Degreasing

[Buck Turgidson]

Photo shows my cockpit locker when I bought the boat. No prizes for what I fixed first but the shiny shiny was diesel fuel. There was a leak from the filler pipe which got fixed second. No leaks for the last 5 years but the locker remains greasy despite several attempts to clean it. I'm thinking about painting this year but not if I can't get a good surface to paint on so top tips please of how to degrease both FG and Ply that has spent some time bathed in diesel!

 

[Poignard]

I would try Gunk, or equivalent, to clean the GRP.

The plywood (battery tray?) won't be so easy. If it didn't inolve too much butchery, I would remove it and take it home, strip the paint off and try degreasing it as needed with acetone.

 

[Momac]

 

[dankilb]

Nowt better value than this stuff: No Nonsense Heavy Duty Degreaser 5Ltr - Screwfix

Do dilute it - not necessarily as weak as the instructions - but neat is rarely required.

 

[MikeBz]

Jizer is a really good degreaser. Water soluble so you just rinse off afterwards.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

Jizer is a really good degreaser. Water soluble so you just rinse off afterwards.

I had to google that to make sure it wasn't a wind up!!

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I doubt you will have success with the plywood, if possible cut it out and remake then cover it in a couple of layers of glass cloth or just paint.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I doubt you will have success with the plywood, if possible cut it out and remake then cover it in a couple of layers of glass cloth or just paint.

I'm guessing the same but wondered if anyone had a secret method.
I'm loath to replace it as it's original and I don't like butchering her given my general lack of DIY skills. I normally just pay a man to do stuff!

 

[peter gibbs]

I'm guessing the same but wondered if anyone had a secret method.
I'm loath to replace it as it's original and I don't like butchering her given my general lack of DIY skills. I normally just pay a man to do stuff!

Degrease as above but residue may persist in the wood and fail to take paint. Scarifying with a wire brush on a drill will take you further in without removing the panel. Otherwise cut a template and shape a piece of light ply and screw in place.

 

[thinwater]

In fact, if you can't get it clean with the methods listed above, just go ahead and paint. If it didn't come off, it won't matter because it is not on the surface. You can paint grease stains that pass the white glove test.

 

[KREW2]

No Nonsense Heavy Duty Degreaser 5Ltr - Screwfix

 

[Poignard]

Jizer is a really good degreaser. Water soluble so you just rinse off afterwards.

Yes, I think that's similar to Gunk but it doesn't smell as bad!

 

[steveeasy]

I had areas like that in my Twister. A good power wash with some bleach cleaner and the plywood was perfect or and degreaser and let it dry then a good coat of danboline or flow coat and it will be perfect .

Steveeasy

 

[MikeBz]

I had to google that to make sure it wasn't a wind up!!

A single Z makes all the difference

 

[jwfrary]

Jizer is a really good degreaser. Water soluble so you just rinse off afterwards.

I have switched to comma hyper clean which doesn't leave the red residue

 

[rotrax]

I use that in my home degreaser. Comma make good products.

Good stuff, and a better smell.

The old Gunk smell always reminded me of Elsan fluid................................................

 

[Poignard]

Gunk has been around for a long time. I remember using it on my motorbikes in the 1950s.
It certainly stinks but does the job well and I think it's less harmful than solvents.

 

[MikeBz]

I have switched to comma hyper clean which doesn't leave the red residue

Strange, I’ve been using it for 25 years and never had a red residue, it just rinses off with fresh water. Maybe because I’ve mostly used it on metal?

 

[TwoFish]

Gunk has been around for a long time. I remember using it on my motorbikes in the 1950s.
It certainly stinks but does the job well and I think it's less harmful than solvents.

Sadly Gunk is now much changed. The current product has nothing like the degreasing power of the ‘proper’ Gunk of yesteryear.

i was quite impressed by the engine clean of my van from the apprentice at my independent VW specialist. He’d discovered some YouTube video of Bilt Hamber Surfex degreaser mixed with boiling water and applied via a pressurised garden spray bottle. It worked very well.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I had to google that to make sure it wasn't a wind up!!

My father recommended it to me when I had my first motorbike as a teenager in the 1960s.
Sugarsoap might also solve the OP's problem.