CLEANING TOPSIDES

[laser]

Comments would be gratefully welcome from other Yachities on......
I have a fibreglass boat which has lain out of the water for 32 months, properly supported on a cradle with a cover.

I am now in a position to go sailing and wish to clean the the topsides and a friend has suggested that I should use autoglym intensive tar remover or equivalent to clean the topsides prior to applying marine polish and buffing up the gelcoat

Can someone advise if this is the right way to do it?

Comments much appreciated by sailor who has been landlocked and can't wait for the 2007 season

 

[Talbot]

much better off using what the professionals use - either one of the 3m products, or Farecla. and best used on a polisher like a large angle grinder - suitable machine here at a suitable price!

 

[Skyva_2]

See this thread from a few days ago, which seemd to cover your question:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1132002/an/0/page/4/gonew/1#UNREAD

 

[Dave99]

I wouldn't use tar remover all over to be honest

 

[gardenshed]

Don't use car products as the silicone in them makes it extremely difficult if any repairs are needed later. 3m polish & restorer is as good as anything. If you are worried about the cost of a couple of bottles of fibreglass clearner/restorer then you've taken up the wrong hobby

 

[paddywackcocker]

This is hard work but garanteed results.
1, Road trafic film remover (available form car valet outlets)
2, 3Ms fast cut (used on a mop haed atached to a angle grinder.
3, a high quality wax, two good applications.
check contents of wax, most good quality polishes dont contain silicon anymore.

 

[markdj]

Autoglym does not contain any silicone and is used extensively by professional marine boat care guys but there is no need to use tar remover unless you've been driving up the M25 in your boat! What works great is the autoglym shamppo conditioner and pressurewasher with brush head. Use high pressure at first to get rid of soiling and then follow up with shampoo. Use brush to clean then rinse. Apply autoglym wax or resin polish then finish with the extra gloss protection. If the GRP is dusty looking or matt then use autoglym fine abrasive on a polishing mop at 1500-1800rpm.

 

[JKay]

He never suggested tar remover /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

He said use RTF which is brilliant ,rinse of well though

cheers Joe