry given us something comparable? Maybe they have and we don't know it exists, if it does you can bet it isn't cheap, just like everything else in the industry. Laurie
I used soft scrub on my deck prior to using poliglow. A 22 year old boat (at least mine) had pretty much oxidized to the core and could not be compounded to restore any luster to the gelcoat. I don't think I would use it on a new boat, but really, what's the difference between compounding yearly and using soft scrub? I'll agree there are many more harmful additives to that product and it was not intended for environmentally friendly eco systems. But we are all a little ga-ga over shiny gleaming gelcoat. I suppose an owner could make up something close (home made)with a diluted bleach ratio to obtain the same effect. Who has the time? Why hasn't the marine industry given us something comparable? Maybe they have and we don't know it exists, if it does you can bet it isn't cheap, just like everything else in the industry. Laurie
I used it for the first
time this year on our 80' O'day 23. Badly oxidized hull that showed only the faintest of shine even after a good clean and wax. Tested it on a small area and was impressed enough to attack the whole hull. It really brought back a shine, and removed a lot of embedded dirt. I probably wouldn't make a habit of using it but for the really tough job it worked great. I have been hesitant to use it around the water, wasn't sure the contents wouldn't hurt the aquatic life.
time this year on our 80' O'day 23. Badly oxidized hull that showed only the faintest of shine even after a good clean and wax. Tested it on a small area and was impressed enough to attack the whole hull. It really brought back a shine, and removed a lot of embedded dirt. I probably wouldn't make a habit of using it but for the really tough job it worked great. I have been hesitant to use it around the water, wasn't sure the contents wouldn't hurt the aquatic life.
Magic Eraser!!
The Mr. CLean Magic Erasers work far better, on most stains, than any chemical I have ever found! There are also no bad chemicals and all you need to do is add water to the sponge... Wal*Mart has a version, made in the same factory, for about half the price!
The Mr. CLean Magic Erasers work far better, on most stains, than any chemical I have ever found! There are also no bad chemicals and all you need to do is add water to the sponge... Wal*Mart has a version, made in the same factory, for about half the price!
Depends on the Gelcoat condition
I think it really matters on how old and in what condition your gel coat is in. On my older Catalina 30 ('78) - the gel coat is done and has microscopic pours in it from age and sun. Once dirt and mildew gets in them - scrubbing is not going to help (even soft scrub). I found that the best thing for me to do in the spring is a bleach wash down - I let the bleach soak into the gel coat and then rinse. Later in the season while the boat is in the water I use regular marine soap and a scrub brush but it does not come as clean. On a new boat with a good gel coat finish- I would not use any abrasive type cleaner or bleach as regular soap will work just fine. Rob
I think it really matters on how old and in what condition your gel coat is in. On my older Catalina 30 ('78) - the gel coat is done and has microscopic pours in it from age and sun. Once dirt and mildew gets in them - scrubbing is not going to help (even soft scrub). I found that the best thing for me to do in the spring is a bleach wash down - I let the bleach soak into the gel coat and then rinse. Later in the season while the boat is in the water I use regular marine soap and a scrub brush but it does not come as clean. On a new boat with a good gel coat finish- I would not use any abrasive type cleaner or bleach as regular soap will work just fine. Rob
Most are too too anal about gelcoat
Most gelcoat at least that found on quality boats is actually quite thick, generally running from 1/32-1/16" thick. If you 'buff-off' 1/1000th of an inch each year when you wax and compound .... you will wear through in 60 years. The FLATTER you keep the gel either by rubbing it with softscrub, high speed buffing compounds, etc. the less it seems to degrade. Once the surface becomes oxidized/rough the destruction seems to progress quite fast until the gel microscopically breaks apart into teeney 'islands' that under a microscope look like a dried out mud-pond .... and then the only thing that will 'save' the gel is to paint it. Aggressive buffing, flat sanding and polishing seems to greatly retard the destruction of gelcoat .... or so I've come to realize after owning gelcoated boats as long as they've been making gelcoated boats. On all my fiberglass boats, I aggressively FLAT SAND the gelcoat every few (3-4) years to remove the oxidized upper gel surface ...... 1000 grit ---> 1300 grit--->2000 grit, then I POWERBUFF with a high speed autobodyshop polisher with 3M Finese-it and 3M Perfect-it compounds. Thats how NEW gelcoat is buffed when a new boat is pulled from its mold !!!!!!!!!! If done 'right' you can keep a 35 year old hull looking like 'showroom' new. I routinely wax with a natural carnauba based wax but then 'strip' the wax with caustic cleaners every few years to be sure the old/dead/oxidizing wax is removed from the 'pores' of the gel. All my (old boats and new) boats have looked like they just came off the showroom. Only once did I thin-out the gelcoat by over buffing .... and simply had new gel sprayed onto that spot as a repair. Dont BABY your gelcoat ... or it will become surface-rough which will accelerate its destruction/oxidation. Keep your Gel clean and FLAT by polishing/compounding ...... just dont 'burn through' the sharp corners, etc. when polishing and you'll enjoy good looking gel for MANY years. Dirty spot on my Gel .... no problem; if a super-strong detergent doesnt work, out with the 2000 grit sand paper !!!!!!!
