While trailering my 26 Hunter this weekend we came across road construction that I could not detour. They were laying asphalt and oiling the road I got most of it off with varsol but now have a light brown patch on both sides of the boat which looks like you know what. I have kept rubbing with varsol and other cleaners that are suppose to remove tar & oil but don't seem to be making much headway. Doe anyone know of a rubbing compound that would be able to take this out?
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Solvents might work
I would start with alcohol then kerosene, diesel fuel or paint thinner. If those did not work, acetone then MEK. Last resort might be a small amount of gasoline. If none of those work, soft scrub, plastic scraper, and / or fine rubbing compound.
I would start with alcohol then kerosene, diesel fuel or paint thinner. If those did not work, acetone then MEK. Last resort might be a small amount of gasoline. If none of those work, soft scrub, plastic scraper, and / or fine rubbing compound.
Tar Stain
Ken-When all else fails--Repeated applications of regular Coke-A-Cola, followed by household bleach full strength but watch where it drains off too and rinse frequently.
Ken-When all else fails--Repeated applications of regular Coke-A-Cola, followed by household bleach full strength but watch where it drains off too and rinse frequently.
Further on Tar Stain
Ken--Before the Coke/Bleach application, try mineral spirits. It is not a petroleum base as the tar is and works well around the house on stains such as this on carpeting etc. Watch out on the acetone. It could effect the gel coat.
Ken--Before the Coke/Bleach application, try mineral spirits. It is not a petroleum base as the tar is and works well around the house on stains such as this on carpeting etc. Watch out on the acetone. It could effect the gel coat.
Sorry, Bob W, Mineral Spirits ARE petroleum based
, also known as Petroleum Spirits, Ligroin, Petroleum Ether, etc. Mineral spirits are distilled from petroleum (that's where the mineral in mineral spirits comes from). They are fairly highly refined and don't have any additional additives (as gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel etc do.), so they may do a better job of removing tar that those solvents do. Other options include Goo Gone (from citrus oil) or turpentine (fron pine oil). The biggest problem with the solvent based approach is that you are just diluting (and probably spreading) the tar stain. If you use any of these options, change your cloth FREQUENTLY to make sure that you remove the tar and don't just spread it around. Steve Alchemist
, also known as Petroleum Spirits, Ligroin, Petroleum Ether, etc. Mineral spirits are distilled from petroleum (that's where the mineral in mineral spirits comes from). They are fairly highly refined and don't have any additional additives (as gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel etc do.), so they may do a better job of removing tar that those solvents do. Other options include Goo Gone (from citrus oil) or turpentine (fron pine oil). The biggest problem with the solvent based approach is that you are just diluting (and probably spreading) the tar stain. If you use any of these options, change your cloth FREQUENTLY to make sure that you remove the tar and don't just spread it around. Steve Alchemist
Try AntiBond 2015
It will take off 3M's 5200 and should not bother the finish....cost between 12-15 dollars for 4 oz
It will take off 3M's 5200 and should not bother the finish....cost between 12-15 dollars for 4 oz
Thanks everyone
Thanks for all the help. To date I have used colman fuel (just because it was handy) varsol, gasoline and I went to our GM dealer and got specific tar & grime remover. As I mentioned before I have removed about 95% of it, but now am left with a light brown spot about 3ft around on both sides of the boat and no matter how hard I rub it just gets shiney and is still there. I think I need to get somthing with a bit of grit in it, any Ideas?
Thanks for all the help. To date I have used colman fuel (just because it was handy) varsol, gasoline and I went to our GM dealer and got specific tar & grime remover. As I mentioned before I have removed about 95% of it, but now am left with a light brown spot about 3ft around on both sides of the boat and no matter how hard I rub it just gets shiney and is still there. I think I need to get somthing with a bit of grit in it, any Ideas?
Simple Green
Found a stain at the vent for my diesel fuel. Used Simple Green - the automotive strength - and took it right off. Don't use the Wal-Mart stuff, go to a parts house and get the automotive strength. Works on all kinds of stains and dirt...
Found a stain at the vent for my diesel fuel. Used Simple Green - the automotive strength - and took it right off. Don't use the Wal-Mart stuff, go to a parts house and get the automotive strength. Works on all kinds of stains and dirt...
