Useful Life (Boat) Hack

[derekbland]

I started chatting to a man that does polishing & antifouling. He mentioned the black plastic strips on the superstructure that give the Squadron that unique style or at least the old ones, had a load of polish on. I knew that from waking my car back in the days before I got our Eastern European friends to clean me car. He said he had tried everything but was told to use peanut butter and said it works a treat. Anyhoo, when he had gone, I was thinking, "oil". And so, armed with a small bottle of olive oil that we have on the boat, I started rubbing away, not for long and then wiped it over. OMG what a difference. It needs another going over but did all 4 strips in around 10 mins on the port side. Deffo works.

I am now wondering if veg oil would work as well. I was also thinking of being dead middle class and trying Houmas. Am now just waiting for someone to piss on me chips and tell me that olive oil is the worst thing you can use because...….

 

[BruceK]

.... yep worst thing you can use because the shine will be gone tomorrow and depolymerisation set in. Yer up the creek without a paddle now. Not that I have a clue what either you or I am talking about but I think the word depolymerisation just makes me sound erudite.

Keep smiling :encouragement:

 

[julians]

Let us know if the 'black' lasts, ime after a few days/weeks the black fades again.

Back to black bumper (aka silicone spray) spray would probably work as well.

 

[BruceK]

If it's anything like the black plastic bump rail I have round my boat I will second silicon spray. If it's anything like the rubber trim around my windows that leave a black mark on you if you rub them, I have yet to find a cure. I may try your olive oil trick

 

[Hurricane]

just a thought
Has anyone tried "Back to Black" for car tyres.
I think it would last longer than olive oil

 

[derekbland]

just a thought
Has anyone tried "Back to Black" for car tyres.
I think it would last longer than olive oil

I was looking for a quick fix and pottering whilst waiting for someone, It has worked well thus far. When I go back on Sunday I will see if it as good as when I left today but based on what came off I think it's going to be a good cheap solution. It was a case of removing the dry wax residue and so no reason it shouldn't.

 

[derekbland]

If it's anything like the black plastic bump rail I have round my boat I will second silicon spray. If it's anything like the rubber trim around my windows that leave a black mark on you if you rub them, I have yet to find a cure. I may try your olive oil trick

No it's not rubber trim but I know what you mean. It's some black plastic flashing between chrome struts. You can see them if you look at 1997 Squadron 50.

 

[Mr Googler]

Oils and silicon will always washout.

I’ve used this on bumpers. Absolutely great as it’s a dye. Won’t last forever but still looks good after a couple of years

Forever Black Bumper & Trim Dye Kit NEW VERSION WITH LARGER BOTTLE https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/371021901769

 

[derekbland]

Oils and silicon will always washout.

I’ve used this on bumpers. Absolutely great as it’s a dye. Won’t last forever but still looks good after a couple of years

Forever Black Bumper & Trim Dye Kit NEW VERSION WITH LARGER BOTTLE https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/371021901769

I think the point is being missed. I like to go and buy "stuff" that works and would consider the suggestions above. However, the whitening effects on the black plastic trim from old dried polish appear to have come out and several hours later it was the same. If when I go back to the boat on Sunday it is the same as when I left it, then why would I need to buy products when a rub with olive oil and a good rub off has removed the dried wax and it is back to black? I will take a photo of the starboard, the done side and the port, not done side and see if I can work out how to load the photos and you can see the results.

 

[SEARANGER ANCASTER]

so do you not buy olive oil then ??? or do you mean save a few shillings but just buying olive olive and use it for cooking and cleaning. Incidentally , have you ever tried wd40 on a slate hearth , works a treat.

 

[julians]

I think the point is being missed. I like to go and buy "stuff" that works and would consider the suggestions above. However, the whitening effects on the black plastic trim from old dried polish appear to have come out and several hours later it was the same. If when I go back to the boat on Sunday it is the same as when I left it, then why would I need to buy products when a rub with olive oil and a good rub off has removed the dried wax and it is back to black? I will take a photo of the starboard, the done side and the port, not done side and see if I can work out how to load the photos and you can see the results.

