Boat Bottom Cleaner

[Fatroll]

One of the guys I ski with is a chemist and developed a boat bottom cleaner. We ski on a VERY murky lake which makes keeping the boats clean a challenge. Here is the site if you are looking to try something new.

http://www.aurorachemical.com/buy-hc-1.html

 

[slvrbulit]

wow, that looks pretty amazing.

[Chef23]

How about when the bottom is just scummy? If this stuff works I would definitely buy it I have been using the acid but I hate it and it trashes my trailer.

[LOTW]

My question also, how does it affect the trailer paint or galvanized coating? Rubber? Is it available in Canada and if so where?

[oldjeep]

Has he got an MSDS for that stuff? Don't see one on the site.

[Fatroll]

dealerinquiry@aurorachemical.com is the contact email. I will also send him the link to this page.

 

[SteveMilano]

Heys Guys! Steve Milano here... Formulator of HC-1 and Owner. I want to take a moment to answer some questions posted about the product.

 

HC-1 comes in 2 forms: 1) a crystal powder pack that needs to be dissolved in water, and 2) a premixed liquid version that's ready to apply. The premixed version has materials in it that thicken the cleaner, allowing to stay where its applied and not run off the boat - Kind of like a wall paint- and it can be applied with a common yard sprayer. The thickened version allows the active chemical to efficiently attack the algae sense its not running off the surface.

 

The active ingredient in both forms is identical and in scienctific terms it's considered a "weak acid". Unlike some aggressive acid cleaners in the market, this one is a lot safer and will not harm galvanized, painted or rubber surfaces on the boat or trailer.

 

HC-1 will effectively remove stains and nasty undergrowth as it was formulated with a chemical that enters into the algae particles and destroys them from the inside out. If the boat is really bad, ie algae hair all over, HC-21needs a little more time to react and/or 2 applications. 1 gallon of the premix is designed to cover 400 square feet of surface (a 20 foot boat). The one pound powder pack make 3 gallons of cleaner, but this material will run off surfaces. Still very effective though...

 

Shipping into Canada needs to be investigated but I believe do-able via FedEx. An MSDS is available for the product and ingredients, application instructions and product safety warnings are clearly printed on the label in compliance with laws of consumer products. Active ingredient is ethanedioic acid.

 

This is a start-up business in year one and I appreciate your support and welcome any feedback or comments. If you wish to contact me directly, feel free to do so at stevemilano@aurorachemical.com or the phone number listed on www.aurorachemical.com

 

Ski Hard and Thanks!

 

-Steve

[pgmoore]

And this, right here, is why I love this forum. Another example of an individual going on their own to create a product they are passionate about.

 

And not only that, but when some people have questions, next thing you know @SteveMilano is signed up for BallofSpray and giving answers.

 

I know nothing about this product. But I think the engagement is just awesome.

[Chef23]

For $40 I will probably give it a try. I am in favor of something that is as easy as the oaxalic acid but not as toxic. I don't mind if it needs to sit for a few minutes.

[oldjeep]

ethanedioic acid appears to be another name for oaxalic acid?

 

http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/oxalic_acid#section=Top

[jetpilotg4]

where was this Monday when I was laying on my back with toilet bowl cleaner and a scotch bright pad all day Monday ?

[SteveMilano]

Technically oldjeep you're right. Ethanedioic acid is the chemical name and the generic name is oxalic acid. But this is where the commonality stops. Let me explain a little...

 

Purity: Ethanedioic acid is just that. Oxalic acid, not so much. Generally 90-95% pure. Will common oxalic acid itself work? For sure, but it's my opinion that there's a lot of waste and user tend too much to their solution causing the trailer problems referenced above. What else is in there?

 

pKa: A chemistry thing that identifies how much of an acid can go into water and dissociate. Add more than the dissociation constant allows and you're simply wasting material. Mine is dead nuts on. If an acid species doesn't dissociate, it's not working.

 

Secret Sauce: I have developed a surfactant package that allows the pure ethanedioic acid to -very effectively- wet out and attack the algae from the inside out. Additionally the thickening ingredient keeps the material where its applied.

