Cannot get fiberglass hull clean...HELP!!!

[scoutabout]

Re: Cannot get fiberglass hull clean...HELP!!!

'On-Off Hull and Bottom Cleaner'
....

If the Starbrite doesn't work, go to this stuff. It's truly amazing. The absolute worst scum and yellow stains practically evaporate given a few minutes to soak.

I've also used toilet bowl cleaner cut with water but it gave me the willies. I'm probably paying ten times as much for close to the same stuff with the On and Off but I sleep better...

 

[Quick VR-4]

Re: Cannot get fiberglass hull clean...HELP!!!

Well, no luck with the StarBrite Hull Cleaner. I cannot believe this scum is this hard to get off only leaving my boat in the water for 2 months. I had some 2000 grit sandpaper lying around so I wetsanded in combo with the StarBrite and this barely removed a small area. I think trying to do that to the whole boat will take FOREVER. I am skeptical about trying anything else as I have used StarBrite and Slimy Grimy with no effect. Don't get me wrong, it removed a lot of the muck and algae. However, this last bit of yellow film is going nowhere. Would 'On-Off Hull Cleaner' be a good next step if StarBrite and Slimy did not even touch it?

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Cannot get fiberglass hull clean...HELP!!!

I'd go with HCL, (Hydrochloric acid) AKA Muriatic acid, and use all the caution listed from members above. This should dissolve all the organic crap that still stains your hull...

 

[rwidman]

Re: Cannot get fiberglass hull clean...HELP!!!

Well, no luck with the StarBrite Hull Cleaner. I cannot believe this scum is this hard to get off only leaving my boat in the water for 2 months. I had some 2000 grit sandpaper lying around so I wetsanded in combo with the StarBrite and this barely removed a small area. I think trying to do that to the whole boat will take FOREVER. I am skeptical about trying anything else as I have used StarBrite and Slimy Grimy with no effect. Don't get me wrong, it removed a lot of the muck and algae. However, this last bit of yellow film is going nowhere. Would 'On-Off Hull Cleaner' be a good next step if StarBrite and Slimy did not even touch it?

You let the Starbrite Hull Cleaner sit on the surface for a few minutes and it still didn't clean the hull?

If you have a relatively new, valuable boat, I suggest you stop right now and get professional help. Sanding is the last resort, something you cannot undo.

A professional boat detailer with an actual business will know what to do and it will be a wise investment to have the pro fix it.

 

[jmarty10]

Re: Cannot get fiberglass hull clean...HELP!!!

or........do what has been suggested by others and use the muriatic acid.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Cannot get fiberglass hull clean...HELP!!!

I'd use the muriatic simply to rule it out- it's that inexpensive. For $3 to $4 you get a couple gallons of cleaner. If it doesn't work you're not out all that much money compared to the cleaners like Starbrite- which I had no luck with and paid about 7 times more.
Some stains however, may be there for the duration, and those I don't get too worried about. I've got too much else going on to get my hull that clean.
YMMV

 

[Quick VR-4]

Re: Cannot get fiberglass hull clean...HELP!!!

I have decided to drop back and punt. I have a pretty trustworthy guy at a local marina that said he would take a look at it for me. He is also winterizing my boat so I am going to kill 2 birds with one stone. He mentioned using muriatic acid, but I figured I would let him take it from here since the boat was perfect when I got it. Now that it only has 80 hours on it (06 model), I want it to look like it. Hopefully I can report back with good results.

 

[2000fourwinns]

Re: Cannot get fiberglass hull clean...HELP!!!

I just got done using the On & Off GEL hull cleaner yesterday and it works great. I bought my boat with it in the water at a marina. It had been in the water from May until the end of September. After I pulled it out, I was able to scrape off the algea with my finger so I did not think I would have a problem getting it clean. Wrong! I was told by a guy at the marina that by the time I got home, that stuff would be dried solid to the hull. It has sit at my house for about a month before messing with it.

I bought a "sweeping" lawn sprinkler and sat it under the boat for about 30 minutes trying the soften it up. Scrubing with a brush did nothing. So I pulled out my pressure washer. It also did nothing at 3000psi an inch away from the hull (I did not feel comfortable doing this). So while at West Marine, the guy seen me looking at West Marine brand hull cleaner and asked if I needed help. I told him the condition of my boat and he went straight for the ON & OFF GEL cleaner. He said brush it on with a cheap paint brush, wait 1 minute and rinse it off. Well, it took more than that, but it works great. The tough stuff, I let it sit for about 10 minutes, then used an old plastic joint compound trowel and scrapped the majority right off. Then took a small scotch brite pad and scrubbed the rest off. The water marks above the "bad" part come right off withing 30 seconds. The bottom of this boat looks like a new one. It literally looks better on the bottom now than it does on the top.

Great product.

 

[swaycleveland]

Re: Cannot get fiberglass hull clean...HELP!!!

i say leave the stain ! then use the stain as a guide for a good bottom paint! obviously your lake has some nasty stuff in it and this is gonna happen next year. so leave the stain as a guide and bottom paint!

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Cannot get fiberglass hull clean...HELP!!!

Sounds like you need the toilet bowl cleaner used straight. When I did it I got protective clothing, goggles, heavy gloves then dipped a soft new toilet bowl scrubber in an painted it on.

The Sea Ray I used this on used to sit at the dock from May to October in a backwater bay and by season's end was as gross as gross gets. One swipe at the yellow scum line and it disappeared before my eyes in a matter of seconds.

I had the hose handy and showered the boat really well before it had sat five minutes. Results were as if the hull was new. The key though is to flush it as quick as you can, protect your trailer and yourself.

Your marina guy will probably use a similar approach.

What's nice about the toilet bowl stuff is it's $3 a bottle versus $30 for the "marine" stuff. As I said in my previous post though I just wasn't comfortable using stuff that strong and switched to On and Off, which takes ten-fifteen minutes to achieve the same result.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Cannot get fiberglass hull clean...HELP!!!

Go to Wallyworld and pick up a bottle of Attwood Hull cleaner. Follow the directions. Let it stand for a few minutes and you should be able to wipe down your clean hull with no scrubbing. Costs about ten deer.

Safe and happy boating always!!!

 

[spikeitaudi]

Re: Cannot get fiberglass hull clean...HELP!!!

Go to Wallyworld and pick up a bottle of Attwood Hull cleaner. Follow the directions. Let it stand for a few minutes and you should be able to wipe down your clean hull with no scrubbing. Costs about ten deer.

Safe and happy boating always!!!

That is what I use. I don't even wipe it down. I just spray on and let it sit for like 2 minutes then rinse it off. All the staining comes right off.