I wonder whether you're just seeing a temporary darkening from the oil, give it a month or two and see if it's still the same or whether it has gone light again.

In my experience the whitening is not from excess polish,but is from exposure to UV 'bleaching' the plastic, applying oil/silicone spray gives it a temporary black look again.

Might be wrong in your exact case, but this is usually how black plastics with constant exposure to the sun react.

Either way give it a reasonable amount of time (month or two) and let us know

 

[derekbland]

I wonder whether you're just seeing a temporary darkening from the oil, give it a month or two and see if it's still the same or whether it has gone light again.

In my experience the whitening is not from excess polish,but is from exposure to UV 'bleaching' the plastic, applying oil/silicone spray gives it a temporary black look again.

Might be wrong in your exact case, but this is usually how black plastics with constant exposure to the sun react.

Either way give it a reasonable amount of time (month or two) and let us know

Indeed. I have got all excited about it but it may well be as you say. It was the guy that does the valeting that stated it was wax and given the distribution of the whitening I think he is correct.

 

[derekbland]

so do you not buy olive oil then ??? or do you mean save a few shillings but just buying olive olive and use it for cooking and cleaning. Incidentally , have you ever tried wd40 on a slate hearth , works a treat.

Sadly have never owned a slate hearth. A few shillings, not sure where you buy your specialist products from but please let me know. Around 1/2 an egg cup of olive oil that happened to be on the boat for a potential fix that thus far has worked. I could have course get them replaced as only stuck on.

 

[derekbland]

Grrrr. Trying to load photo's to show all you unbelievers the magic of olive oil but can't load them. I have a before and after. I am using the load pictures and trying to do it from the laptop but once I have selected the file nothing happens- HELLLLLLLLP!

 

[derekbland]

Grrrr. Trying to load photo's to show all you unbelievers the magic of olive oil but can't load them. I have a before and after. I am using the load pictures and trying to do it from the laptop but once I have selected the file nothing happens- HELLLLLLLLP!

Done it. This is the result in pic 2 the first one is what the starboard side looked like. Literally 10 minutes work. The one that has been done is still the same after one week. Of course I will see what it like in a month and so on but why would I need a fancy product for THIS particular job when a rub with olive oil works and removes the discolouring from the wax.

 

[Hurricane]

OK
IMO, the best results are obtained when you use a photograph provider.
I believe that lots of people on here are using https://imgbb.com/
Just create your own account and upload your photos there.

Then, you include links to the photos within your posts.
Just like adding a URL to your post but you precede the link with a [img]
and at the end of the URL, you put [/img]
Using this technique, IMO, you get a better result than the YBW uploaded.
The photos are then posted larger and follow the text better.

So, I suggest that you set up an account on https://imgbb.com/
Upload some photos and have a go.
Lots of people on here will help you.

 

[derekbland]

Thanks Mike. Will give it a try.

 

[paulajayne]

Try a hot air gun - be careful of surrounds.

Heat and watch surface it will change and shine - stop immediately.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-dtbBzky-s


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9tDq1oRy9U

 

[derekbland]

Try a hot air gun - be careful of surrounds.

Heat and watch surface it will change and shine - stop immediately.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-dtbBzky-s


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9tDq1oRy9U

Impressive

 

[PalmaTarga]

For area's like these Squadron stripes, why not look at vehicle wrap? You don't have to worry about knocks and scratches in such recessed areas and as such I doubt you would need the marine grade wrap used on hulls which is much harder to source. vehicle wrap will have all the UV protection properties you need. MDP Supplies have always been great, here is a link to some of their vehicle vinyl gloss. https://www.mdpsupplies.co.uk/vehiclewrappingvws1.asp

You could also look at Carbon wrap should you wish https://www.mdpsupplies.co.uk/vwcarbonfibre.asp

The rolls are 1.5m in width and you buy it by the metre, circa £10 + VAT +P&P. Buy 2 metres and you'll have plenty of contingency should you not get it right first time and have to remove it. You'll need a heat gun, a squeegee, a scalpel and possibly some 'wrapcut' which is also about a tenner. There are plenty of youtube tutorials for cars and full boat wraps.