Stains on hull from sand

[Dami860]

I typically launch from a dusty dirt parking lot. I've been noticing the hull around the rear deck of my boat is getting a rust like color on it and it doesn't remove when I get home and wash it. Obviously it kinda sticks out because it's on white. Anyone experienced anything like this?

 

[Marvin willis]

Pics?

 

[Dami860]

Pics?

It's tough to get a good shot of it where it shows up. I'll try to take some today.

 

[anmut]

Is your water tannic, or brown in color? Sounds like the river scum I get. If so, it won't come off with regular soap, but Starbrite makes a scum cleaner that has a mild acid in it. You can also use toilet bowl cleaner - wipe it on the scum, wait a few minutes, and rinse off. You will want to re-wax those areas.

 

[Dami860]

Is your water tannic, or brown in color? Sounds like the river scum I get. If so, it won't come off with regular soap, but Starbrite makes a scum cleaner that has a mild acid in it. You can also use toilet bowl cleaner - wipe it on the scum, wait a few minutes, and rinse off. You will want to re-wax those areas.

Good call. It is a nasty river so perhaps that's it. I'll give that a shot.

 

[TeenGee]

I have good success removing blemishes with California Gold® Clay Bars . This makes the gelcoat noticeable smoother.

 

[anmut]

Good call. It is a nasty river so perhaps that's it. I'll give that a shot.

I keep my hull super clean and, even after a day on the Wisconsin River, I'll still get a scum line on the side near the transom due to floating in the water. Nasty stuff.

 

[biffdotorg]

StarBrite EZ On/Off, no scrubbing necessary. But wear gloves, and be sure to do it in a ventilated area. I do my hull at least once per year.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I’d try vinegar and water, mixed in equal parts, spray it on and keep it wet, I use a deck brush to get the hard water stains off.

But it it won’t come off with that..

The other folks recommendations are great, but @drewkaree gave me this recipe to use. Its very strong, won’t hurt your trailer but will more than likely kill grass. Be sure and wear long sleeves, long pants, closed toe shoes, eye protection, gloves and a respirator. Those are PPE items you should use with any of the stronger solutions. And stay up wind when spraying it on, keep children, pets and idiots away from the work area. Be sure and rinse with plenty of fresh water. Wash the clothes separately and run an extra rinse or two.

 

[Dami860]

The Star Brite did the trick and ruined my shirt in the process . Thank you all!

 

[biffdotorg]

I was surprised how smooth my finger tips felt afterwards, then realized what it was doing and started wearing gloves. I also was laying under my boat one year doing it, and inhaled a bit. You could have sworn I took a shot of chlorine, wow did that burn. Hull is nice and white though. (smile)

Nice work!

 

[Dami860]

I was surprised how smooth my finger tips felt afterwards, then realized what it was doing and started wearing gloves. I also was laying under my boat one year doing it, and inhaled a bit. You could have sworn I took a shot of chlorine, wow did that burn. Hull is nice and white though. (smile)

Nice work!

I actually used the StarBrite Slime & Grime Stain Remover. I wonder how that compares to the ez on ez off. Seems like two products from the same company doing the same job.

 

[anmut]

The Star Brite did the trick and ruined my shirt in the process . Thank you all!

I found the toilet cleaner on our boat previous to our Yamaha. It had a white hull and it would look stained after just a day on the water, drove me insane.

So first time I cleaned it I just glopped it on with a rag and no gloves. Very quickly I realized that acid = burning!

Btw, if you use the StarBrite stuff and you have the Cobra fins, be very careful around them. It won't hurt them, but if you splash it on, it'll leave a stain.

 

[drewkaree]

I found the toilet cleaner on our boat previous to our Yamaha. It had a white hull and it would look stained after just a day on the water, drove me insane.

So first time I cleaned it I just glopped it on with a rag and no gloves. Very quickly I realized that acid = burning!

Btw, if you use the StarBrite stuff and you have the Cobra fins, be very careful around them. It won't hurt them, but if you splash it on, it'll leave a stain.

Welcome to Wisconsin! Come smell our dairy air!

I actually used the StarBrite Slime & Grime Stain Remover. I wonder how that compares to the ez on ez off. Seems like two products from the same company doing the same job.

Likely a different acid. There's several that work, each has its own varying degree of effectiveness. Some will list it on the label, while others force you to track it down on an SDS listing. The only thing they tend not to do is to list the concentration of the chemicals involved. Ancient Chinese secret! (anyone old enough to remember that line?)

 

[Dami860]

Welcome to Wisconsin! Come smell our dairy air!

And taste the spotted cow

 

[anmut]

And taste the spotted cow

Meh, as a born and raised Sconnie, I can tell you that spotted cow is way overrated...

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I actually used the StarBrite Slime & Grime Stain Remover. I wonder how that compares to the ez on ez off. Seems like two products from the same company doing the same job.

Ez on Ez off is a much much stronger acid!

Anytime you use these types of cleaners you should have on all the PPE you can, especially, at a bare minimum, a M95 mask, a respirator with the correct cartridges is better, playtex gloves, long sleeves, long pants, close fitting safety glasses, close toed shoes, and some sort of cloth hat. When done, wash your gloves off in the sink or use a hose, then remove them and your clothes outside, take a shower wash and rinse thoroughly, wash your clothes separately with extra rinses.

Keep children, pets and others away from where you are working with this stuff and rinse the area with copious amounts of water.

This stuff is no joke.

I had a rather long career in industry and industrial hygiene is extremely important.

 

[Dami860]

Meh, as a born and raised Sconnie, I can tell you that spotted cow is way overrated...

As a northeaster, I agree but I wanted to try it forever

 

[Bluewater272]

My favorite product for this is Starbrite Hull Cleaner, with the spray on gel formula that doesn't drip all over everything. Works as well as on/off (yes, really), and far less awful to work with.

 

[drewkaree]

My favorite product for this is Starbrite Hull Cleaner, with the spray on gel formula that doesn't drip all over everything. Works as well as on/off (yes, really), and far less awful to work with.

If I didn't know better, I'd say it sounds like the mix @FSH 210 Sport showed above, only in a fancier bottle, and appropriately marked up