cleaning fiberglass

[Andy in NY]

okay, today i want to start to tackle the cleaning portion of my project. for the most part, its not bad, but especially the bow seating (stright fiberglass bench, no coushins) there are all these little black spots, presumably mildew. can i use a straight bleach/water mixture? how about something like comet or other bathroom cleaner? i dont want to hurt the fiberglass. any advice?

also, the "carpet" needs a good cleaning... can i spray with something and scrub with a brush and suck up with my shopvac?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

you are on the right track. if carpet doesn't clean take to a self service car wash and try the soap pressure hose. be sure you plugged the plug. and rinse well.

 

[akwalker]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

I used "Purple Power" on my boat, scrubbed it with a stiff brush, followed by a few coats of wax. Seemed to remove the mildew spots really well.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

After washing and cleaning your boat, try a clay bar, with the lubricant that comes with it. The clay bar will clean alot of the dirt, etc. out of the pores of the finish.

 

[Grits]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

It sounds like you are on the right track. Sodium hypochlorite (Bleach) that you by for laundry is a pretty weak solution. I think it is about 5.5%. That should take care of the mildew that is growing. Do not get it on the carpet.

There is a mixture we used many years ago when I was racing sailboats that had bleach and a few other ingredients in it that worked well. I cannot remember what it was. I will do a search and try to find out what it is. Sunlight is mildews biggest enemy.

If you have ares of fiberglass that are badly oxidized, you may want to wet sand with starting with #400 to #500 and the #600. Give a good buffing with a high speed buffer and a compound made for fiberglass.

Does anyone know of a mixture that is hell on mildew?

Good Luck, Grits

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

well, the comet did the trick. took off ALOT of the mildew and grime.

there still seems to be a blackish tinge/shadow to it. anything else i can do to try to get it a little more white? i tried wiping it with a bleach/water solution, but didnt really help. the paint is brushed on, and i am not sure what type was used...



if you go to my project page, there are some good before/after shots.
http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectThumbs,p,432,display,9,limit,9,offset,9,00.html#navPrev

 

[Texasmark]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

I found that household bleach, allowed to stand, works well. Like if you made a paste out of baking soda and straight bleach and blobbed it on the tough spots. Obviously, hand and eye protection (in case of splashes) are part of the process.

We usually get mildew on the N side of our house and in the spring a pump up sprayer of bleach allowed to sit and one or two additional applications followed by pressure wash usually does it in.

On gellcoat, I have been really disappointed in the ability to revive it. Auto paint can be brought back, but gell coat always has that filmy look when you peer down into it.

Good luck,

Mark

 

[MikDee]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

"Gel Gloss" liquid fiberglas polish (Home Depot) better then bleach, it amazed me by easily cleaning off all the black spots, and anything else, on the surface that a good scrubbing (washing) wouldn't get off, as a cleaner it's Great! and it leaves a nice finish! but I don't much care for it as a polish, or color restorer, in a couple weeks it is almost totally faded off. Use a good polish, or wax, over it though.

 

[SFT2]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

3M Marine Fiberglass Restorer and Wax is a miracle in a bottle. It's making my faded 89 Maxum's red gelcoat look new with very little effort. I wasn't expecting much, but it definately works. As far as I can tell, it's rubbing compound suspended in wax, and it's taking all the grime and oxidation off the gelcoat easily, leaving it smooth, shiny, and broght. Might be worth a shot.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

Haven't tried the 3M product, but there are a lot of sun faded FG boats out there for sale that would bring a lot more money if the dingy gell coat could be revived.

Mark

 

[SFT2]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

Yep, that's my plan. Bought boat for way under blue book, put in new deck and upholstery, make the gelcoat look new again, rebuild the trailer, and sell in the spring for enough to buy a bit bigger boat. Eventually I'll have that Scarab I've wanted since I was 12

Hey, I can dream, can't I?

 

[jeeperman]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

well, the comet did the trick. took off ALOT of the mildew and grime.

there still seems to be a blackish tinge/shadow to it. anything else i can do to try to get it a little more white? i tried wiping it with a bleach/water solution, but didnt really help. the paint is brushed on[/b[, and i am not sure what type was used...
if you go to my project page, there are some good before/after shots.
http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectThumbs,p,432,display,9,limit,9,offset,9,00.html#navPrev

So are you wanting to clean a painted surface or the gelcoated fiberglass?

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

So are you wanting to clean a painted surface or the gelcoated fiberglass?

it is a painted surface. the orig gelcoat was painted over long ago. i am not sure what type of paint was used, but there are lots of brush marks, and even a few runs in the paint. i just want to make it look a little better.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

In that case you can treat it the same as any painted surface, just about.
Assuming it is not latex base paint.............
Cleaner type automotive wax (has very very mild abrasive in it).
Polishing compound
Rubbing compound

Try a small spot in the above order.
Use the one that cleans to your satisfaction.
Then go over the spot with the ones in the list that are above the one that worked to get the shine back.

 

[smoss]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

I tried alot of different cleaners and found that a cleaner actually for fiberglass pools worked the best. It's called off the wall for swimming pools. I took full strength cleaner on a sponge and allowed it to soak in for aleast 20 minutes and it took off some 20 yr old river scum without alot of work. had to wax it to make shiny again but was worth it.

 

[Sandjob]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

Clorox outdoor is a good product and the only product that will kill the spores from the mold. It has a anti fungal component that isn't in bleach or bleach spray.

 

[mphy98]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

3M Marine Fiberglass Restorer and Wax is a miracle in a bottle. It's making my faded 89 Maxum's red gelcoat look new with very little effort. I wasn't expecting much, but it definately works. As far as I can tell, it's rubbing compound suspended in wax, and it's taking all the grime and oxidation off the gelcoat easily, leaving it smooth, shiny, and broght. Might be worth a shot.

This guy is right on, worked wonders for my old fishing boat, and the motorhome as well. Great stuff. A 15.00 bottle will last a while as well.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: cleaning fiberglass

I think the original poster of this thread should just sell his fiberglass boat and buy and aluminum one. That's what I'd do anyway