back to basics/ cleaning painted topsides

[steveeasy]

OK, Dont have too much time to experiment with cleaning products and thought there would be a wealth of knowledge here. My Topsides were professionally painted 10 years ago and generally look good. quite grimy though and Id like to spend some time getting the topsides looking as good as possible. Little unsure what to wash them with and dont think any cutting compound would be a good idea. Other than a car shampoo product what would be a good wash down product? Then to polish, any good tips on simple products that wont cut the paint back?.

Thanks
Steveeasy

 

[Refueler]

If the surface is relatively stain free and just grimy - then general use Household Cleaner ... then well rinsed off.

Guy I knew in UK was adamant about using Beeswax for his car and boat ... I would see him working away with the stuff ... hard work !! Did it make any real difference to normal polish ? None that any of us could see. Yes it looked great first day ... week later ???

I have heard various times that Car Polish WAX is not advised ... never really found out why ... but after cleaning stains / grime of hull - I use cheapest all in one Shampoo / Polish WAX Car cleaner I can get ...

OK - my boat is typical White Gel ..... First I hose down and wipe off loose grime ... while still wet - I apply thickened Oxalic to remove stains and get surface evenly 'white' working in sections ...... wash off ... Once whole hull has been done ... I give another hose down ... then attack any small or still stained areas with Oxalic .... wash off...
Then its give a real good wash down with All in One Car shampoo / polish WAX...

Before the Eco-Warriors got hold of Cilit Bang Lime and Rust Toilet Cleaner - that was amazing stuff for removing stains etc. The formula now is useless ....

If you have a really stubborn stain that even Oxalic has trouble with .......... Foam Oven Cleaner ....... BUT make sure its washed off completely ...

Painted hull ? As long as its good quality Marine coating ... then treat it like Gel Coat ... IMHO.

Edited for "lustyd"

 

[lustyd]

er cleaning stains / grime of hull - I use cheapest all in one Shampoo / Polish Car

Do you mean shampoo and wax? Never heard of polish being included and not sure how that would even work as polish is a cutting compound so needs to be worked

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Product testing articles: -

Best hull cleaners: How to add sparkle above and below the waterline
Eight of the best hull cleaners

I just use anything the chandlers sells but avoid a shampoo that removes the wax finish. So far the hull has remained acceptable. Yellow stains I use a home made oxalic solution, applied from a garden spray. Generously sprayed onto the yellow hull areas, repeated a few times and then wash off with the fresh water hose, tends to get rid of most of the yellowing. I think that most of the wax is now gone, as it was 4 years ago that the professional polish and waxing was performed.

 

[Refueler]

Do you mean shampoo and wax? Never heard of polish being included and not sure how that would even work as polish is a cutting compound so needs to be worked

Oh really - do we have tp split hairs ?? I think most people understood what was meant .................

Just for YOU - I shall go back and edit my post ...

 

[Refueler]

Do you mean shampoo and wax? Never heard of polish being included and not sure how that would even work as polish is a cutting compound so needs to be worked

mmmmm just to make a point ... can't resist !!

Pick up a can of Pledge Furniture POLISH

I dare to say that is not a cutting compound .... imagine if it was on those fine dining tables !!

 

[PCUK]

As it happens you could do a lot worse than use Pledge for your cleaning job. Also works well on deck shoes!

 

[Praxinoscope]

Do you mean shampoo and wax? Never heard of polish being included and not sure how that would even work as polish is a cutting compound so needs to be worked

Suggest you pop along to your local Halfords or similar, and look for ’Turtle car wash and wax’ a combined shampoo and wax, other makes are available. Not sure how effective, but certainly available.

 

[doug748]

OK, Dont have too much time to experiment with cleaning products and thought there would be a wealth of knowledge here. My Topsides were professionally painted 10 years ago and generally look good. quite grimy though and Id like to spend some time getting the topsides looking as good as possible. Little unsure what to wash them with and dont think any cutting compound would be a good idea. Other than a car shampoo product what would be a good wash down product? Then to polish, any good tips on simple products that wont cut the paint back?.

