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#1
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Cleaning Fiberglass
After a beaching with Katrina and the refloating with Rita I am left with a
boat with a brown scum smile on the side of the boat. The residue is from mud mixed with oil and diesel from the sunken boats that were not so lucky. Question is cleaning the hull? My thoughts are open at the present time and am wondering if the groups experience base can help? Right now the boat is in the boat yard so access is fairly easy. |
#2
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Cleaning Fiberglass
On Mon, 17 Oct 2005 20:25:39 -0500, "Rick"
wrote: After a beaching with Katrina and the refloating with Rita I am left with a boat with a brown scum smile on the side of the boat. The residue is from mud mixed with oil and diesel from the sunken boats that were not so lucky. Question is cleaning the hull? My thoughts are open at the present time and am wondering if the groups experience base can help? Right now the boat is in the boat yard so access is fairly easy. Start with Dawn before you get aggressive Brian Whatcott |
#3
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Cleaning Fiberglass
Rick wrote:
snip Question is cleaning the hull? My thoughts are open at the present time and am wondering if the groups experience base can help? Right now the boat is in the boat yard so access is fairly easy. First shot would be with a 3,000 PSI, 5 GPM minimum, pressure washer. Might think of renting a 10HP unit. Should do the job. Lew |
#4
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Cleaning Fiberglass
Rick
I've cleaned a lot of hulls in my time but I don't think I ever ran across a combo of mud, oil and deisel fuel....whew! At least you have the boat out of the water. Heck, after Katrina and Rita at least you have a Boat! A lot of what you can do will depend on what the yard will let you use for environmental reasons. Before spending too much on some fancy fiberglass cleaners I'd try a good mixture of good old dishwash soap and water which is generally pretty good for dirt, grease and oil. good sponges and . a lot of elbow grease. still not working? Just smearing things around?. West Marine has some really good Fiberglass cleaners which while not cheap have always done the trick for me. There is one which is made for non skid decks, It seems to be a little more "intense" that regular FG cleaners but it really works well on smooth FG as well. Takes off those inconsiderate black rubber footwear marks that no amount of soap and scrubbing will seem to remove. Use sparingly. While the boat is on the hard don't forget to check for blisters and fix any if you find them. This might also be a good chance to slap another coat of bottom paint on. Cap'n Phil |
#5
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Cleaning Fiberglass
Lew, The pressure wash was my first thought too. It would get rid of
the dirt, mud and junk like that. It might be worth a try but I really dont think it would help a whole heck of a lot with grease, oil and diesel fues, might move it around a lot but I don't think It would remove it. For that I really think Rick is gonna have to get up close and personal. |
#6
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Cleaning Fiberglass
Capri wrote:
Lew, The pressure wash was my first thought too. It would get rid of the dirt, mud and junk like that. It might be worth a try but I really dont think it would help a whole heck of a lot with grease, oil and diesel fues, might move it around a lot but I don't think It would remove it. For that I really think Rick is gonna have to get up close and personal. My suggestion was based on my next door neighbor who is a tank cleaner, primsarily in the refineries. They do most of it with pressure washers incluing a 10,000 PSI unit. Takes a 300 HP diesel to drive it. That unit would probably be a tad much for this applicationG, but then again. Lew |
#7
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Cleaning Fiberglass
Yes, but a 3000 PSI pressure washer applied too liberally can destroy the
gelcoat. He needs some solvent to get the stuff out. Blasting with water won't get the oil etc. out that's absorbed into the fiberglass. I have no idea what to use, but I wouldn't blast it away. Chet "Lew Hodgett" wrote in message ink.net... Rick wrote: snip Question is cleaning the hull? My thoughts are open at the present time and am wondering if the groups experience base can help? Right now the boat is in the boat yard so access is fairly easy. First shot would be with a 3,000 PSI, 5 GPM minimum, pressure washer. Might think of renting a 10HP unit. Should do the job. Lew |
#8
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Cleaning Fiberglass
I would get some ON and Off Hull cleaner, that is a spray on, brush lightly,
and rinse cleaner. (West Marine carries it,)That should clean the hull completely . Next, a fiberglass compound if there are stubborn stains, last a coat of good wax! "Capri" wrote in message ups.com... Rick I've cleaned a lot of hulls in my time but I don't think I ever ran across a combo of mud, oil and deisel fuel....whew! At least you have the boat out of the water. Heck, after Katrina and Rita at least you have a Boat! A lot of what you can do will depend on what the yard will let you use for environmental reasons. Before spending too much on some fancy fiberglass cleaners I'd try a good mixture of good old dishwash soap and water which is generally pretty good for dirt, grease and oil. good sponges and . a lot of elbow grease. still not working? Just smearing things around?. West Marine has some really good Fiberglass cleaners which while not cheap have always done the trick for me. There is one which is made for non skid decks, It seems to be a little more "intense" that regular FG cleaners but it really works well on smooth FG as well. Takes off those inconsiderate black rubber footwear marks that no amount of soap and scrubbing will seem to remove. Use sparingly. While the boat is on the hard don't forget to check for blisters and fix any if you find them. This might also be a good chance to slap another coat of bottom paint on. Cap'n Phil |
#9
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Cleaning Fiberglass
"Rick" wrote in message ... After a beaching with Katrina and the refloating with Rita I am left with a boat with a brown scum smile on the side of the boat. The residue is from mud mixed with oil and diesel from the sunken boats that were not so lucky. Question is cleaning the hull? My thoughts are open at the present time and am wondering if the groups experience base can help? Right now the boat is in the boat yard so access is fairly easy. Is it possible to hook up the power washer to a hot water source? At my Marina they use the pressure washer and hot water to clean the hulls of the brown oily scum from boats that have collected the scum from transiting the Detroit River. Works great! Jim |
#10
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Cleaning Fiberglass
I would get some ON and Off Hull cleaner, that is a spray on, brush lightly,
and rinse cleaner. "On and Off" is very effective grunge cleaner but I would not spray it however (read the ingredients list). I wear rubber gloves and wipe it on with a damp fuzzy pad, followed by a quick fresh water rinse. Very powerful stuff, be careful with it. |
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