Most gelcoat at least that found on quality boats is actually quite thick, generally running from 1/32-1/16" thick. If you 'buff-off' 1/1000th of an inch each year when you wax and compound .... you will wear through in 60 years. The FLATTER you keep the gel either by rubbing it with softscrub, high speed buffing compounds, etc. the less it seems to degrade. Once the surface becomes oxidized/rough the destruction seems to progress quite fast until the gel microscopically breaks apart into teeney 'islands' that under a microscope look like a dried out mud-pond .... and then the only thing that will 'save' the gel is to paint it. Aggressive buffing, flat sanding and polishing seems to greatly retard the destruction of gelcoat .... or so I've come to realize after owning gelcoated boats as long as they've been making gelcoated boats. On all my fiberglass boats, I aggressively FLAT SAND the gelcoat every few (3-4) years to remove the oxidized upper gel surface ...... 1000 grit ---> 1300 grit--->2000 grit, then I POWERBUFF with a high speed autobodyshop polisher with 3M Finese-it and 3M Perfect-it compounds. Thats how NEW gelcoat is buffed when a new boat is pulled from its mold !!!!!!!!!! If done 'right' you can keep a 35 year old hull looking like 'showroom' new. I routinely wax with a natural carnauba based wax but then 'strip' the wax with caustic cleaners every few years to be sure the old/dead/oxidizing wax is removed from the 'pores' of the gel. All my (old boats and new) boats have looked like they just came off the showroom. Only once did I thin-out the gelcoat by over buffing .... and simply had new gel sprayed onto that spot as a repair. Dont BABY your gelcoat ... or it will become surface-rough which will accelerate its destruction/oxidation. Keep your Gel clean and FLAT by polishing/compounding ...... just dont 'burn through' the sharp corners, etc. when polishing and you'll enjoy good looking gel for MANY years. Dirty spot on my Gel .... no problem; if a super-strong detergent doesnt work, out with the 2000 grit sand paper !!!!!!!
Hi Manny, I only use Soft Scrub on the inside...
of the boat. When we purchased ours five years ago there were several places on the interior that had lots of black mildew including the soft liner. We cleaned it up with Soft Scrub and it has never returned. On the exterior I use the blended polish and wax from 3M with a machine buffer or by hand. It does a good job removing black marks and stains. Terry
of the boat. When we purchased ours five years ago there were several places on the interior that had lots of black mildew including the soft liner. We cleaned it up with Soft Scrub and it has never returned. On the exterior I use the blended polish and wax from 3M with a machine buffer or by hand. It does a good job removing black marks and stains. Terry
I started with 120 grit on my 1/4 sheet sander!
Just like Don Casey said and finished with 600. I wonder what it would look like with 2000....wow! Soft-Scrub, ha, just do it. Hugh
Just like Don Casey said and finished with 600. I wonder what it would look like with 2000....wow! Soft-Scrub, ha, just do it. Hugh
Soft Scrub is made for gelcoat!
Softscrub is made for cleaning fiberglas tubs and showers which are the same gelcoat as a boat! It actually takes out the small imperfections that arise in the gelcoat. The key to keeping a boat clean is to have a good thick and slick coat of wax, then the bird and spider droppings can be mostly washed off with a hose under a little pressure. If you have a hull with no wax, the mildew and grime gets caught in the small "potholes" in the gelcoat and is then really hard to get off. I use soft scrub in the spring, then wax. Parts of my hull need it again now, but it has been so hot, I'm waiting for a few weeks to do it again. Two to three times a year will keep your topsides looking great in my region.
Softscrub is made for cleaning fiberglas tubs and showers which are the same gelcoat as a boat! It actually takes out the small imperfections that arise in the gelcoat. The key to keeping a boat clean is to have a good thick and slick coat of wax, then the bird and spider droppings can be mostly washed off with a hose under a little pressure. If you have a hull with no wax, the mildew and grime gets caught in the small "potholes" in the gelcoat and is then really hard to get off. I use soft scrub in the spring, then wax. Parts of my hull need it again now, but it has been so hot, I'm waiting for a few weeks to do it again. Two to three times a year will keep your topsides looking great in my region.
I've had good luck
with Soft Scrub and a bristle brush. I usually do the whole deck and cockpit of my boat about twice a season and it usually turns out very nicely. I cannot detect any harm to my 21 yr old gel coat. I have also recently begun using a paste made up of Oxyclean and just enough water to make it gooey. I use it for stubborn bird-poop/berry stains and it seems to work well. I also have used this paste on my Dacron main to remove organic stains there.
with Soft Scrub and a bristle brush. I usually do the whole deck and cockpit of my boat about twice a season and it usually turns out very nicely. I cannot detect any harm to my 21 yr old gel coat. I have also recently begun using a paste made up of Oxyclean and just enough water to make it gooey. I use it for stubborn bird-poop/berry stains and it seems to work well. I also have used this paste on my Dacron main to remove organic stains there.
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