 

By all means if you're happy with what you're using, keep using it! I've developed mine to be safe for end users, their boats and trailers. It's environmental safe and completely biodegradable.

 

Don't get me wrong... I want you to buy my product. But to simply say it's just oxalic acid isn't quite fair.

 

 

[The_MS]

@jetpilotg4 Did you add some peroxide to the TB cleaner? If you were using a scotch bright you must have had some major gunk on there. I use Lysol blue with some peroxide and its spray on and wipe off.

Our dealership just took in a used pontoon that has not had the toons cleaned in 10 years and it sat in the water for 10 summers. We sell Zing aluminum cleaner which usually works great but it did not even budge on this project.

[colo_skier]

Ordered a gallon will let you know how it works. I am fed up with trying to find fatastik with oxyclean.

[Chef23]

Let us know I am interested.

[JackQ]

Will this product burn the carpet on the trailer bunks like many of the commercial bottom cleaning products?

[SteveMilano]

I am interested in the feedback too! Thanks to those of you that have purchased HC-1 from this post. Pretty cool! To answer your question JackQ, the cleaner will not attack your bunk carpet. It just goes after the algae. Thanks everyone!

[Ryno]

@SteveMilano If you start shipping internationally please let me know. I am in Australia and am keen to give you my money!!!

[colo_skier]

The boat will have been in all week and will post pics before and after so people can see the results. Does this stuff hurt chrome?

[SteveMilano]

colo_skier,

 

HC-1 will not react with chrome. I'll assume your boat was clean last week when you put it in... And with one week of growth you're not going to need a lot of product. If my assumption above is correct, you can pour some HC-1 on a damp rag and smear it around. No need to saturate the hull will the whole gallon. For best results, apply as soon as you pull the boat The rinse off when you get home.

 

I'll have to look into Australia shipping requirements and costs. Ryno, if you shoot me an email with your address via www.aurorachemical.com, I'll get you a shipping quote via FedEx or UPS.

[colo_skier]

Here is what I plan on doing. (boat clean going in). HC-1 in spray bottle spray lower hull once on trailer. Let it sit while using vinegar and water to clean the rest of the fiberglass. Come back and spray lower hull with water from a spray bottle to rinse of HC-1. Use wax and shine to finish everything off. Anything wrong with this approach?

[SteveMilano]

Nothing wrong with this approach at all. It will work nicely for you! Please post results and your photos!

[colo_skier]

Of course this all depends on my ability to complete a pass anytime soon. :blush:

[mbabiash]

@SteveMilano

My hull gets dull and hard water scale on it by the end of the season.

Will this solution remove this or is it just for algae or organic material?

Matt

 

[SteveMilano]

mbabiash...

 

I think the dullness (above the waterline) is an oxidized layer of gelcoat/pigment. I use Mcguires 44 on mine and elbow grease. HC-1 will help if this is the case, but the top layer of gelcoat needs to be buffed away and sealed with wax.

 

Hard water scale... for sure. I'll recommend the 1 pound powder pack mixed into hot water and applied while hot. Depending on how bad the scales are, you may need 2 applications.

[SteveMilano]

Shipping costs to Australia are ridiculous! Unfortunately HC-1 cannot be shipped via United States Postal Services. Sorry!

[colo_skier]

Here is the before and after

[colo_skier]

That was after a week in the water. Stuff worked really well at getting the scum off as you can see. For my application I had to spread it around since I am not so good at spraying upside down. Were it landed it cleaned up the green. I used a spray bottle with water to rinse and then wax and dry afterwards. On some of the more ingrained stuff underneath it did start cleaning. I was not up for getting under the boat though and attacking that.

[Skoot1123]

Sign me up! I'll be ordering some of that. Fantastic results!

[Jordan]

Can this product be shipped to Canada?

[slvrbulit]

I'm sold. will be placing order today. @colo_skier did you spray on and rinse off or did it require scrubbing?

[Chef23]

I am going to order some. My boat will be a lot dirtier than that though. @SteveMilano a question for you about application. When I pull my boat I have about a 3 mile drive back to the house. Should I apply the cleaner at the launching ramp and rinse when I get home or is it ok to wait until I get home to apply the cleaner. The bottom will be dried somewhat by then but not totally set.

