Hull cleaning.

graham

graham

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Did a mini refit on Banjo on the weekend. The guys hauled her out for me Friday afternoon I powerrwashed the bottom and worked on into the evening.

Saturday we both started early to get the antifoul on while the sun shone.Also had some seacocks to replace and a few other jobs so it was a lot of work for one weekend.

The staining on the hull is annoying ,I cleaned the hull with Oxalic acid last summer then applied loads of boat hull polish but by Xmas it was as bad as ever.

Im thinking of painting the hull next time unl;ess anyopne has a better idea?Cleaning and polishing is too much hard work to be doing several times a year.

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We've pretty much finished Ishtar now. Engine rebuilt and running like a dream. I spent three hours up the mast a few weeks back fitting the new wind unit. I was banned from the boat for a week then, whilst Louise renewed all of the Upholstery and sanded and oiled/varnished all the wood. I'll post some pictures when we go down again.

we actually sailed in the bay on sunday, though only for half an hour as the wind dropped. Spent another hour or so practicisng maoeuvres at Mermaid quay. I still cannot contolr the boat when going astern. More practise needed.

See you soon.
 
"Im thinking of painting the hull next time unl;ess anyopne has a better idea?Cleaning and polishing is too much hard work to be doing several times a year."

That's not dirt - that is Bristol Channel. It does exactly the same to painted hulls. But it is frustrating I agree. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif You are well ahead of me.
ken
 
Hi Ken I think theres more to it than that.Banjo came up by lorry from the South coast allready with hull staining which comes off easilly enough but returns quite quickly.



I have had white grp boats in drying mud moorings in both the Ely and Rumney rivers and Barry Harbour over the years and never been bothered by it while some boats on neighbouring moorings were affected.

Maybe i just need to polish it more often. Will give it another season to see how it goes.

Are you all ready for craning in day yet? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
A mixture of Oxalic Acid powder mixed with wallpaper paste and water gets it off easilly.You just paint it on wait 20 minutes then wash it off.Works like magic.

As for keeping it from coming back thats the hard part,people recommend polishing the hull But this doesnt seem to last long .
 
Thanks for that - have tried a few cleaners from the chandlers, but they don't work that well, and they're not cheap! Will definately try this. Where's the best place to get Oxalic Acid powder? and what's the mix ratio?
 
You can get oxalic acid powder from A G woodcare by mail order.Mix in enough wallpaper paste and water to get a stiff mix that will stay on after you brush it on with a paint brush.

wash off after with water,jobs done.
 
You should be able to get oxalic acid from your local chemist......i did.
edit....sorry didn't notice it was you....my mum is the pharmacist here so i will ask her to order a tub if you want.
 
Hi Gray, i had the same problem with my boat over the years, all my nice white paint would go brown just above the waterline , so last year i raised the boottopping a few inches, it helps a bit i think, but it doesnt look too pretty.
 
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You can get oxalic acid powder from A G woodcare by mail order.Mix in enough wallpaper paste and water to get a stiff mix that will stay on after you brush it on with a paint brush....


I.M.H.O. forget the wall paper paste... mix some of the Oxalic acid into a saturated solution, (thats when the crystals stop disolving) apply with a sponge headed handled mop... hey presto, by the time youve gone around your craft the first part is as white as snow... oh yes it is, it's wonderfull, one of the things that really does work... honest, Oxalic Acid can be obtained fro Fidies off penath Rd. in Cardiff /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Correction to my post about getting it from the chemist.....you can't. (unless you know the right people!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif)
Must also stress that it is really toxic so be aware.
 
Why not? I can get from our local chemist, but chose not to as they were too expensive. a lot cheaper on line.
I found that "Cillit Bang" cleaner works well.
 
...but don't do it on a hot sunny day, so the paste dries after 5 mins, requiring lots of elbow grease to get off /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I gave up after a while, and it then took a couple of weeks of sailing to get rid of it.
 
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I gave up after a while, and it then took a couple of weeks of sailing to get rid of it.

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Seems like a far more sensible idea /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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