Cleaning bird muck from GRP

[Sticky Fingers]

Cleaning bird muck from GRP Decks

Our shiny new boat is getting bombed daily by gulls and cormorants (or are they shags). Aside from the usual deckbrush and hosepipe, what do people find as a useful agent to clean GRP? Ideally something that can safely be swilled overboard into the marina in the process.

The cabin top and non-slip deck mouldings are particularly troublesome, the guano gets stuck in the little ridges.

 

[VicS]

Our shiny new boat is getting bombed daily by gulls and cormorants (or are they shags). Aside from the usual deckbrush and hosepipe, what do people find as a useful agent to clean GRP? Ideally something that can safely be swilled overboard into the marina in the process.

The cabin top and non-slip deck mouldings are particularly troublesome.

BSR ?

Not sure if the forum " bad language filter" will allow the the link

http://www.birdshitremover.co.uk/

Oh it does !

 

[johnalison]

I seldom use anything special. I find that a soak with seawater means that if left for a few minutes they will wash off easily enough. Sometimes this leaves a yellow stain behind, but I only use some hull cleaner if I have nothing better to do with my time, since it always seems to fade eventually. My coachroof was looking pretty grey by August, but we had a tropical rainstorm in Holland and I was then amazed to find the same surface sparkling white, so maybe a pressure-wash would help, but hardly worth the effort.

 

[pvb]

The cabin top and non-slip deck mouldings are particularly troublesome.

I have the same square profile non-slip on my cabin roof (Cruiser 37). I find brushing with a stiff brush and sudsy water will remove most dirt. I sometimes use Tesco Antibacterial Spray, which seems to help. Perhaps your best plan is to wait until the spring and then carefully pressure-wash the non-slip. I've found that this works well.

 

[Sandy]

Soap and water, and a bit of elbow grease.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

BSR ?

Not sure if the forum " bad language filter" will allow the the link

http://www.birdshitremover.co.uk/

Oh it does !

Does that actually work?

 

[awol]

Spreading breadcrumbs on other boats stops the problem!

 

[Sticky Fingers]

That's gonna make me popular...

 

[PlankWalker]

I solved my cormorant problem by tying a thin trip line 150mm above the spreaders from shroud to shroud, works a treat. It doesn't help with the gulls and terns though they perch on the deck.

 

[Tomahawk]

A facination with birds is a fine hobby for people who like flying animals. But not everyone is interested in them. However, thanks to the RSPB we are not allowed to shoot the shit dropping pests. So their hobby causes real and measurable inconvenience to other people and their property. I would like to see the RSPB pay for cleaning up after the mess caused by their hobby.

 

[Sandy]

A facination with birds is a fine hobby for people who like flying animals. But not everyone is interested in them. However, thanks to the RSPB we are not allowed to shoot the shit dropping pests. So their hobby causes real and measurable inconvenience to other people and their property. I would like to see the RSPB pay for cleaning up after the mess caused by their hobby.

Being on the Exe has additional issues, including the Great Wall of Topsham, apparently birds are very shy and although GWR have passed the reserve for a long time the birds need to be screened from people.

 

[Tomahawk]

Which is why they have to be kept away from landfill sites.
After all a landfill site is such a quiet place, what with heavy machinery moving about all day and reversing bleepers and the stink of methane.

I have seen birds taking a dust bath next to an unmade track in a quarry with lorries rumbling past kicking up clouds of dust. The problem is birds never listen to the experts who know whats best for them

 

[richardbrennan]

We have a problem with the starlings each autumn, although this has greatly diminished since the marina brought in a guy with a hawk. However, we do get purple bombs exploding on the deck when the critters have been gorging on blackberries, which does wash off, but leads a purple stain behind. As has been said, this does gradually fade with time, but can be removed with Milton, or a similar sterilising liquid, which does not appear to harm the GRP.

 

[pvb]

...but leads a purple stain behind. As has been said, this does gradually fade with time, but can be removed with Milton, or a similar sterilising liquid, which does not appear to harm the GRP.

Or save your money and just use cheap supermarket bleach...

 

[Little Five]

This won't please everyone but despite the droppings i like to watch the starlings loitering and chatting in the rigging. They were around long before us and their social interaction is a joy. At this time of year I clean the boat twice a week, it ain't that hard.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Twice a week.... maybe you'd like to do mine! I'm only there once or twice a month at best

 

[Little Five]

yes that is when it can become a problem. However the starlings do appear to leave gifts for everyone so they don't have favourites.
Am not sure why they choose the places to congregrate, perhaps the wind direction?

 

[Tomahawk]

They chose my mast this year.
Not much happy about the crap left behind.

 

[richardbrennan]

I did say "or similar". I currently have a bottle of Boots own brand, which was cheap as chips and has lasted several years. I suspect something like Domestos would be a bit on the strong side and need diluting, this stuff you can use straight from the bottle.