cleaning the topsides

[Evadne]

I know the old hands on here will have seen this sort of post before, but I tried Astonish oven cleaner for the first time this year, to clean the (white) hull of boatyard grot, rust stains and algae detritus before polishing. It got a PBO product of the year either last year or the year before for this purpose, IIRC.

It isn't so good at bleaching the serious rust stains, you need something with more oxalic acid in it. But it turns mud-stained, yellowed white paintwork a colour close to the original, with one application. I don't need to repaint until next year now.

It looks and feels like "Vim" but isn't anything like as abrasive.

 

[Refueler]

WC Cleaner that is designed to remove Lime and Rust ...

This is my boat launched today after I spent a few hours with Cilit Lime and Rust Remover .... and then polished :

Here you can see stern vs side ... stern already cleaned..

Showing progress ..

Not too bad eh ?

And of course ... here she is today ...

As we all know - it won't take long for slime, grime to spoil a finish !

 

[Shearwater]

the local boatyard here uses HCL sold as Agua Fuere ( Hard Water) ..... ie hydrochloric acid. They brush it on with a broom, wait for the foam to subside and hose it off. Hey presto! No yellow stains,and a completely clean hull. Vastly chaeaper than oxalic and available everywhere.