Removing rust stains

[Peterlewis321]

In our Princess V45 aft cabin we have a water/rust stain trailing down the side wall lining directly below the porthole. It’s been there for some time (before we even owned the boat) and seems to have been caused by a lack of attention/maintenance to the window latch at some point. Am not worried about any water ingress, but I’d really like to get rid of the dirty brown trickle mark that has been left and yet so far it won’t shift with any usual kind of cleaning products (soap and water, multi surface cleaner)......any tips/tricks on how to remove such stains?? Cheers

 

[markc]

Oxalic acid. You can buy in powder form on ebay and mix up in a spray bottle. Try not to breath it in!

 

[rib]

Jiff rubbing gently

 

[rafiki_]

Magic sponges work brilliantly on any gelcoat stain. Purchase off E Bay.

 

[Restoration man]

Not sure if it works on fabric but “Y10” shifts rust Stains on Fiberglass great

 

[oldgit]

250g Oxalic Acid•Hull•Deck•GRP Cleaner & Rust Remover-99,5% BEST QUAILITY !!! | eBay

 

[longjohnsilver]

Not sure if it works on fabric but “Y10” shifts rust Stains on Fiberglass great

Y10 is essentially oxalic acid. But costs about 20x more.

 

[Peterlewis321]

Magic sponges work brilliantly on any gelcoat stain. Purchase off E Bay.

Yes I use them too for all sorts of gelcoat marks.....But this problem I have is not on the gelcoat but on the interior of the boat on the fabric lining.

 

[J12345T]

I think you're describing the small rust stains that come from the port holes and drip down onto the fabric?

If so, phosphoric acid is your friend here. In New Zealand (and Aus I think) you can buy it as a gel called "Grunt". I use it all the time on my boat (Princess) and even on the internal lining (wall) fabric with care.

Not sure exactly which type of porthole you have but you should also regularly use it to clean the area between where the opening part contacts the fixed part. Once the stains are removed (usually the crappy screws) clean with a wet rag, dry then apply some sort of rubber lubricant to the sealing strip to minimise future water ingress. Annoying I know but it is a maintenance item.

James.

 

[AndieMac]

Hi James, the phosphoric and oxalic will create similar results, wipe on, wait, rinse off, without needing to use abrasive gelcoat reducing products.
Usually the oxalic is very inexpensive compared to other “marine” branded products. In department stores often the main ingredient in rust and stain removers.

 

[Rappey]

Jiff rubbing gently

They now sell a rust remover in a spray bottle.
It's not bad on painted surfaces.

 

[Peterlewis321]

I think you're describing the small rust stains that come from the port holes and drip down onto the fabric?

If so, phosphoric acid is your friend here. In New Zealand (and Aus I think) you can buy it as a gel called "Grunt". I use it all the time on my boat (Princess) and even on the internal lining (wall) fabric with care.

Not sure exactly which type of porthole you have but you should also regularly use it to clean the area between where the opening part contacts the fixed part. Once the stains are removed (usually the crappy screws) clean with a wet rag, dry then apply some sort of rubber lubricant to the sealing strip to minimise future water ingress. Annoying I know but it is a maintenance item.

James.

Thanks James-much appreciated

 

[petem]

In our Princess V45 aft cabin we have a water/rust stain trailing down the side wall lining directly below the porthole. It’s been there for some time (before we even owned the boat) and seems to have been caused by a lack of attention/maintenance to the window latch at some point. Am not worried about any water ingress, but I’d really like to get rid of the dirty brown trickle mark that has been left and yet so far it won’t shift with any usual kind of cleaning products (soap and water, multi surface cleaner)......any tips/tricks on how to remove such stains?? Cheers

Jiff and magic sponges are abrasive. I'ce used Starbrite rust remover but only leave it on for a few seconds.

 

[Peterlewis321]

Jiff and magic sponges are abrasive. I'ce used Starbrite rust remover but only leave it on for a few seconds.

Thanks-I’ve used something similar to the Starbrite stuff on the grp (boat is in Spain so is a different brand but guess it is similar) but was nervous to use on the fabric.....will check the ingredients (am guessing both will contain Oxalic acid) and will give it a go.?

 

[petem]

Thanks-I’ve used something similar to the Starbrite stuff on the grp (boat is in Spain so is a different brand but guess it is similar) but was nervous to use on the fabric.....will check the ingredients (am guessing both will contain Oxalic acid) and will give it a go.?

Is it a porous vinyl? If so, I'd try a fabric stain remover, trying on an inconspicuous area first.

If a leatherette vinyl a regular rust remover should work. Again, try on somewhere inconspicuous.

 

[mossym]

Magic sponges work brilliantly on any gelcoat stain. Purchase off E Bay.

had a quick google, came back with lots of results with what look to be standard white sponges, just to check, are they what you mean or something specific?

 

[Peterlewis321]

had a quick google, came back with lots of results with what look to be standard white sponges, just to check, are they what you mean or something specific?

Yes, they are typically small white rectangular sponges-quite dense and need to be damp to work properly but they really are ‘magic’ on things like GRP, rib tubes, fenders etc

 

[mossym]

super, thanks. picked up first boat last weekend so starting to come up with the list of tasks and tools to do them, a good clean is certainly on there

 

[jrudge]

Magic sponges are made of melamine.

it is highly abrasive - but at a microscopic level. I would be careful using them on grp.