Waterline oily scum

[tinkicker0]

What's the best stuff to shift that orrible tarlike waterline oil scum from a GRP hull. Rubbed it off last year and me fingers bled, took hours.

Anyone know any potions that will do the trick? Going to try a bit of petrol soaked rag tomorrow unless anyone says it doesn't work.

 

[Warpa]

never experienced anything like that on my hull, i would try tardis or the autoglym version of tar and glue remover available from halfords, or if it really is an oily residue use the autoglym engine and machine cleaner which will disolve it. Not a harsh product like gink or the petrol you are thinking about.

If it remains a bit stubborn use the green side of those cheap multi pack spounges you can buy

 

[sarabande]

www.Oiltechnics.com

The help desk is very good.

Lots of very friendly biological cleaners - you might find some of them useful at work, too.

 

[longjohnsilver]

My first attempt would be with oxalic acid mixed with wallpaper paste. Paint it on, leave for 5 minutes and wash off. Don't let it set!

 

[tinkicker0]

never experienced anything like that on my hull, i would try tardis or the autoglym version of tar and glue remover available from halfords, or if it really is an oily residue use the autoglym engine and machine cleaner which will disolve it. Not a harsh product like gink or the petrol you are thinking about.

If it remains a bit stubborn use the green side of those cheap multi pack spounges you can buy

Thanks everyone. The dark brown scum is the result of peeps pumping oily bilges into the marina with no oil sep filter on the discharge line contrary to the marina and waterways regulations.
Every so often the water has rainbow colours on it.

I have a Bilgekleen oil separation filter on my light duty primary pump outlet and none on my emergency pump, dunno why others don't do the same. It was only about £60.

After 4 years use, the filter is still clean. Never had cause to use the emergency backup pump system.

Rant over.

 

[nrbx]

If you're on about the loverly ouse waterlines... which i assume you are

It is mostly rust from the water, oxalic acid will take it straight off and then polish / wax asap!

I've also found that starbrite black streak removed does a good job sometimes too depending on how thick it is.

 

[AndieMac]

A slightly diluted mix of G-1000 will clean the black, oily, sooty marks (not rust) from water-line or transoms. The tougher the mark is to remove, use less dilution.

 

[Fantasie 19]

never experienced anything like that on my hull, i would try tardis or the autoglym version of tar and glue remover available from halfords, or if it really is an oily residue use the autoglym engine and machine cleaner which will disolve it. Not a harsh product like gink or the petrol you are thinking about.

If it remains a bit stubborn use the green side of those cheap multi pack spounges you can buy

...for my bike (pedal type) I use a citrus degreaser when cleaning the chain - magical stuff and smells strongly (not surprisingly) of oranges - might be worth a try as it's not expensive, and I'm assuming not too caustic - from Halfords cycle section..