[colo_skier]

No scrubbing just spreading to were I didn't spray well.

[SteveMilano]

Thanks colo-skier! I'm glad this worked out for you!

 

I can ship to Canada, but it will cost a little more to ship. Please send me an email at stevemilano@aurorachemical.com with your address and I'll provide a quote for shipping.

 

Answer for Chef23. You can apply it either way you described. HC-1 really goes at the algae fresh out of the water though.

 

Good Luck and Thanks Everyone!

[colo_skier]

BTW I used very little of the product to do this, maybe 1/4 of a pint. I also believe that I could have used a whole lot less if I were to use a cloth and spread it around rather than relying on my spraying ability. Once thing I did notice was a little chalk like residue that rinsed off with the water. So process was spray HC-1, spread about to areas were I didn't spray well wait 2 minutes, rinse with water from another spray bottle spray wax and dry then wipe dry to finish. Also in the pictures you can see that the very bottom of the hull is still discolored. This is because I was to tired to climb underneath to get that. Next time I will hit that area better.

[A_B]

Do you need to wear a mask while spraying?

[colo_skier]

I did not and the stuff basically sticks to the hull. The consistency is similar to heated maple syrup.

[slvrbulit]

@SteveMilano super fast shipping on your end, I should have the product tomorrow. Question, my plan is to spray on a the boat ramp when it comes out of the water. Will it still hang on to the boat for the 15 minute ride home? Or should I wait till I get home and spray it on?

[A_B]

@SteveMilano - link to buy above seems to be out of service. ??

 

[Ryno]

@SteveMilano Thanks heaps for checking out prices for delivery to Australia.

Is there any off the shelf product or chemical that I may be able to find here in Australia that could do a similar job? The results from your product seem amazing.

[SteveMilano]

Here's another attempt for the link...

 

http://www.aurorachemical.com/buy-hc-1.html

 

If this does work, just type in www.aurorachemical.com into your web browser and you get to the page.

 

Slvrbulit: I'd at least hit the sides and waterline area lightly at the boat ramp... and other heavy spots. When algae is fully saturated with water it will readily react with the HC-1.

 

Wait on the remainder and hit it when you get home.

 

The white residue that colo_skier spoke of is normal and will happen. Thoroughly rinse the driveway down with water after cleaning. One thing that a lot of folks do by me is take their boats to a self car wash station and clean it there. This may be a good option for people that are picky about their driveway. The white stuff is just the left overs from the HC-1 reacting with the algae... Rinse it away!

 

 

[Marco]

Looks like a great product. Just placed my order. Looking forward to not spending a day on my back under the boat cleaning the hull!

[A_B]

We bought our 07 from a Lake that looked like Red chocolate. The white hull still shows some staining in some nooks and crannies. I hope this can get those areas up to my OCD levels!

[Santa]

Just ordered my supply too. Will post before / after pics.

 

[GWaterski]

I bought a spray bottle of HC-1, sprayed it on a dry hull and in minutes it was shiny clean! Amazing product, no damage to anything on boat or trailer.

Hull was so clean, had to recalibrate Perfect Pass.

[fu_man]

If you watch the product video on the website....What happened to the decals on the side of the boat between the before and after pictures? @SteveMilano

[ForrestGump]

So, let me get this straight........... Boat Bottom Cleaner=Your Wife......... is no longer acceptable?

[jpattigr]

fu-man, interesting pick up, you are correct that some letters are gone after the cleaning. I wonder if you need to be careful with the cleaner by decals?

[colo_skier]

@ShaneH, I believe that you have the new non-acceptable formula. It also appears that prior to that there was a natural reduction in the evolution of off-spring of male boat owners that did in fact try to enforce this rule. Either that or the wife unit was shown to have preference for other males of the species and hence the male boat owner was reduced to a boat-less male loner begging for ski rides.

[WBLskier]

Bio kleen is great. It is citrus based so non toxic and the yellow stuff wipes off like butter. It is amazing. Do it when the temp is warm and it works much better.