Keeping the Hull Clean - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: The Whaler GAM or General Area
  Keeping the Hull Clean

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Keeping the Hull Clean

GAwhale posted 06-10-2001 08:39 PM ET (US)
On my new whaler, it came with a decal:
'CAUTION...Do Not Clean With Window Sprays...Wash Only With Mild Detergent And Use Plenty Of Lukewarm Water..'
I don't have a water hose at the lake where I keep and launch my boat. I've been using 409 Spray Cleaner to clean the scum off the water line. Has anyone had problems with 409 or have a better spray cleaner?
wpr posted 06-10-2001 09:24 PM ET (US)
I use SEA BOWLD Instant Hull Cleaner. Nasty stuff but it's easy to use. Put a little bit on a sponge and wipe it on - watch the yellow disappear. Use another sponge with clear water to wipe the area again to remove any residue.(it probably eats the hull from the inside out beacuse it contains oxalic acid but thats a different topic) This stuff really does work - just be careful because it is an eye irritant.
Loewer posted 06-11-2001 11:09 AM ET (US)
The warning about window cleaner applies to the plexi windshield, not the hull.
Jeff Loewer
hauptjm posted 06-11-2001 11:12 AM ET (US)
Oxalic Acid is a great hull cleaner. One thing to keep in mind: it completely strips all waxes off of the surface. I'll use it to get the hull clean, then wax the hull. A good wax job goes a long way to making it easier to clean the hull after use. Like any caustic material, use oxalic acid as weak as you can, and then only sparingly.
hauptjm posted 06-11-2001 11:15 AM ET (US)
I should have added: rinse the hull of the acid thouroghly. Never use it without plenty of water to wash away the residue. Otherwise, it just keeps eating away.
Chesapeake posted 06-11-2001 12:13 PM ET (US)
There was some banter in an earlier post (I could not find it again) regarding using an oxalic acid based hull cleaner to clean nasty non skid as well, particularly the more raised patterns of the 60s and 70s non-skid.
Is this recommended. The deck on my Nauset is really kind of chalky, but is also too patterned to get any appreciable results when using a cutting compound and wax.
My only concern is making sure none of the acid remains in the bilge tunnel.
dgp posted 06-11-2001 04:56 PM ET (US)
I believe 409 contains bleach which Whaler discourages any product containing bleach. They used to recommend Westleys Clear-Magic spray cleaner. I've only found this at Walgreen drug.
The Whaler web site has a Maintenance Topic section that addresses most of these type of questions.
GAwhale posted 06-12-2001 09:46 AM ET (US)
Thanx for all the information!
I checked the Maintenance Topic section of the Boston Whaler website. I could not find where they recommend Westleys Clear-Magic spray cleaner. They do recommend two brands of wax:
1.) 3M Imperial Hand Glaze #05990
2.) Meguiars #26 Hiteck Yellow Wax
I checked on my bottle of Formula 409 All Purpose Cleaner (CLOROX Brand). Ingredients are: Water, detergents, builder, grease cutter, color. I called the 1-800 telephone number and the representative told me 409 does not contain bleach.
triblet posted 06-12-2001 10:27 AM ET (US)
409 seems to leave an oily film behind, which
is why I don't use it in the kitchen either.
For the boat, I just wash it (Classic Car
Wash) and wax it (NuFinish liquid). I tried
the Megurires that Whaler recommends, and it
didn't work nearly as well as the NuFinish.
And Meguires was real hard to find. I looked
in chandleries, auto parts stores, the web.
Finally gave up, then stumbled across it in
an auto parts store some months later.

Chuck
wspellenbe posted 06-12-2001 09:52 PM ET (US)
Try Greesed Lighting it works great on my 15ft supersport
Bigshot posted 06-18-2001 01:50 PM ET (US)
Try Westleys Bleach white. it is a whitewall cleaner but has no bleach. Good stuff. Marykate's On/off hull cleaner is the best for nasty stuff and scum lines. It even removes barnacles. Very caustic and will turn a galv trailer white, but works. As for ruststains, you can scrub all you want, 1000 grit wetsnd and a coat of wax and she is new, same goes for heavy oxidation.
lhg posted 06-18-2001 02:32 PM ET (US)
Chesapeake - Getting the oxidation out of non-skid is not easy. I have used Sudbury's HD fiberglass cleaner, advertized as for this purpose, and it works fairly well, but not completely.
It comes in powder form, kind of like cleanser, but is not abrasive. I contains oxalic acid, and may brighten up your floor.

