Baller Bdecker Posted October 26, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2021 Another great season in the books for my boat partner @ali and our 2016 CarbonPro. As I’m preparing her for a long winter’s nap, I noticed a bunch of stains in the white gel. We have a lift that makes it hard to thoroughly wipe down, but I suspect these stains are a function of the waterline cover that didn’t dry out effectively most of the summer. Any suggestions for getting the white back to it’s former glory? All the hand scrubbing I’ve done hasn’t done much… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ swbca Posted October 26, 2021 Baller_ Share Posted October 26, 2021 My boat was on a mooring for a few weeks this spring while my boat lift was being re-cabled. The boat looked like your photo above. Mineral deposits can be dissolved and flushed away quickly with several household acid based cleaners, or products package specifically for fiberglass boats. This year I used Saniteen toilet bowl cleaner which is a formulation including muriatic acid. I picked up a universal empty spray bottle at the hardware store at the same time. Spray it on and then flush it off with water a minute later; the deposits are gone with one application. Harmless to stainless steel and chrome, but maybe test on other materials. Caution: All acid based cleaners can burn skin, eyes and your respiratory system Wear rubber gloves, eye protection and a long sleeve shirt. If there is any breeze be very careful to stay up-wind from the spray and wear a respirator if available. This was from True Value hardware. I flush it out of the spray bottle and its sprayer-cap because the metal spring would corrode over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jjackkrash Posted October 26, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2021 You can try all the chemical suggestions you are going to get, but generally to restore gelcoat, you need a rotary buffer with a medium-to-course wool pad and compound, followed by a gear-driven or random orbital with a fine wool pad or a medium foam pad and polishing compound. And even if the chemicals work, I would still hit it with a mechanical buffer as stated above. Then wax with Collinite 925. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jjackkrash Posted October 26, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2021 And I'd add potentially a wet sand followed by a mechanical buffer if it is bad enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Mastercrafter Posted October 26, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2021 Zing hull cleaner (acid based) will make easy work of something like that. Wear gloves, goggles, and respirator, and rinse it off the trailer as you're working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ swbca Posted October 26, 2021 Baller_ Share Posted October 26, 2021 @jjackkrash The chemicals don't do anything to restore the sun fade on Gelcoat, but completely remove the mineral deposits with a 10 minute effort for the whole boat. I need to use your suggestions on the back corner of my ProStar that got all the sun when it was on the lift for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Skoot1123 Posted October 26, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2021 Are they stains on the gelcoat or is it something you can scrape off with a fingernail? I started a thread last year called “What is this substance?” which describes the steps I ended up taking to bring the gelcoat back to normal on my boat. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about what steps/processes I went through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jjackkrash Posted October 26, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2021 @swbca, yes, chemicals do have their place, but I still make liberal use of the mechanical buffers on gel coat. Gel coat is thick and gets oxidized easily and buffers make it look so nice. I will polish at least twice a year no matter what and don't hesitate to pull out the rotary and wool when I need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ swbca Posted October 26, 2021 Baller_ Share Posted October 26, 2021 @jjackkrash My boat has raised graphics on the transom and on the sides. I am going to be using rubbing compound with my finger tips in all the places where there is only a 3/4" wide area of blue hull showing around and inside the letters. Fortunately the sun fade was pretty much limited to the transom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller PatM Posted October 26, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2021 Brian, have you tried On/Off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller scoke Posted October 26, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2021 this is what you seek as it's made FOR boats not toilet bowls: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bdecker Posted October 26, 2021 Author Baller Share Posted October 26, 2021 @Skoot1123 - they are definitely stains in the gelcoat. Can’t scrape them off with a fingernail. @PatM @scoke - I’m going to start with the ON/OFF then proceed to some of the things that seem like a bit more work if it doesn’t work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Cnewbert Posted October 26, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2021 On & Off worked magic on some rust stains we had on our white gel coat resulting from water draining from the dripless shaft seal. It’s potent stuff though! Use carefully and protect your trailer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Minelickskier Posted October 26, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2021 I agree with what @jjackkrash said if you want to do it right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Skoot1123 Posted October 26, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2021 @Bdecker - do you have any more pictures of the staining? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ lpskier Posted October 27, 2021 Baller_ Share Posted October 27, 2021 I use this: https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--instant-hull-cleaner-quart--15003726?cm_sp=Onsite-Recs-_-Related-Items-_-Mobile It works great. Spray it on, wipe it off, clean as a whistle. Lpskier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted October 27, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 27, 2021 star bright hull cleaner works great too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Kevin89MC Posted October 27, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 27, 2021 Another vote for MaryKate's On & Off hull cleaner. You can try the Starbrite hull cleaner first, but if that doesn't work, hit it with MK. On an older boat I had a pretty bad 3 year old baked on scum line that Starbrite and a number of other things (including toilet bowl cleaner) couldn't touch. MK took it right off very easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Dacon62 Posted October 28, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 28, 2021 On a muddy lake and this stuff is magic. Spray on and the staining just disappears. Rinse off with water. May be a similar product to what others have mentioned. Not sure what kind of staining that is and if this would work but if you run out of options… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BlueSki Posted October 28, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 28, 2021 Babes Spot Solver will bleed out stains as well. Looks like a pretty good list of options has formed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Ali Posted October 28, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 28, 2021 I am expecting @Bdecker to have a pristine boat for me to get dirty again in the spring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ProStah_Skiah Posted October 28, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 28, 2021 For Star Brite, they have two different options. Instant Hull Cleaner and Boat Bottom Cleaner/EZ-ON EZ-OFF . The Instant Hull Cleaner is more gentle, containing 8% oxalic acid. The Boat Bottom Cleaner is more potent, containing 5-10% HCl and 1-5% Oxalic acid. I have both, but have never needed to resort to the Boat Bottom Cleaner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bongo Posted October 28, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 28, 2021 I am a big fan of FSR from Davis. Available at Amazon and occasionally on the shelf for some of the other usual spots. It is much more gentle on skin, lungs and metals than some of the above mentioned, but I found it to have it to be as or more effective. Wipe it on as a gel. Leave it sit for 5 minutes. Rinse it off. Each year toward the end of our boating season, I'll get up under the boat while it is on the boat lift and clean the running surface with this, since much easier than navigating around the trailer bunks. I once had a glob drop into my eye and it didn't hurt or cause much of a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bdecker Posted November 1, 2021 Author Baller Share Posted November 1, 2021 Thanks for all the suggestions and comments. @ali - you can just keep filling the gas cans and I’ll clean the boat! I chickened out on the more aggressive chemicals like on/off (due to fear of ruining my garage/driveway floor) and went with Collinite’s boat cleaner followed by their wax. Pretty incredible results, especially with the orbital polisher I borrowed. Waterline disappeared instantly as did the staining up on the main white stripe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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