Cleaning Chalk on the hull

[Jake007]

Well I live in sunny Florida and we get plenty of chalk on the hull here. I can't seem to keep up with it these days. So I was cleaning my pool deck and chairs with a gas pressure washer. The pressure washer also works great on the PVC lounge chairs at removing chalk. Seems like it would be allot quicker to remove the chalk from the hull than with an orbital buffer. The buffer pad clogs up after every few feet of boat.

Is it safe to use a pressure washer on the boat hull to clean off any chalk? Will that damage the gell coat?

 

[5150abf]

Re: Cleaning Chauk on the hull

Re: Cleaning Chauk on the hull

I would think it would be fine, if the boat can withstand banging throught the water at 50 mph it should tolerate a pressure wash.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Cleaning Chauk on the hull

Re: Cleaning Chauk on the hull

Chalk????? or is it oxidation? I doubt a pressure washer will have too much effect but it should not hurt the hull.....stay away from decals and painted on stuff. Try it......

I think you are going to have to resort to the old fashioned way and end up using compound on it.​

 

[Philster]

Re: Cleaning Chauk on the hull

Re: Cleaning Chauk on the hull

I've cut grooves in concrete with pressure washers.

The oxidation (chalkiness) in gel coat is different than that of paint on a lawn chair. If you are talking about plastic lawn chairs, the oxidation sits right on top and you can blast it off, along with some PVC.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Cleaning Chauk on the hull

Re: Cleaning Chauk on the hull

hull oxidation in florida is from lack of waxing. wax twice a year in Wisconsin, or once every month in Florida. A pressure washer will clean the surface, and depending on the tip, you may cut into the hull. do not use a 0 degree tip.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Cleaning Chauk on the hull

Re: Cleaning Chauk on the hull

any reason not to use Turtle or other auto compounds instead of "marine" on an old hull to remove oxidation from gelcoat?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Cleaning Chauk on the hull

Re: Cleaning Chauk on the hull

I use meguires RV and Marine products. the oxidation remover, then the hull cleaning wax, then a coat of wax. for a monthly wax to keep the shine, I have used simple turtlewax in a pinch in the past.

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Cleaning Chalk on the hull

Keeping the boat covered when not in use helps alot too

 

[dsiekman]

Re: Cleaning Chalk on the hull

Just finished powerwashing mine (2700 psi gas powerwasher). Worked pretty well but does not remove all of the oxidation. It will, however, get the dirt and top layer of oxidation off making it easier to compound. I was also just turned on to a product that will also help. It is called SLX Fiberglass and Metal Cleaner and should be available at a marina or marine supply shop. I have not been sucessful finding it online or at West Marine. It is an acid based product, so be careful. I experimented with it last night and it did a really nice job of getting down to clean glass. I then compounded with 3M Finesse-It and waxed with Woody's Ultra Glass. Pretty freaking deep shine.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Cleaning Chalk on the hull

If you want it looking better then the prep work is what has to be done first. Get yourself a variable speed buffer with a wool pad. Ex, if the buffer is 7inch get a 8in pad. That way the edges fold over insted of digging into the surface. Use DuraGloss 561 compound. Then polish with Duragloss 501. Then wax with Collinite 845. The trick is to get it as shiny as you want or can before applying any polish and wax. A pressure washer isn't going to do the job. Remember polish before wax. This will get the buffing swirls out. I got all my stuff from AutoGeek.com. Give them a call and they will more then helpfull.By the way Duragloss is eaiser to remove if it dries then 3M

 

[5150abf]

Re: Cleaning Chalk on the hull

I wondered if that wasn't what he was talking about, how would you be getting chalk on a pool chair.

If it is oxidation as others have said you need to compund the hull and then keep wax on it.

 

[snowforfun4]

Re: Cleaning Chalk on the hull

Ok, since we are talking about buffing, i used rubbing compound with a variable speed buffer. Once i experimented with rotation speed, amount of compound, etc. and got brave enough with running over the same area a few times, i was very happy with the results. My question is how do you guys do the job. I did small areas (12" by about 24" long) then wiped off the compund with a rag then moved over and repeated. Seemed like the hard way. Do you guys do the whole side then remove excess compound with a rag or some other proceedure?

