White Glass Fibre

[Sailfree]

With building new house, MIL dimensia the boat has been neglected.

Dirty decks. Pressure washing them brings 90% looking new but some areas around mast base have yellow stains ( use of WD 40 stains from mast) Will using Farcela compound and polish work or does it require something stronger? Is mild bleach a no no on grp hulls?

Intend to hopefully keep the boat for a few more years and want it looking its best.

 

[philwebb]

I’ve heard oxalic acid is good for yellow stains. It certainly works on those caused by rust.

 

[Sailfree]

I’ve heard oxalic acid is good for yellow stains. It certainly works on those caused by rust.

Thanks, I used that to renovate woodwork on our wooden dinghy but never considered it for GRP.

 

[William_H]

Also try acetone on stains. ol'will

 

[Neeves]

If the yellow stains are from WD40 then Oxalic acid might be a waste of time (which - as mentioned - is usually used to remove Fe based stains). If the stains are rust - then you have something on the mast that is neither stainless nor aluminium.

I'd try mild bleach as a first attempt, maybe soaked in an old towel to give the bleach time to work its magic. Simple bleach may dry out too quickly.

Jonathan

 

[Gixer]

I had my boat cleaned recently and was amazed at the result they managed to achieve. Better than I’ve ever managed.
When I enquired about what product they used they said it was Grunt.
Grunt! Boat Cleaner | Force 4 Chandlery
This isn’t a personal recommendation but just thought I’d pass on the info.

 

[Refueler]

Thanks, I used that to renovate woodwork on our wooden dinghy but never considered it for GRP.

Oxalic is the GoTo for GRP cleaning ..... mixed strong and add a bit of wallpaper paste to help it stay in place ... leave but wash off before it dries ... repeat till done.

Another is Oven Cleaner ... I use that to clean up hull inside to prepare for transducer tube fixing ... it gets everything off !! But wash off well.

WD40 - UGH !! Devils brew ....

Take care with Acetone ... that can soften GRP surface if overzealous with it ....

 

[PaulRainbow]

With building new house, MIL dimensia the boat has been neglected.

Dirty decks. Pressure washing them brings 90% looking new but some areas around mast base have yellow stains ( use of WD 40 stains from mast) Will using Farcela compound and polish work or does it require something stronger? Is mild bleach a no no on grp hulls?

Intend to hopefully keep the boat for a few more years and want it looking its best.

I've used neat, thick, bleach on GRP, no ill effects.

I've also used Oxalic acid, it cleans rust well, as mentioned, but also make a good general GRP cleaner. Recently used it on my textured fore-deck and it looks like new.

 

[rotrax]

I make a Y10 substitute from Oxalic acid crystals disolved in warm water and I then add washing up liquid. After a good shake to mix it, leave it for a week or two to get a gel.

It wont quite hold on a vertical surface but is pretty good.

And VERY economical.

 

[Refueler]

I make a Y10 substitute from Oxalic acid crystals disolved in warm water and I then add washing up liquid. After a good shake to mix it, leave it for a week or two to get a gel.

It wont quite hold on a vertical surface but is pretty good.

And VERY economical.

Try Wallpaper paste ... honestly ..... instead of the Washing up liquid ..

 

[prestomg27]

Try Wallpaper paste ... honestly ..... instead of the Washing up liquid ..

So oxalic acid, warm water and wallpaper paste mixed and left for a few days?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

So oxalic acid, warm water and wallpaper paste mixed and left for a few days?

Perhaps cover it with cling film or similar to retain moisture?

 

[Refueler]

So oxalic acid, warm water and wallpaper paste mixed and left for a few days?

You could not leave it days .... it will set !!

I mix it and use within minutes once wallpaper paste has stopped 'rising' .... note that WP is a glue ...

I've found that once mixed - if stirred - it stays usable for good period ...

 

[Refueler]

Perhaps cover it with cling film or similar to retain moisture?

Never tried that ... I mix it to use straight away ... not to save for later ...

 

[rotrax]

You could not leave it days .... it will set !!

I mix it and use within minutes once wallpaper paste has stopped 'rising' .... note that WP is a glue ...

I've found that once mixed - if stirred - it stays usable for good period ...

Exactly why I use washing up liquid. It only dries, but does not set. Washes off easily.

My first experiments used wallpaper paste. I had a shout from a neighbour to give promised help, by the time I got back to the job it had gone hard, very hard, in the sun. As you say, it is a glue.

My small tub of Y10 substitute is now four years old, still a green, soft gel. The test mix, yellow-I used a different flavour of washing up liquid-is thinner. To get it thicker I made sure the dissolved Oxalic Acid was as strong as possible before mixing with the Fairy Liquid.

50/50 works best for me, crystals dissolved in warm water until dissolving stops, genuine Fairy gives a thicker final solution. Give the mix a good shake, leave for a couple of weeks.

Robert is the name of your fathers brother......................................................

 

[Refueler]

I think it comes down to what you are used to ... all ways are good if it works for you ...

Its funny actually - I have a bucket in my garage with about 1" of mix in the bottom ..... it stayed usable for days .. and then 'pliable' for weeks in fact .... till finally going hard.

I've heard of using Windscreen Washer Fluid as well - but that must be even thinner ??

Snows arrived - just a spattering at present ... so time to drag my Mobo up the bank for winter ... usually I try put on my yard trailer ... but this year she can sit on the grass.