Using Marykate On & Off gel

[RobG]

I plan on cleaning up my '84 off white hull and have a few questions since I haven't used it before. The hull is stained brownish, worse near the waterline but still works up the free-board pretty far.
1) Since I'm doing larger areas I assume I just need to do the whole hull so it won't look patchy.
2) A chip brush has been suggested here. Since I'm doing a larger area (22' boat) is it too gelatinous for a small roller? If so how about a 3" brush? See what I'm getting at?
3) How thick does it (or does it need to) go on? Will a quart be enough or do I need a gallon?
4) I assume it will cut through the still good coat of Collinite? We all know how great Collinite is!
5) All marinas in my area are "Clean Marinas". have you heard any feed back on objections to the rinse water run-off?

Thanks for your help gang!
Rob

 

[dancing bear]

1) Since I'm doing larger areas I assume I just need to do the whole hull so it won't look patchy. I suppose when you see how well it removes the brown stain you will have the answer to this. In my case, I used on and off to remove wax and algae, not doing the whole bottom was not an option for me.
2) A chip brush has been suggested here. Since I'm doing a larger area (22' boat) is it too gelatinous for a small roller? If so how about a 3" brush? See what I'm getting at? I used the non-gelatinous On and Off with a natural bristle paint brush. It stayed where it was suppose to, and went on easily. A roller would have worked too, however I wonder if the cleaner might eat the foam. I had no bottom paint at the time.
3) How thick does it (or does it need to) go on? Will a quart be enough or do I need a gallon? I used about a quart on my 25 footer. I bought a gallon and regret it, now I am the proud owner of 3/4 gallon of a big bottle of poisonous goo. If you lived nearby I would give it to you. Any Chicago area sailors needs some free on and off?
4) I assume it will cut through the still good coat of Collinite? We all know how great Collinite is! I don't know.
5) All marinas in my area are "Clean Marinas". have you heard any feed back on objections to the rinse water run-off? I used it in my driveway next to yews, tulips, arborvitae, grass and hydrangea. I used excessive amounts of water to dilute the runoff. No plants died. As far as the marina parking lot goes, I would go for it, unless I was specifically told not to. The run off will be slightly foamy.

 

[CalebD]

On & Off is a great hull cleaning product. It is also pretty highly acidic and will eat away metal surfaces pretty quickly so if your boat is on a metal cradle or trailer or jack stands try to protect the metal. Gloves and protective eye wear are also when using this stuff.
I have not used the gel version of this product but wish I had bought the gel instead of the liquid as it will run down the hull and eat away at the bottom paint. A thin coating is about all that is needed and allow it some time to do its work. A quart sounds good enough for a 25' sailboat. Get a 3" chip brush.
Read the label and follow the directions.

 

[Rick Webb]

Just Did Mine a Few Months Back

I used a garden sprayer and an old dish rag. Wear gloves and a long sleave shirt.

 

[RobG]

Thanks guys.

Cover came off Saturday and I did a small test. It looks like it will work pretty well. I'm targeting this Saturday for the whole hull. Rain will be moving in so I'll feel better about diluting the rinse water. I'll let you know how it goes. Maybe I'll actually bring a camera for a change.

 

[sailingdog]

Be aware that you need to mask off your bottom paint, as ON&OFF will eat the copper out of it and make it ineffective. Do not get it on the bottom paint or any metal surfaces that are important to you.

 

[Maine Sail]

I used a garden sprayer and an old dish rag. Wear gloves and a long sleave shirt.

Please be very careful with doing this. Putting any sort of acid into a sprayer means the spray could get blown by the wind onto metal or aluminum surfaces which will etch and ruin them. A car wash brush on a long cheap pole works great.

As Dog said protect your bottom paint if you are on the hard. A drip skirt is easy to make with a 6" wide piece of plastic taped to & wrapped around the water line but hanging freely on the bottom.

Acid drips down the hull over the drip skirt and falls off the lower edge and onto the ground.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I used the gel version on maine sail's recomendation. That stuff is freaking awsome! Just brush it on with a chip brush, 3" is fine. I tried brushing it directly to aluminum to see if it would eat it. It didn't appear to change it at all, but I rinsed it off with in a few minutes. As long as you put a plastic skirt and then liberally spray it off I can't see it causing a problem with the bottom paint.
The topsides had rust running down them and were just generally grimy. It took a whole quart bottle to do my 30' boat but the results were spectacular.

 

[RobG]

No spraying here...

I have the Gel, a 3" brush, tape and poly for a skirt, an old rain coat, safety glasses and it is going to rain Sunday. I just need to find (locally) some good chemical gloves. I'll check places where furnature stripping products are sold. Defender didn't have anything heavy duty.
It is a bottom paint year so I'm covered there.
Thanks again.

 

[Maine Sail]

I have the Gel, a 3" brush, tape and poly for a skirt, an old rain coat, safety glasses and it is going to rain Sunday. I just need to find (locally) some good chemical gloves. I'll check places where furnature stripping products are sold. Defender didn't have anything heavy duty.
It is a bottom paint year so I'm covered there.
Thanks again.

Home Depot has heavy duty chemical resistant gloves..