Source of Boracol in the Chichester area ?

[malcp]

Anyone know where I can get some Boracol please, in the Chichester area, for use on my teak decks; to get rid of the green algae etc?

Thanks

 

[fireball]

Don't you use a bathroom cleaner?

 

[malcp]

Er, no, do you? Is it strong enough?

Previous forum opinions seem to think Boracol works best (short of TCMs treatment that is)

 

[fireball]

yup - bathroom cleaner ... flash is pretty good ... well - that's what we find anyway ...

Mind u - a trip across the channel in 25knots with some steep seas gives it a blummin good wash ... followup with a quick spray of the hose and bob's your uncle! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[VicS]

Its worth reading This thread as some alternatives are suggested. Note the advice from pvb regarding algaecides and fungicides

However it is worth doing a Google search for "Boracol 10RH" as you will find it available by mail order

 

[david36]

Boracol is usually only found in Northern Europe, Sweden and Norway plus parts of North Germany etc. However, the active ingredient, benzalkonium chloride is present in "Polycell 3 in 1 Mould Cleaner", albeit in a much weaker concentration. I think that it is about 25% strength compared with Boracol. However the Polycel seems to do the trick though I have only tried it on one small area of teak decking so far. So far so good.

 

[Robin]

I bought a fungicide/algicide wash from Homebase. They sell it in 500ml and 1 litre size in two areas, one for external wall washing (litres) the other the internal wall painting (500ml) area and this version is stronger w/v, this is what I bought and diluted it to 25%. The two types are the same chemical content just in different concentrations. I used it mid season on our cockpit laid teak which had green I couldn't get rid of and I also used it on the sprayhood where the green was taking hold again. So far it has proven very successful with no return of the green, so good that I just used it again on the hood as a winter preventative, left it an hour before washing it off and next day re-proofed the hood in the belief that would keep dirt at bay better as well. Not expensive either, about £5 for the stronger 500ml version IIRC.

 

[malcp]

Thanks one and all.

What attracted me to Boracol was the algicide and fungicide content, which pvb mentions in the thread VicS mentions above. He says it gets rid of blacking as well as the green, leaving a silvery finish to the teak.

However doing a www search has shown Boracol to be ~£65 + vat for 5l which is a bit steep. So Robin, does this Homebase stuff also get rid of the blacking as well as the green? If so, I don't suppose you can remember the name of the product?

 

[Robin]

I just looked in the garage to check! OK it is called Weathercoat, it was a one litre can of 5% w/v benzylconium Chloride, not 500ml as I said before so the bigger more diluted one was in a 2 litre container. It is for internal an external use for washing and treating surfaces before repainting, it says for mould, fungi and algae. I diluted it to about twice the strength they said and put it in an empty kitchen cleaner spray bottle, sprayed it on and scrubbed it into the teak with a soft scrubbing brush, left it an hour and the hosed it off. I did the same on our sprayhood on the green stuff which came off with soft scrubbing, again washed off by hose after an hour. We have a grey canvas sprayhood and there were some mildew spots showing on the inside where moisture condenses from cooking/breathing below, it did not remove these but I do believe it may at least delay more forming. This time for prevention I pressure washed the hood (local hoodmaker's advice) but not at ultra close range, then sprayed the Weathercoat both sides of the hood, left it an hour then pressure washed it off. I then left it to dry overnight and re-proofed it with Grangers something or other (for tents etc) next day, that was 3 weeks ago so too soon to see if it will be long lasting but long enough to say no damage or discolouration of the canvas.

 

[malcp]

Thanks Robin, I will investigate

 

[pvb]

Go for Boracol or equivalent....

I reckon that for best results you need the combination of disodium octaborate (a fungicide) and benzalkonium chloride (an algaecide). Boracol and the Polycell 3-in-1 Mould Killer have these 2 ingredients. I've been using the Polycell product simply because it's convenient, and I couldn't be bothered to order a big can of Boracol. However, looking at the maths, it's much cheaper to use Boracol. I use 2 litres of the Polycell product (about £10) to do the decks, sprayhood and leather wheel trim on my 35-footer. Boracol 10RH is about 3 times more concentrated, and is available for about £44 for 5 litres (plus £10 delivery) from here (and probably less elsewhere), so it would be cheaper for me to buy the real Boracol and dilute it (1 part Boracol to 2 parts water).

Many of the alternative products people suggest only contain an algaecide, and indeed many of the DIY "mould killers" merely contain bleach.

I've been using this chemical treatment for years now, and it is just so easy. Plus, you get the pleasure in the spring of watching other boat owners attacking their decks and sprayhoods with scrubbing brushes and knowing there's a much easier way!

 

[malcp]

Re: Go for Boracol or equivalent....

Thanks pvb. Most interesting. Avoidance of scrubbing the teak is certainly attractive.