Thanks
Steveeasy

I have just done mine. It's a sprayed finish about 15 years old, quality and hard but the shine is going.

I used Caravan Cleaner to wash the dirt off and then gave it a desultory rub with car Haze Remover. The cutting leaves no colour on the rag, I doubt it takes any paint off worth talking about.
The results are not great but probably worth doing now and again. I can get better results with a slow electric mop on small areas but the effort is not worth it for me to tackle the lot.

 

[lustyd]

Suggest you pop along to your local Halfords or similar, and look for ’Turtle car wash and wax’ a combined shampoo and wax, other makes are available. Not sure how effective, but certainly available.

As I said, shampoo and wax. Wax is not polish. Sheesh, some people got out of the wrong side of bed this morning!

 

[lustyd]

I have heard various times that Car Polish WAX is not advised

There's nothing wrong with car polish or car wax on gelcoat, although before using a polish I would recommend a clean with meths or similar to make sure the dullness/chalkiness actually is dullness and not UV damaged old wax, which it often is.

 

[Refueler]

There's nothing wrong with car polish or car wax on gelcoat, although before using a polish I would recommend a clean with meths or similar to make sure the dullness/chalkiness actually is dullness and not UV damaged old wax, which it often is.

I was told years ago that it can cause 'yellowing' of the Gelcoat ............. but never seen any evidence of it.

Personally I know that T-Cut used can do that ... if not cleaned off well.

 

[Refueler]

As I said, shampoo and wax. Wax is not polish. Sheesh, some people got out of the wrong side of bed this morning!

If that's aimed at me - instead of hiding behind 'Praxinoscope' post .... not at all ... just don't see the point of 'hair splitting' such an obvious item .......... I don't think anyone needed correction - I'm sure they all knew what was meant.

 

[lustyd]

I get the sense that you think you're in an argument. I suggest you log off for a few hours and relax, I was not and am not arguing with you, nor am I trying to provoke you.

 

[Concerto]

mmmmm just to make a point ... can't resist !!

Pick up a can of Pledge Furniture POLISH

I dare to say that is not a cutting compound .... imagine if it was on those fine dining tables !!

If you want to keep the soft plastic windows in a sprayhood clear and flexible for a long period of time, then Pledge Furniture Polish is a wonderful product. This is used by classic car owners on their soft top windows and I use it on my sprayhood windows.

 

[Daydream believer]

Fenicks Bobby Dazzler. Involves less agitation ( so less damage) to the surface & provides a good shine. It is a 2 product application usually used on caravans. A garden sprayer is usefull to apply. However, gets "best buy" in magazine reviews etc. & friends tell me it is effective at the beginning of the caravanning season

 

[veshengro]

Many Moons ago I was told by a London Cab driver, a real one, Black Cab, done The Knowledge etc:, that between periodic thorough wash and wax sessions on their Cabs, the owners would add half a cup of Paraffin to a bucket of hot water to wash their vehicles.
This apparently had two benefits, one being that traffic/exhaust grime washed off easily and I appreciate that boats don't suffer that fate unless of course you are berthed near a big Mo.....No, stand down on that tack..
The other benefit was that the Paraffin left a protective film on the paint work until the next thorough wash and wax. Obviously oil film on upper decks and cabin tops is not a good idea but for washing topsides paintwork it might apply.

 

[lustyd]

traffic/exhaust grime washed off easily and I appreciate that boats don't suffer that fate unless of course you are berthed near a big

Every marina in the Solent suffers with this, and some get the burnoff from Fawley too

 

[Refueler]

If you want to keep the soft plastic windows in a sprayhood clear and flexible for a long period of time, then Pledge Furniture Polish is a wonderful product. This is used by classic car owners on their soft top windows and I use it on my sprayhood windows.

Never knew that ... wonder what is in it to do that ? Wish I'd known before - its whats basically destroyed my sprayhood ... "windows"

 

[Refueler]

I get the sense that you think you're in an argument. I suggest you log off for a few hours and relax, I was not and am not arguing with you, nor am I trying to provoke you.

Its just your way .... yeh I know.