 

[dsiekman]

Re: Cleaning Chalk on the hull

A little bit and move on. Read the directions on the back of the compound. The one I use says 2' x 2' area at a time.

 

[Jake007]

Re: Cleaning Chalk on the hull

Sorry it has taken me a couple days to get back on here... been slammed.

The lounge chairs were PVC and yes I was talking about oxidation when I said chaulk.

I do know the best way is to avoid oxidation by keeping a good wax but there is no way I can get it done more than once or twice a year. I do keep her covered but the whole sides are exposed. The reason I was asking about the pressure washer is I though maybe it would take off the loose layer so when I do use the 3M cleaner or compound it wouldn't clog the bonnet with oxidation so quickly. I use an quality orbital buffer and it feels like a major project everytime. It takes me 2 hard compounds and a wax. Whewww, I am getting tired just talking about it. Just trying to find an easier way. My boat is now 14 yrs old and still looks better than most that are 3yrs old in Florida.

The last time I washed her, I noticed that the bucket was showing white milky so it seems that some is coming off from just washing.

I did use FSR fiberglass stain remover one time on the bottom after she was stained from being in the water at Captiva Island for a week vacation. It cleaned up easy with that but did need to be waxed right away.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Cleaning Chalk on the hull

an orbital buffer will NOT cut it. there is not enough speed for the tool to do the job. they are great for applying wax, however that is about it.

go to harbor freight and pick up one of these: http://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-electronic-polisher-66615.html set the speed to about 1200 RPM and go at it.

once you get the hull clean, you will have to wax it more than twice a year.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Cleaning Chalk on the hull

X2. A random orbital is not for compounding. Your going to need a variable speed rotary buffer. once you have one, it should clean up much easier/better.

 

[Philster]

Re: Cleaning Chalk on the hull

Yes, and once you are done cutting it down with a rotary buffer, you have to polish before waxing. You have to polish to smooth and gloss up the surface, removing all the lines you just made, which are thousands upon thousands of spots for UV rays to hit... which will make oxidation (chalk) re-appear even faster next time! Aint't boating cruel? You're gonna compound that puppy and get rid of the oxidation, and the mere act of doing this makes the surface prime for more oxidation!

So...

• Compound 'n' buff w/ rotary buffer.
• Polish smooth to high-gloss shine (flattens/smooths the gel),
• Then get a high quality wax with UV inhibitors -- preferably one that bonds to the gel: 3M/Scotchguard, Starbrite, etc.
• Re-apply wax periodically to maintain protection

 

[Jake007]

Re: Cleaning Chalk on the hull

OK... I bought the Porter Cable random orbital for this job since that is what most folks recommended at the time. You must be right since this does not seem to cut through and cleanup the oxidation easily. Time for another tool...... or hire my son to do it 3-4 times with the porter cable unit. Probably be allot cheeper to buy a new tool and have my son do it 2 times (one oxidation removal and one wax).

 

[Skiya]

Re: Cleaning Chalk on the hull

Once you get it all clean and shining nice a solution of 10-15% vinegar and distilled water for the wipe down after each use. Just spray on and wipe off, works great. I bought my boat new and after the first year had spots that would not wash off. I had the boat detailed and the guy told me what to use to keep it looking good between waxings. Haven't had a problem since

 

[Philster]

Re: Cleaning Chalk on the hull

OK... I bought the Porter Cable random orbital for this job since that is what most folks recommended at the time. You must be right since this does not seem to cut through and cleanup the oxidation easily. Time for another tool...... or hire my son to do it 3-4 times with the porter cable unit. Probably be allot cheeper to buy a new tool and have my son do it 2 times (one oxidation removal and one wax).

Oxidation removal, polish, then wax. You need step 2, because you are going to create a bajillion lines that are ripe for UV damage and the boat will oxidize faster and be harder to fix next time.

Remove oxidation
Remove lines
Protect w/ wax