Dark Streaks on GRP

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Switch

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Despite regular waxing and even an A-Glaze application I'm still getting those horrible black streaks on my white GRP. They are a b**ger to remove. I thought an application of A-Glaze would enable me to just wipe the streaks off but no, they are as stubborn to remove as before.

Can anyone recommend a good product that I can use regularly to remove these streaks that isn't too abrasive (I don't want to damage the gelcoat).

Thanks for any advice
 
mediawebserver
 
Switch said:
Despite regular waxing and even an A-Glaze application I'm still getting those horrible black streaks on my white GRP. They are a b**ger to remove. I thought an application of A-Glaze would enable me to just wipe the streaks off but no, they are as stubborn to remove as before.

Can anyone recommend a good product that I can use regularly to remove these streaks that isn't too abrasive (I don't want to damage the gelcoat).

Thanks for any advice
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I believe the black streaks to be caused from polish/cleaners containing hydrocarbons.

If you leave them they will fade completely and not come back.

You can easily wipe them off with a sponge or cloth and a splat of a water based polish like Autoglym

As it is water based you can use in the wet and you can rinse the polish off with fresh water hose or buff it off seeing as there is a water shortage.
 
Funny, this thread has popped up just as I was posting about black streak remover. It's 'Star Brite streak remover'. Great stuff...see my post.
L
 
Someone told me the black streaks are from aircraft.

I don't bother with Wax as I felt it never lasted more than a few months, instead I use Teflon PTEF polish (think it is a starbrite brand) and that lasts well into the season. I still get the black streaks but with this polish it usually wipes off with sponge and water and towards the end of season I just use more of the polish which removes most of the marks I get on my boat.
 
RobWales said:
"Someone told me the black streaks are from aircraft."

They fly that low around the marina then? :)
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I was waiting for that kind of response :D The comment was based on Southampton airport and pollution from engines, for me personally I have no idea but would love to know the cause, do other boaters up north etc have the same problem?
 
Scubadoo said:
I was waiting for that kind of response :D The comment was based on Southampton airport and pollution from engines, for me personally I have no idea but would love to know the cause, do other boaters up north etc have the same problem?
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My boat used to be berthed in Brigg, sort of up north and I used to suffer black streaks.

There is an occasional aircraft spotted, we all doft our caps in awe ;)

In my club up north I was told by an old guy that it was polish and I tend to go with his observation .

The use of water based polish appears to solve the problem.

Chemicals in some polish dissolve black rubbing strakes/sealant which runs down the hull but the oils in some polish will be drawn out the gelcoat and bead when it rains which also cause the streaks.


Use water based polish, keep it off your rubbing strakes/sealant.
 
Black streak removal

Not too many aircraft in Mylor, Falmouth apart from the occasional helo from Culdrose but we still get the black streaks in abundance. With reference to previous posts:

1. Application of a good teflon polish does seem to make the streaks easier to remove at least for a time.
2. Endorse Flower Power's views on the Starbrite product.
3. We have found that degradation of rubber in strakes and window surrounds is a major contributor to streaks. We have treated the rubber with Autoglym Bumper and Trim Gel (revives colour and protects exterior plastics, vinyl and rubber). This has definitely reduced the incidence of the streaks.
 
DAKA said:
My boat used to be berthed in Brigg, sort of up north and I used to suffer black streaks.

There is an occasional aircraft spotted, we all doft our caps in awe ;)

In my club up north I was told by an old guy that it was polish and I tend to go with his observation .

The use of water based polish appears to solve the problem.

Chemicals in some polish dissolve black rubbing strakes/sealant which runs down the hull but the oils in some polish will be drawn out the gelcoat and bead when it rains which also cause the streaks.


Use water based polish, keep it off your rubbing strakes/sealant.
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I should have worded that better, sorry about that, that will teach me to do a quick reply :o

Can you suggest some water based polish?
 
Black Streaks

I find that after using a good polish like "Starbright Teflon".......Mr Sheen and a dry cloth removes all the black streaks and your adding polish not removing it. Try it it works a treat.
 
The cause of the streaks (wherever they come from) aviation fuel, dust, dirty rain in general, is not as important as your protection against them.

Products will fall short of expectations if the surface is not ready to accept protection.

High quality forms of protection will be under strain from a surface that is less than perfect and performance is hindered by few other factors.
For best results an application of anything (sealant or wax) we need to have the surface prepared to receive it.

It needs to be highly polished, free of scratches, porous dull patches and/or oxidized areas in any degree or stage and de-greased prior to any application.

The better the preparation, the better the durability of the protecting product applied.
Zooming in with a microscope on different levels of preparation would show the difference between applying the product to a furry blanket and a sheet of glass.

The difference in durability and performance of the protecting product will be vast.

For initial removal of streaks and yet to try not to remove wax is pointless, it all needs to come out and the surface be corrected, it’s a good thought/rule to not want to remove wax / protection, but if the surface is holding onto the streaks, you need to get at the surface, work it and replace protection for best results.

In quite a few cases I have seen protection applied that is locking in contaminates to the surface, water spots are a common one, some quality products are hard to remove and therefore it is hard to remove the contaminates in these instances.
Hi tech applications are great, but if they have been poorly applied it will be harder to rectify.

A magic sponge is King as a tool and SB black streak remover queen as a strong arm, but … it’s just the start, it needs to be followed up with some correction ‘prior’ to protection again.

If the surfaces are all singing and dancing, then black streaks are no problem and are dealt with easily by a gentle PH neutral wash down.

I also agree, 3M is the way to go. :)
 
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