Help, whats the best way to clean and polish the gel coat?

[Syrenka]

Hello, i just found this forum and it seems very helpfull.
I was wondering if i could have some advice?
Dad has just brought a sailing yacht and we have spent all today scrubbing her clean as she has been standing with no TLC almost all of last year and nothing was done over winter.
She has scrubbed up quite well but there are still brownish marks on the gel coat almost like muddy stains. Whats the best thing to use to get them off?
Also what is a good polish to make her look new shiny on the hull? Can anyone recommed anything?
Thank You

 

[Peterduck]

I don't wish to appear discouraging, but you may get more responses at the PBO forum. I've never had anything to do with plastic boats, so I can't help much. Don't yacht chandlers stock the sort of polishes that you need?
Peter.

 

[Syrenka]

Ok thanks i'll post the question in there. Didn't know where to put it and the boats a classic so i thought here was a good start.
Im sure our local chandler would stock everything i was just wondering if anyone recommended anything.

 

[Vanilla]

Do a search on Scuttlebutt and PBO formuns for "oxalic acid" as there are loads of threads on cleaning GRP.

Good Luck and Welcome!

 

[tcm]

there are various levels of cleaning

Detergents of course, and then oxalic acid in various forms. One form is frinstance "Y10" (whighten, geddit?) which can remove most stuff.

on a slightly diferent tack, a good levels of cleaning can be achieved with a more caustic product such as "truckwash" but it is importanttorinse heavily.

But oxalic may not lift everythingand many resport to mechancial means.

However, I can recommend "GRP renovator" which is a 2-part fromfrom wessex chemcial factors , findable on the web. I believe thatthis was actually debveloped for a boat manufacturer who found they had some new hulls with browish/yellow stains, apparently caused by mould release agent.

The stuff is not cheap - £100 quid for the 2-partgear - but it really is quite shatteringly good - but needs to be applied to otherwise clean hull. And the eventual finished grp whd be protected with polish of some sort.

 

[Syrenka]

Thank you for all the help, lots of people have recommended the oxalic acid i think we will give it ago.
I guess you only learn from experience.
Thanks!

 

[oldfrank]

Try chrome cleaner - a nice light abrasive. OF