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Keeping the Hull Clean
GAwhale	posted 06-10-2001 08:39 PM ET (US) On my new whaler, it came with a decal: 'CAUTION...Do Not Clean With Window Sprays...Wash Only With Mild Detergent And Use Plenty Of Lukewarm Water..' I don't have a water hose at the lake where I keep and launch my boat. I've been using 409 Spray Cleaner to clean the scum off the water line. Has anyone had problems with 409 or have a better spray cleaner?
wpr	posted 06-10-2001 09:24 PM ET (US) I use SEA BOWLD Instant Hull Cleaner. Nasty stuff but it's easy to use. Put a little bit on a sponge and wipe it on - watch the yellow disappear. Use another sponge with clear water to wipe the area again to remove any residue.(it probably eats the hull from the inside out beacuse it contains oxalic acid but thats a different topic) This stuff really does work - just be careful because it is an eye irritant.
Loewer	posted 06-11-2001 11:09 AM ET (US) The warning about window cleaner applies to the plexi windshield, not the hull. Jeff Loewer
hauptjm	posted 06-11-2001 11:12 AM ET (US) Oxalic Acid is a great hull cleaner. One thing to keep in mind: it completely strips all waxes off of the surface. I'll use it to get the hull clean, then wax the hull. A good wax job goes a long way to making it easier to clean the hull after use. Like any caustic material, use oxalic acid as weak as you can, and then only sparingly.
hauptjm	posted 06-11-2001 11:15 AM ET (US) I should have added: rinse the hull of the acid thouroghly. Never use it without plenty of water to wash away the residue. Otherwise, it just keeps eating away.
Chesapeake	posted 06-11-2001 12:13 PM ET (US) There was some banter in an earlier post (I could not find it again) regarding using an oxalic acid based hull cleaner to clean nasty non skid as well, particularly the more raised patterns of the 60s and 70s non-skid. Is this recommended. The deck on my Nauset is really kind of chalky, but is also too patterned to get any appreciable results when using a cutting compound and wax. My only concern is making sure none of the acid remains in the bilge tunnel.
dgp	posted 06-11-2001 04:56 PM ET (US) I believe 409 contains bleach which Whaler discourages any product containing bleach. They used to recommend Westleys Clear-Magic spray cleaner. I've only found this at Walgreen drug. The Whaler web site has a Maintenance Topic section that addresses most of these type of questions.
GAwhale	posted 06-12-2001 09:46 AM ET (US) Thanx for all the information! I checked the Maintenance Topic section of the Boston Whaler website. I could not find where they recommend Westleys Clear-Magic spray cleaner. They do recommend two brands of wax: 1.) 3M Imperial Hand Glaze #05990 2.) Meguiars #26 Hiteck Yellow Wax I checked on my bottle of Formula 409 All Purpose Cleaner (CLOROX Brand). Ingredients are: Water, detergents, builder, grease cutter, color. I called the 1-800 telephone number and the representative told me 409 does not contain bleach.
triblet	posted 06-12-2001 10:27 AM ET (US) 409 seems to leave an oily film behind, which is why I don't use it in the kitchen either. For the boat, I just wash it (Classic Car Wash) and wax it (NuFinish liquid). I tried the Megurires that Whaler recommends, and it didn't work nearly as well as the NuFinish. And Meguires was real hard to find. I looked in chandleries, auto parts stores, the web. Finally gave up, then stumbled across it in an auto parts store some months later. Chuck
wspellenbe	posted 06-12-2001 09:52 PM ET (US) Try Greesed Lighting it works great on my 15ft supersport
Bigshot	posted 06-18-2001 01:50 PM ET (US) Try Westleys Bleach white. it is a whitewall cleaner but has no bleach. Good stuff. Marykate's On/off hull cleaner is the best for nasty stuff and scum lines. It even removes barnacles. Very caustic and will turn a galv trailer white, but works. As for ruststains, you can scrub all you want, 1000 grit wetsnd and a coat of wax and she is new, same goes for heavy oxidation.
lhg	posted 06-18-2001 02:32 PM ET (US) Chesapeake - Getting the oxidation out of non-skid is not easy. I have used Sudbury's HD fiberglass cleaner, advertized as for this purpose, and it works fairly well, but not completely. It comes in powder form, kind of like cleanser, but is not abrasive. I contains oxalic acid, and may brighten up your floor.