Yellowing Gelcoat

[Peter Milne]

Dan,Dan,I have noticed on several boats that there is an unsightly yellowing of the hull at the bow near the waterline. On some boats the problem is more severe than others. On my own boat, the problem seems to be just emerging.Do you know what causes this, how to prevent it and how to eliminate it once it occurs?Thanks,Peter Milne

 

[Dan Ulrich]

Yellowing (Peter)

Peter:Often times the yellowing you refer to is the result of lake water splashing on the bow area and drying over and over again. There is nothing to prevent it short of dry sailing your boat and wiping it clean every time you take it out. As this process continues the darkening progresses, not unlike never cleaning, but just rinsing a coffee cup. The oil/dirt content of inland lakes can be quite high and the result is the brown scum you describe. Any product containing OXALIC ACID will go a long way in removing the brownish staining. It is the wet/dry wet/dry cycles that makes it more pronounced above the water line.Dan

 

[Bob Bennett]

The cure for Yellow Gel Coat

Every few Months or so the gel coatnear the bow of my Oday 25 gets the same yellow/rust stains. I always thought it was Lake polution . Nothingwould take it off, gel coat restorer,laquer thinner, clorox, comet even wetsandpaper. Then I thought that it lokkedlike a rust stain, maybe a rust removerwould work. Sure enough, there is a product called LCR made to remove rustand calcium build up on showers and itreally worked. I just soaked a spongeand wiped across the stains, no rubbing.Be sure and wear gloves, this stuff burns. As far as I can tell it hasn'thurt the gel coat and I've been doingthis for at least 2 years every 6 monthsor so depending on the skankyness of Lake Pontchartrain. Try it !

 

[Bob Bennett]

The cure for Yellow Gel Coat

Every few Months or so the gel coatnear the bow of my Oday 25 gets the same yellow/rust stains. I always thought it was Lake polution . Nothingwould take it off, gel coat restorer,laquer thinner, clorox, comet even wetsandpaper. Then I thought that it lookedlike a rust stain, maybe a rust removerwould work. Sure enough, there is a product called LCR made to remove rustand calcium build up on showers and itreally worked. I just soaked a spongeand wiped across the stains, no rubbing.Be sure and wear gloves, this stuff burns. As far as I can tell it hasn'thurt the gel coat and I've been doingthis for at least 2 years every 6 monthsor so depending on the skankyness of Lake Pontchartrain. Try it !

 

[dave]

reallY?

i wonder if that would work on the lifeline stanchions, winches etc? any ideas from anyone else on maintenance of the stainless steels fixtures on the boat?thanks

 

[Reid Cameron]

SS cleaner passifier

We asked around Roadtown and found Wichard SS claener, polish, passivator and tried it on our Hunter 43 which is in charter service in the BVI's. Works great and that little plastic bottle did the whole boat and hardly needed a touch-up 6 mons later. Passivation is required if the SS is not left dry long enough to form the protective finish. Take care. Reid Cameron s/v Changes in Latitude.