Hello Everybody! What's with trying to keep topsides clean? Our 216 always looks dull and dirty and is almost impossible to keep clean for any length of time. To remove stains, and they seem to appear overnite, we've used Softscrub with bleach which works fine, but is somewhat abrasive. Ordinary boat wash doesn't do much. Is there any way to shine things up and at the same time protect? Like a wax maybe? Any ideas? Thanks.
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J
Jacktar
Thanks
Thanks, it's nice to know that we're not the only ones with the problem. Some time ago, I heard about a West product that would shine things up. When I run across it again, I'll pass it on.
Thanks, it's nice to know that we're not the only ones with the problem. Some time ago, I heard about a West product that would shine things up. When I run across it again, I'll pass it on.
D
Don
Give Island Girl products a look
Why don't you take a look at the Island Girl products web site? My boat was a mess when I bought it used about 5 years ago. I was able to restore the gel coat and stop the oxidation. My boat looks great and the treatments only need to be done once per year. Their product "Mirror Hard Super Glaze" is pretty impervious to stains. I use their anti skid treatment on my decks and they wash clean with water. Spider droppings, bird crap all washes clean.
Why don't you take a look at the Island Girl products web site? My boat was a mess when I bought it used about 5 years ago. I was able to restore the gel coat and stop the oxidation. My boat looks great and the treatments only need to be done once per year. Their product "Mirror Hard Super Glaze" is pretty impervious to stains. I use their anti skid treatment on my decks and they wash clean with water. Spider droppings, bird crap all washes clean.
H-216 top/bottom side maintenance
I am having quite good luck with regular car wax on the bottom and non-skid Woody Wax from West Marine on the top. I use Starbright non-skid deck wash from West Marine to clean it which works great...even on the non-skid. Twice a year I go over it with a power buffer with Comet and/or fine rubbing compound...basically to remove the heel marks. I also keep it covered. Until I discovered these products, I was convinced I was spending more time maintaining the surface than I was sailing. My boat hull really shines and looks super with the wax. In fact, yesterday I waxed the entire hull, bottom and all, with show car wax. The cockpit is not as shiny but I would rather have a non-slip surface than a showcase shine. I am getting more and more scratches over time that I pretty much ignore when I weight the hull material against paying twice as much for a fiberglass boat!
I am having quite good luck with regular car wax on the bottom and non-skid Woody Wax from West Marine on the top. I use Starbright non-skid deck wash from West Marine to clean it which works great...even on the non-skid. Twice a year I go over it with a power buffer with Comet and/or fine rubbing compound...basically to remove the heel marks. I also keep it covered. Until I discovered these products, I was convinced I was spending more time maintaining the surface than I was sailing. My boat hull really shines and looks super with the wax. In fact, yesterday I waxed the entire hull, bottom and all, with show car wax. The cockpit is not as shiny but I would rather have a non-slip surface than a showcase shine. I am getting more and more scratches over time that I pretty much ignore when I weight the hull material against paying twice as much for a fiberglass boat!
J
Jacktar
Island Girl
Hi Don! would like to try the stuff, but the 216 does not have a gel coat. The surface and the entire construction is a plastic (ACP). Wonder how the Island Girl stuff would work or even damage. Maybe somebody's tried it on a 216.
Hi Don! would like to try the stuff, but the 216 does not have a gel coat. The surface and the entire construction is a plastic (ACP). Wonder how the Island Girl stuff would work or even damage. Maybe somebody's tried it on a 216.
D
Don
Plastics and Island Girl Products
Hi Jacktar, The Island Girl product line will work for any plastic - take a look at the web site. I use the anti-skid conditioner product. If you follow directions exactly, the result will be fine. If you don't then the surface attracts greasy residue from airborne pollution.
Hi Jacktar, The Island Girl product line will work for any plastic - take a look at the web site. I use the anti-skid conditioner product. If you follow directions exactly, the result will be fine. If you don't then the surface attracts greasy residue from airborne pollution.
Non-skid product
I beg to differ with the Island Girl non-skid product. I got very specific directions for its use personally from the manufacturer. It failed to cure and remained sticky. I had to remove it. If you like a sticky boat that attracts dirt and holds droppings, give it a try. I'm one very disatisfied customer and I'm not alone. Check the archives. (Don't ask me what I REALLY think!)
I beg to differ with the Island Girl non-skid product. I got very specific directions for its use personally from the manufacturer. It failed to cure and remained sticky. I had to remove it. If you like a sticky boat that attracts dirt and holds droppings, give it a try. I'm one very disatisfied customer and I'm not alone. Check the archives. (Don't ask me what I REALLY think!)
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