This stuff won't come off.

[Mac Bentley]

I'm embarrassed to even post this photo, because the boat really doesn't look that bad.But this stuff won't come off. I've tried every kind of soap, simple green, all that stuff.Only appears on deck and cockpit, not on topsides. I've only been able to polish it off, which I'm getting ready to do again.Unless someone has a better idea. Help appreciated.Thanks, Mac

 

[Pooka 3]

Mold ???

MaC, This looks like some moldy stuff I had on the inside cabin roof of my H26 last year. I used "Softscrub" with bleach in it to remove the crud. Worked well and it has not come back. Mike T.

 

[cbsailor]

Whitewall Cleaner

While it may not be environmentally friendly, I have seen owners at our marina have good results removing mold and whitening the topsides with Westley's Bleche-Wite which is available where automotive products are sold. Its a tire / whitewall cleaner.

 

[Artro DeVitalis]

This works for me

The mold loves Pensacola Fl as much as we do and loves my 23.5 which sits in the water most of the time, and the Blue Angels who fly over the house in their practice routines love leaving an oily fog to settle on the topside. What works for me is a solution of 2/3 chlorine bleach, a small amount of simple green, small amount of water and a stiff brushing followed by fresh water rinse and then letting the sunshine take over. Works great for the bird poops too. If it ain't one thing, it's another!!

 

[Bwana The Iguana]

We need cleaner fish anyway.....

I had a lot of this going on with my previous boat, a San Juan 24. I used soft scrub back then and it worked. Try that with a bit of scrubbing. Or, try the 'I want whiter fish' method. Get a industrial size Chlorox Cleanup at Sams and wet down your boat, After it's wet cover it liberally with the spray bottle of Chlorox Cleanup.Wait about five to ten minutes, wash it down with a hose while going over it with one of those REGGAE mitts from West Marine.The 5-10 minutes of sun breaks down the chlorine so it's not toxic anymore. Yeah. Sure. But you might want to do it on the trailer in your street. Just in case.;-)

 

[Mike B]

Cleaner

On / OFF hull cleaner from west marine is the STRONGEST cleaner I have found .Careful using it/ follow directions , Do NOT get on skin and do not breath . It cleans , Mike

 

[LI_Chuck]

Alternate Cleaner

Mac,I have an H23 and have had this problem before. I use a blue acid product by the commercial name "Calahans" West Marine also carries their own equivalent. This is a blue paste that you wipe on the fiberglass, wait 5 minutes, then wash off. You can do multiple applications. This stuff really works far better than soft scrub or the detergent based products./ChuckS/V Windsongs '85 H23

 

[BrianW]

Great Info In Thread ...Except

Some great info has been shared on this thread EXCEPT for the cited source of the "oily fog" in Pensacola, FL. The writer attributed this "oily fog" to the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels. Let me put on my fake Groucho Marx glasses, eyebrows and mustache and cigar and say, "that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever hoid". My boat is docked in Big Lagoon right in the flight path of these flying patiots. It never has had an oily residue. My house also is also in the flight path. I have NEVER seen myself or heard ANYONE say/complain about any type of emission from the the Blues' planes with one exception. Noise. My new neighbor complained to me about the Blues' noise during one of their practice sessions. I told her, "Lady, that's the sound of freedom!" Back on topic, great thread, great solutions... bad "oily fog" attribute. BrianW, Pensacola, FL

 

[Dan]

I had something similar

And I found that acetone worked best. Not sure if it's the same thing, but in any case, Good Luck!

 

[bart5008]

cleeners

I use oxalic acid(wood bleach). Starbite has the same stuff in it. Oxalic acid comes frome Savogran as a crystals. A small container is about $5.00 from a good hardware store. The big box stores do not have it.Mix about a table spoon with a gallon of hot water and get your brush. It won't hurt you but it will find every little cut you might have on your hands. rubber gloves can be used if needed. This cleaner will remove mildew, leaf grudge and bird droppings. It will also remove the grays from polution.Works great.

 

[Mac Bentley]

Awesome, guys

Thanks for all the great ideas. Guess I'll try a little of everything until something works. I can't imagine where I'd be over this first four years of sailing without this board.Mac

 

[Esk II]

tuff enough

My local West Marine had placed a special order for a cleaner named, Tuff Enough. They do not have it in stock and my bottle is up on the boat. This stuff is the best cleaner I have ever used. Honestly it far surpasses any other. I was so impressed I ordered a gallon, cost of about 35.00. I began using Tuff Enough to clean an old Macgregor 25, 1980 and it took ground dirt off that nothing else would touch. I have used it on my 260 and the results are great.

 

[BrianW]

I Second the Oxalic Acid

The solution of oxalic acid has worked great for me. I put the solution in a spray container and add a small amout of boat detergent concentrate as a surfactant for better wetting. In bright sun, I haven't even had to do much scrubbing. BrianW

 

[patrick]

Spider crap?

I use Tidy Bowl cleaner from the Dollar store. Mix up a half gallon, brush on, let sit a long time, and rinse it off. Works better in the sun but we do not get that here until the one week of summer in July.

 

[Mac Bentley]

Scum busted

We had some Soft Scrub in the house so that's what I tried first. It worked so well I feel bad about even posting the question.I just tried it on some of the worst areas, including the molded nonskid, and it came out pure white. Just squirt some on and rub a little with a wet sponge and rinse off.We'd used Soft Scrub on the boat before, but we were concentrating on spider droppings and it was less effective on that.Still plan to do some polishing in the cockpit to make it feel nicer to the touch, but nothing like the job I had planned.Thanks again to you all,Mac