Cleaning off black streaks

[brownsox]

Haven't actually tried to get these off yet so it MAY just be a soap and water job ...? But I doubt it. Our boat has a 2 part paint finish, slightly "orange-peely".
The Compass catalogue has 3 or 4 different special products specifically for black streaks left by rain.
Are they necessary, - and if so which is best, do people reckon? Or can you use eg Jif/Cif?
Thanks.

 

[aidancoughlan]

I've heard from local club members that JIF/CIF is bad for grp, *and* heard the same from the previous owner of my boat when I bought it in holland - so in my book that rules out cif, although I dont know why, and other previous posts have contradicted this.
We picked a product at random called wipe-out from the chandlery to remove tyre marks on the grp topsides which were made during transport, and it removed the black marks easily. I imagine most of them will work reasonably well.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Contact hlb, a regular on the forum and ask for some of his magic boat remover potion, I can almost guarantee it will do the job with no effort on your part.

 

[BrendanS]

Apart from hlb's magic boat remover, the usual remedy for any stains on 2 part or grp is oxalic acid, which is available in proprietary forms in most chandlers, but much cheaper to buy in pure form. You can mix with water and wallpaper paste to form a gel which won't run off quickly.

 

[philip_stevens]

Have a look at the Cillet Bang! thread.

 

[itsonlymoney]

Starbrite blackstreak remover works a treat available most swindlers.
Ian

 

[Sans Bateau]

Several years ago we bought a tub of 'Pink Stuff' from the boat show, cannot remember why we bought it as it stayed in the bottom of a locker!

Most years we continued to sweat blood trying to get the deck/topsides looking good for the new season, using all sorts of expensive products in convincing sounding bottles. Last year, when we were preparing Out To Play for sale, and again, cannot remember why we dug it out, we tried 'Pink Stuff'.

It is brilliant, just brilliant, easy to use and with little hard scrubbing, Pink Stuff is what you need!

 

[tcm]

another vote for hlb\'s boat potion

he calls it boat remover but i think it is merely a caustic truckwash sort of thing. You dilute it a load with water brush it on rinse it off = clean boat.

 

[brownsox]

Tried to trace hlb's wundercleaner on the forum. Is it this stuff?:
"TFR Traffic Film Removant
It's the dog's boll.x!!
£30 for twenty five litres a Kennedy outlets"

And if so, what or where is a Kennedy outlet??

 

[BrendanS]

just pm hlb, and he'll sort you out

 

[fireball]

Don\'t use CIF/JIF on Gelcoat?

Anyone know why you shouldn't use CIF/JIF on gelcoat?
I've used it on a number of boats in the past - always sparingly though... I know it is abrasive - is this the reason?
Perhaps I'll have to switch to the other CIF cleaner - not the cream cleaner ...

 

[GeoffW]

Re: Don\'t use CIF/JIF on Gelcoat?

CIF/JIF is an abrasive cleaner and will put hundreds of tiny scratches into the surface which fill with dirt and soon the surface looks even dirtier than when you started cleaning it. It also rubs the finish away very quickly so a thin layer of paint/gelcoat could be rubbed away.

 

[pvb]

Used it for years without problems...

I've used "cream cleaners" (supermarket own-brand rather than Jif/Cif) for years on white hulls with no noticeable adverse effect. The secret is to use it sparingly on a very sudsy sponge, and apply only light pressure.

Also used it for years on a white Mercedes - again, with no adverse effect.

 

[keelhauled]

Go to your local motor factors and get a gallon of the type of detergent they use in garage forecourt car washes and mix at about 20 - 1 and sponge it over your boat. You will be amazed to see all dirt disolve away and it leaves a wax finish.
Regards
MF

 

[JKay]

all the large motor dealers that have car valet's use TFR.It's great stuff

works really well dilute it about twice recommended for cars brush on

rinse well or makes the gelcoat chalky and dull

seems to work better than the autoglym car and caravan cleaner at a

tenth of the price

cheers Joe

 

[brownsox]

Re: Cleaning off black streaks - THANKS

Thanks for all the useful answers on this.
By coincidence this month's PBO which arrived today has a cleaners test. Less useful than the advice given here, on balance, though.
No mention of pink stuff or hlb's wundercleaner. Astonish sounds worth trying though.

 

[Nick_H]

Re: Cleaning off black streaks - THANKS

the pink stuff is called something like "bog off". if you want black streak remover, you can pay £8 for starbrite, or £2 for Towsure for the same product.

 

[brownsox]

Re: Cleaning off black streaks - THANKS

Where do you buy Towsure?

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Cleaning off black streaks - THANKS

camping or caravan shops

 

[pvb]

Towsure also online...

Towsure also have a website where you can order online. They do a good printed catalogue too. I got a DIY towbar from them a few years ago, and found that they do a whole host of caravan accessories, etc, (many with boaty uses) at very competitive prices.