Agree with Alchemist
most solvents are "petroleum based" whatever that really means. It doesn't really matter if ethanol comes from oil or plants, it is still ethanol. Kind of like the "natural" lable. Just say no to vagueness! Did you try vegetable oil? It sounds like you are just spreading the tar deeper into the pores in your gel coat. You may need to somehow pressure wash with strong detergent or steam clean it now. Using clean rags might extract some more of it but it may be a diminishing effect. You may want to wax it next time before you take it out on the road.
most solvents are "petroleum based" whatever that really means. It doesn't really matter if ethanol comes from oil or plants, it is still ethanol. Kind of like the "natural" lable. Just say no to vagueness! Did you try vegetable oil? It sounds like you are just spreading the tar deeper into the pores in your gel coat. You may need to somehow pressure wash with strong detergent or steam clean it now. Using clean rags might extract some more of it but it may be a diminishing effect. You may want to wax it next time before you take it out on the road.
Sounds Crazy
I know this will sound Crazy... One time when I was sailing down the Coast of California, I was going by Santa Barbara and got a lot of tar on my hull. I was told that it was naturally occuring tar, but it may have been from the offshore oil rigs. Anyway, I sailed into Ventura and was trying all manor of products to get it off and nothing was working too well. An old time local came by and saw what I was doing. He said "go get yourself a jar of mayonaise and use that as a cleanser". I was willing to try anything. I had mayonaise on the boat so I got the jar and sure enough... it took the tar right off. Shined up the jel-coat real nice too. Smelled like a ham sandwich, but that's another story. Honest, I am not making this up. Liam.
I know this will sound Crazy... One time when I was sailing down the Coast of California, I was going by Santa Barbara and got a lot of tar on my hull. I was told that it was naturally occuring tar, but it may have been from the offshore oil rigs. Anyway, I sailed into Ventura and was trying all manor of products to get it off and nothing was working too well. An old time local came by and saw what I was doing. He said "go get yourself a jar of mayonaise and use that as a cleanser". I was willing to try anything. I had mayonaise on the boat so I got the jar and sure enough... it took the tar right off. Shined up the jel-coat real nice too. Smelled like a ham sandwich, but that's another story. Honest, I am not making this up. Liam.
Mayonaise...... really?!?
OK, Liam, I'll put that on my list of things to try if I ever get tar on the hull...... If it works, the Commodore will certainly certify me as a genius for thinking to try it
BTW, we sail Windy Alley all the time and haven't run into any tar or oil. Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
OK, Liam, I'll put that on my list of things to try if I ever get tar on the hull...... If it works, the Commodore will certainly certify me as a genius for thinking to try it
BTW, we sail Windy Alley all the time and haven't run into any tar or oil. Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8Golita
Hey Bob, We caught the tar up a little west of Golita kind of close in to the beach ( half mile or so).
Hey Bob, We caught the tar up a little west of Golita kind of close in to the beach ( half mile or so).
cleaning gunk
anything mentioned above should work nicely, trick is to make sure you always wash down from the top of the stain to the bottom, If the stain doesn't extend all the way down to the bottom of the boat, do a real heavy wax job on the hull below the stain to keep it from crawling down the hull. Ken.
anything mentioned above should work nicely, trick is to make sure you always wash down from the top of the stain to the bottom, If the stain doesn't extend all the way down to the bottom of the boat, do a real heavy wax job on the hull below the stain to keep it from crawling down the hull. Ken.
Mayonnaise .... yup
Mayonnaise is loaded with polysorbate-80 a powerful emulsifier. Also good for removing goooo on vinyl and sail cloth. If the tar removal leaves a shadow brown stain, this can usually be bleached out by application of oxalic acic. Best source of oxalic is commercial cleansers (dont rub) such as ZUD or Bartenders Friend. The cheapest way to buy oxalic acid is from a hardware or paint store: 'wood bleach'.
Mayonnaise is loaded with polysorbate-80 a powerful emulsifier. Also good for removing goooo on vinyl and sail cloth. If the tar removal leaves a shadow brown stain, this can usually be bleached out by application of oxalic acic. Best source of oxalic is commercial cleansers (dont rub) such as ZUD or Bartenders Friend. The cheapest way to buy oxalic acid is from a hardware or paint store: 'wood bleach'.
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