"sherwindu" wrote
Is there a better way to clean off this river junk?

I use an oxalic acid product called Savogran Wood Bleach from Lowe's. I mix
a tablespoon or so of the crystals with water in a quart spray bottle and
mist it on the stains. A few minutes later they're gone and I rinse with
plain water. No ill effects so far. I have noticed that a recently waxed
surface will make the OA mixture bead up and be less effective. YMMV

Gene Kearns wrote:
On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 10:48:00 -0400, Reginald P. Smithers III penned
the following well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:
Absolutely nothing works better than applying Zaino Brothers polish on
the boat every season. It is so easy to apply and remove you can do it
twice a season. Just don't apply any where someone will walk, it is a
slick as teflon.

Great product and advice.


The only difficulty I have found is that finding this stuff in a store
is like trying to buy a medium size tin of hen's teeth....


Gene,
I just order it online:

http://www.zainostore.com/

On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 12:12:54 -0400, HK wrote:

Bill Kearney wrote:
If you decide to go route, do it very gently.

Gently? Try no rubbing at all. Just put a paste of it on there and let the
acid do the work. If you rub it you'll just be putting more scratches into
the gelcoat. Making it easier for the gunk to attach to it again next
season.

Your best bet is to stay on top of this during the season. Just use a
soft/medium brush on it. Shur-hold makes an attachment with bend in it that
makes this less hassle. If you're in the water you can use one of those
suction cup handles to give you a hand hold to really get a good scrub.

I use a brush with a liquid oxalic acid solution. Removes those stains
for me. The most annoying stains I seem to encounter on the hull are
those left behind by the tannin in the water.

I've always used Soft Scrub - non bleach, non scented.

Works and not a lot of "elbow grease".

I've always used Soft Scrub - non bleach, non scented.
Works and not a lot of "elbow grease".

Which is still an abrasive and will not help your gelcoat.

On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 17:49:02 -0400, "Bill Kearney"
wkearney-99@hot-mail-com wrote:

I've always used Soft Scrub - non bleach, non scented.
Works and not a lot of "elbow grease".

Which is still an abrasive and will not help your gelcoat.

Really?

Hmmmm - well, no.

Here's a image of the interior of the boat which gets all kinds of
crud, blood and stains - see any deterioration of the gel coat?

http://www.swsports.org/images/Ranger/Ranger06.JPG

Here's an image of the side of the boat.

http://www.swsports.org/images/Ranger/Ranger03.JPG

See any deterioration of the gel coat?

We have a fiberglass bath/shower and it's cleaned with Soft Scrub all
the time - no scratches there either.

It does work and work well.

On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 22:09:30 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 17:49:02 -0400, "Bill Kearney"
wkearney-99@hot-mail-com wrote:

I've always used Soft Scrub - non bleach, non scented.
Works and not a lot of "elbow grease".

Which is still an abrasive and will not help your gelcoat.

Really?

Hmmmm - well, no.

Here's a image of the interior of the boat which gets all kinds of
crud, blood and stains - see any deterioration of the gel coat?

http://www.swsports.org/images/Ranger/Ranger06.JPG

Here's an image of the side of the boat.

http://www.swsports.org/images/Ranger/Ranger03.JPG

See any deterioration of the gel coat?

We have a fiberglass bath/shower and it's cleaned with Soft Scrub all
the time - no scratches there either.

It does work and work well.

I was a little harsh on that reply - my apology. A little tired
today.

I've used it for a long time and never had a problem. I'll admit it
did hit the boat with Finesse-it II three years ago, but I still use
Soft Scrub with no swirls or fine little scratches.

On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 06:16:05 -0400, "Reginald P. Smithers III"
wrote:

I have always use a
product called "On and Off Hull and Bottom Cleaner". I think it has
muriatic acid, but really am not sure. I have purchased it at West
Marine and my marina's store, so I think it is readily available at all
Marine Supply Stores.

"On and Off" works extremely well. It should, the main ingredient is
hydrochloric acid. It does not seem to harm fiberglass but it will
damage some kinds of paint and take wax off the hull. I wear rubber
gloves and glasses when I use it, wet everything down in advance, and
rinse well afterward. The best way to avoid slime build up is a good
coat of wax. Zud and Soft Scrub are two of the worst things you can
use on a fiberglass boat, try everything else first.

On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 10:22:52 -0400, "Reginald P. Smithers III"
wrote:

I would not use Bar Keepers friend or any of the other abrasive cleaners
on fiberglass, while it is a mild abrasive, I would be concerned it
would just make it harder to remove the gunk next year.

It will destroy the gloss finish just like Zud and Soft Scrub. If I
need an abrasive to remove scratches, I start with 3M Finesse It and
work up from there. Less is better.

On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 12:12:54 -0400, HK wrote:

The most annoying stains I seem to encounter on the hull are
those left behind by the tannin in the water.

Yes. There is also a reaction that takes place between salt water and
air which leaves a tannin like stain even when the water is clear. The
only way to avoid it is lots of wax on the hull.

On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 20:52:10 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

I use a brush with a liquid oxalic acid solution. Removes those stains
for me. The most annoying stains I seem to encounter on the hull are
those left behind by the tannin in the water.

I've always used Soft Scrub - non bleach, non scented.

Works and not a lot of "elbow grease".

On and Off is quicker and requires almost no rubbing. It is much
easier on fiberglass than Soft Scrub. Wear eye protection and old
clothes.

Sno Bowl works just as well and is cheaper, same ingredients
basically.