GRP Boat Cleaning

[johnny_h]

Hi,
My two year old GRP boat is looking a bit tired after two years of relentless rain down here. She's not been left in the water and I've power hosed the hull and deck but there are some nasty black(ish) stains which I can't shift with jet and soapy water. They look like rain water stains(?). Is there any product(s) anyone can recommend so that I can get the boat back to her shiny new state. She's barely been in the water since I bought her, I'd be pretty disappointed of I can't get her back to a nice condition. I'm regretting not getting a cover now - would that have helped or does the gel coat just deteriate over time anyway?
Appreciate your experience on what products / techniques I should use to clean her up. I've managed to get rid of most of the "green stuff", but I am concerned by this staining.
I've read somewhere about oxalic acid - should I try this? Is there a boat cleaner which contains this since I'm not too sure about mixing this up myself and maybe destroying the finish of the boat.
Thanks . . .

 

[Nick_H]

You can get black streak remover from Towsure for 2 quid, or a chandler for 8 quid. That will help, but if it's engrained it wont remove it completely. The answer is to polish it, that will get rid of the stains and leave it looking shiny and new.

Yes, you should get a cover.

 

[sailorman]

i always use Maguires

 

[Mymobo]

Wash her off with boat wash and get polishing, but an electric polisher off ebay this will help. Put in the hours and you will get the shine back.

 

[hlb]

Ok. I'll come clean. Used to sell boat cleaning stuff on here. Just for the laugh. Mucky Farters International Patented Boat Removing elixir. Gave up because the cost of transport, was way above the cost of the stuff. Also because I lost the contact for the super strength stuff.

It's dead easy to buy, but a bit commercial. So look there.

For normal cleaning, it's just an egg cup full in a bucket of water. But with a spray thingy handy, for some neat stuff and a green scrubby thingy.

 

[johnny_h]

thanks for your input - I'll invest in some products and get myself cleaning then.

 

[hlb]

Don'T bother with the swindlery stuff, it's mostly useless and expensive. Get the stuff the professionals use. It's a hint, mind, might loose eye or hand.

 

[oceandrive]

Down here in Menorca we use a product called Suma Scale. It will remove all the black marks , cal and dried on salt spray. I dont Know if this is available in the UK but its main use is for removing lime scale build up in boilers, water tanks etc. Oxolic Acid is similar but we tend to use this for cleaning teak not the gel.

Try at a plumbers merchants for a lime scale remover. wash the boat down and it will look as if you have polished it. Gel cote shines when its flat and smooth. if it has small scratches then you wont get the boat gleeming. If this is the case use a compound such as 3M Fast Cut or for lighter work 3M Finess-it

Don't be afraid of using cemicals within reason. Watch the proffesionals in the yards they use a products strong enough to burn the barnicles off your props and as this fizzes away It has no damaging effect on the Gel work.

 

[spinreach]

Following MM!'s recomendation, I used the Dr Power Magic Eraser from Boots / Robert Dyas. Fantastic results but does need a polish afterwards. Having used the eraser, The Wikipedia explanation below, makes a lot of sense now as it does feel as if you are giving the gelcoat a very light sanding, hence the need for a follow up polish or conditioner.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?Number=2225737

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Eraser