Hi Folks,

I have just a small 15ft fiberglass open bow ski boat. I am it's
second owner, and the first owner left it in the river about 8 months
every year. Problem is he never cleaned the scum and grime from the
underside. The whole bottom of the boat now feels like 80 grit sandpaper.

I realize cleaning this mess up won't be easy, but can anyone recommend
a good cleaner to help remove the scale? I thought the fiberglass was
actually damaged but that does not seem to be the case. My trailer has
bunks without rollers and I have found that the areas that slid on the
bunks are scale free, this includes the recent areas where I hit the bunks
a little off to the side.

As scaled up as the bottom is it would seem I may be losing a few MPH
on the top end. It will be interesting to do a before/after speed check.

Thanks all!

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:
On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 15:24:57 -0600, (Gudmundur)
wrote:

Hi Folks,

I have just a small 15ft fiberglass open bow ski boat. I am it's
second owner, and the first owner left it in the river about 8 months
every year. Problem is he never cleaned the scum and grime from the
underside. The whole bottom of the boat now feels like 80 grit sandpaper.

I realize cleaning this mess up won't be easy, but can anyone recommend
a good cleaner to help remove the scale? I thought the fiberglass was
actually damaged but that does not seem to be the case. My trailer has
bunks without rollers and I have found that the areas that slid on the
bunks are scale free, this includes the recent areas where I hit the bunks
a little off to the side.

As scaled up as the bottom is it would seem I may be losing a few MPH
on the top end. It will be interesting to do a before/after speed check.

http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/index2.htm

or if it's really stained a 50/50 mix of muratic acid. It's a little
tough to work with if you mix it yourself, but you can get premixes at
places like West Marine what will make your life easier.



Don't you mean oaxalic acid? Muriatic acid is sulfuric acid, if I'm not
mistaken, and while it works wonders for unclogging drain pipes it
might be too strong or too hazardous to be splashing around a boat.

On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 15:24:57 -0600, (Gudmundur)
wrote:

Hi Folks,

I have just a small 15ft fiberglass open bow ski boat. I am it's
second owner, and the first owner left it in the river about 8 months
every year. Problem is he never cleaned the scum and grime from the
underside. The whole bottom of the boat now feels like 80 grit sandpaper.

I realize cleaning this mess up won't be easy, but can anyone recommend
a good cleaner to help remove the scale? I thought the fiberglass was
actually damaged but that does not seem to be the case. My trailer has
bunks without rollers and I have found that the areas that slid on the
bunks are scale free, this includes the recent areas where I hit the bunks
a little off to the side.

As scaled up as the bottom is it would seem I may be losing a few MPH
on the top end. It will be interesting to do a before/after speed check.

West Marine sells a product called "On and Off" which is a powerful
acid based formulation that is as close to a miracle cleaner as
anything I've ever seen. Read the directions carefully, wear rubber
gloves and eye protection.

I had good results from Barkeepers Friend, which contains oxallic acid. It
wasn't so strong that I had to wear gloves. I sprinlked it on a dap rag,
wiped the surface and then washed it off with a wet rag. No scrubbing was
necessary. Bought it for less than $5 at Wal-Mart. Comes in a cardboard
cylinder shaped container like kitchen cleansers. I think it was in the
section with all of the household cleaners in the grocery section.
"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 15:24:57 -0600, (Gudmundur)
wrote:

Hi Folks,

I have just a small 15ft fiberglass open bow ski boat. I am it's
second owner, and the first owner left it in the river about 8 months
every year. Problem is he never cleaned the scum and grime from the
underside. The whole bottom of the boat now feels like 80 grit sandpaper.

I realize cleaning this mess up won't be easy, but can anyone recommend
a good cleaner to help remove the scale? I thought the fiberglass was
actually damaged but that does not seem to be the case. My trailer has
bunks without rollers and I have found that the areas that slid on the
bunks are scale free, this includes the recent areas where I hit the bunks
a little off to the side.

As scaled up as the bottom is it would seem I may be losing a few MPH
on the top end. It will be interesting to do a before/after speed check.

West Marine sells a product called "On and Off" which is a powerful
acid based formulation that is as close to a miracle cleaner as
anything I've ever seen. Read the directions carefully, wear rubber
gloves and eye protection.

On and Off works great, but before you use it make sure to get the boat
off the trailer and set up on blocks because any you spill will eat
away the metal of the trailer. Flush it off with a LOT of water before
putting the boat back on the trailer.
Wayne.B wrote:
On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 15:24:57 -0600, (Gudmundur)
wrote:

Hi Folks,

I have just a small 15ft fiberglass open bow ski boat. I am it's
second owner, and the first owner left it in the river about 8 months
every year. Problem is he never cleaned the scum and grime from the
underside. The whole bottom of the boat now feels like 80 grit sandpaper.

I realize cleaning this mess up won't be easy, but can anyone recommend
a good cleaner to help remove the scale? I thought the fiberglass was
actually damaged but that does not seem to be the case. My trailer has
bunks without rollers and I have found that the areas that slid on the
bunks are scale free, this includes the recent areas where I hit the bunks
a little off to the side.

As scaled up as the bottom is it would seem I may be losing a few MPH
on the top end. It will be interesting to do a before/after speed check.

West Marine sells a product called "On and Off" which is a powerful
acid based formulation that is as close to a miracle cleaner as
anything I've ever seen. Read the directions carefully, wear rubber
gloves and eye protection.

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On 12 Mar 2006 15:32:32 -0800, wrote:


Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:
On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 15:24:57 -0600, (Gudmundur)
wrote:

Hi Folks,

I have just a small 15ft fiberglass open bow ski boat. I am it's
second owner, and the first owner left it in the river about 8 months
every year. Problem is he never cleaned the scum and grime from the
underside. The whole bottom of the boat now feels like 80 grit
sandpaper.

I realize cleaning this mess up won't be easy, but can anyone
recommend
a good cleaner to help remove the scale? I thought the fiberglass was
actually damaged but that does not seem to be the case. My trailer has
bunks without rollers and I have found that the areas that slid on the
bunks are scale free, this includes the recent areas where I hit the
bunks
a little off to the side.

As scaled up as the bottom is it would seem I may be losing a few MPH
on the top end. It will be interesting to do a before/after speed
check.

http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/index2.htm

or if it's really stained a 50/50 mix of muratic acid. It's a little
tough to work with if you mix it yourself, but you can get premixes at
places like West Marine what will make your life easier.

Don't you mean oaxalic acid? Muriatic acid is sulfuric acid, if I'm not
mistaken, and while it works wonders for unclogging drain pipes it
might be too strong or too hazardous to be splashing around a boat.

Damn - I wasn't thinking. I had been talking to our mason about some
stonework we need done this afternoon and I had muratic acid on the
brain.

You're right - oxalic acid - my bad.

Ande if you want muriatic acid in a thick, esy to use mode, go to a plumbing
supply house and they have a semi gel for cleaning toilets.