Cleaning the engine housng and surround

[Iain_H]

Replacing my engine on my GRP yacht (Verl 27). While I have the opportunity, I am cleaning underneath the engine housing and the surrounding area....all fibreglass.

Once again, my naivety is king. I followed previous advice in here by using a steam cleaner. Well, actually its a black and decdker wallpaper stripper, again recommended somewhere in here.

It has done some of the job but I believe underneath the engine was painted black and I want this all away.

1. Can I move up to a high pressure steam cleaner for the fibreglass? will it be (more) effective? will it be harmful

2. I used a wire brush while steam cleaning - I've been told this is bad :-( Is this so? Will I need to repair and, if so, how?

3. What deep oil solvent remover can you recommend for me?

many thanks again for your help.

/i

 

[fluffc]

1. Yes
2. Oops
3. Bilgex & warm water (to stop your hands freezing)

 

[Iain_H]

Well I assume that bigex and a steam cleaner would be just as good?

So what would you recommend to me as to how I would treat my wire brush trouble?

 

[sarabande]

Selden make a naturally sourced (i.e. not solvent based) degreaser from citrus produ cst. It dissolves caked on oil and bilge grease like nobody's business, and smells pleasant afterwards. No damage to skin either. Minimal impact on the environment. It's certified for use in agriculture and food areas.

Selden F86 Degreaser from any commercial cleaning shop (available across the UK)

..... and it's cheaper than Bilgex !!!

 

[npf1]

I've just spent the last few weekends cleaning my bilge and engine for repainting. A domestic type steam cleaner was utter b****x and didn't achieve anything. Eventually I used a pressure washer which was excellent - thougth I still needed a bit of elbow grease afterwards to get to some sections.

 

[Aja]

Just finished mine.

GUNK and plenty of rolls of kitchen towels.

Spray GUNK on one day. Let soak overnight. Mop up mess next day. Painless and leaves gelcoat pretty clean. Smelled a bit though so gave a quick wipe over with Bilgex. Mmmmmmm.

Donald

 

[seaesta]

A previous post advised me to use oven cleaner when doing this job (changed engine 2 years back). It worked like a charm. Spray it on thick and it foams up, leave it a while wipe off with kitchen roll. Wear rubber gloves and rinse off the fibreglass after you have finsihed. Very easy job with this method.
Martin

 

[fluffc]

Has any damage been done to the smooth gelcoat surface - are any fibres now exposed?

 

[Kawasaki]

I use JIZER does what GUNK does.
Doesn't whiff the same.

 

[chrishelen]

Thats right jizer plenty of rags,paper towels,pressure washers tend to be messy in confined spaces,nope no subsitute for good old elbow grease.

 

[Iain_H]

[ QUOTE ]
Has any damage been done to the smooth gelcoat surface - are any fibres now exposed?

[/ QUOTE ]

Would really appreciate more info on the (potential) damage to the fibreglass. I don't think there are any exposed fibres. But then, not thinking there was a problem, I wasn't looking for it.

To be on the safe side, what would you do?