plastic fenders - gone all sticky

C

curious

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Could not find anything previous on this - hope someone will say if there is. These things stay out in all weathers and I have thrown a couple away recently because they had become sticky around the top exposed surfaces. I supposed this was due to degradation from sunlight but perhaps some one knows if this is so and is there a fix?
 
Acetone seems to get rid of sticky - but it will return - have heard that petrol works also. The only real fix seems to be to have fender sox of some sort.
 
We inherited a set of sticky blue fenders made of some sort of rubberised plastic that made a right mess of the topsides. We threw them all out and replaced them with white plastic fenders that don't go sticky, more modern materials I guess.
Actually they weren't thrown out. We covered them with cheap Wilco pillow cases and used them going through the French canals/rivers.
 
Don't clean them up - you will get a result but they will degrade more. I tried.

As a previous poster has said they white ones seem to be OK - it's the darker colours that are a problem. I have all white and two-tone, never been north of Gib and 10 years old. The all white are fine, but not the blue ends of the two-tone.

I don't like standard socks as they trap the grit common on all but wooden docks. I had sunbrella covers made for mine - not cheap but they should last and are doing a fine job.
 
Yes, got to agree with the comments made already. I've tried every product under the sun trying to clean them. The ones with blue ends that is. No lasting success. And what did I do? stupidly bought new ones with blue ends. White for me from now on.
 
Also fender socks hold moisture and can give fibreglass boats osmosis up the side of the hull where they lie against it for long periods
Well worth noting
Joe
 
Photos, copy of survey report or other substantive evidence for that claim?

Cos I've never heard of that particular cause of osmosis, but am ready to be enlightened.
 
I'm unconvinced that there is sufficient water pressure in a soggy fender sock to cause osmosis in a hull above the waterline.
 
Its not a joke
Ive seen osmosis caused by carpet and cloth or any type of surface that will hold moisture close to a glass fibre hull
My old westerly Tiger had 2 strips of osmosis on its hull sides caused by its wooden yard stilts
And ive seen lots of osmosis strips on hulls caused by fender socks
Its a lot more common than you think

Joe
 
Agree, for doubters, try putting some foam backed carpet onto a GRP sole. Worst case of osmosis I've ever had on any of my boats. Exacerbated by the fact its usually fresh water (rain/condensation).
 
Don't laugh, I have osmosis blisters on the locker tops in my Centaur cabin, that I can only put down to condensation formed between the cushions and the internal moulding.

It's either condensation or leak water being held there by the cushions, the effect is the same.

As to sticky fenders, scrap 'em and buy new, you know it makes sense.
 
[ QUOTE ]

Yeah, the GRP surfaces of boats should be kept dry at all times. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

That would be a bit much to aim for, it does help if the GRP isn't constantly wet though. No doubt someone will know of one or more, but I suspect that boats that spend every winter ashore seldome suffer from osmosis.
 
I improved some sticky fenders using this , which I bought a while back for another job, but it looks expensive now. It doesn't restore to "as new" condition but it does seem to eliminate the stickiness..
 
I've had osmosis in the side-decks of a dinghy (Solo) which were kept damp by a PVC cover and also on a Skipper 17 cockpit seats which had plywood panels attached to trap water! Osmosis from damp fender socks seems quite likely based on above experiences.
 
Thanks chaps. The consensus seems to be stay with all white. Those I threw away were coloured which sounds like a problem with adding the colours in manufacture. I was hoping someone knowing the chemistry might reply. I have never been enthusiastic about fender socks and it appears only one material is safe to use. I am just hoping someone who really knows the why and the fix reads this and replies.
 
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