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Author Topic:   Artillery Fungus, Serious

wassachu posted 11-06-2007 09:42 AM ET (US)
This is a serious problem. I have thousands of tiny hard shelled black spots all over my boat. When I scrape the hard shells it leaves a black tary substance that stains the fiberglass. "Nothing", "Nothing" removes it. After a lot of research I was lead to this website: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/artfungus/artilleryfungus.htm
I have a new home in the woods. The trees were cut and logs were removed to make room for the house. All the braches were chip and blown into the woods next to where I later stored my 22ft boat. Spores from the decaying wood chips were atracked to my boat as explained in the fact sheet.
I have a huge list of products I've tried to remove these spots and stains including MEK, Acetone, paint thinner, rubbing compound, boat bottom cleaner(Mild acid), stain removers and a great deal of cleaners. I've had two pros look at it and the only suggestion is 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper sanding wet. This is the only thing that works but a lot of work, followed by rubbing compound, polishing compound and wax. A lot of hours and work. My boat is a 1990 and was in need of a good polishing and wax job so this contributed to my problem.
Please, keep your boat away from wood chips. I'd hate to see anyone go through this.
Marlin posted 11-06-2007 12:49 PM ET (US)
With a title like "artillery fungus", I couldn't help but read this. Interesting. Not a problem for my boat, but it does explain a mystery on the back of my house!
westcoastwhaler posted 11-06-2007 01:48 PM ET (US)
Try muriatic acid. Nasty stuff but it does well on stubborn stains on gelcoat. Use gloves and a respirator to be safe. You will need to wax and polish afterwards.
JayR posted 11-06-2007 03:03 PM ET (US)
Bleach didn't work?
wassachu posted 11-06-2007 04:23 PM ET (US)
I used On/Off Bottom cleaner which contains a mild acid without success. I've been careful what I apply, not knowing how it will effect the fiberglass. I'll try the muriatic acid in a small area with caution. Thanks.
As for bleach, it didn't touch these stains. Thanks.
Bella con23 posted 11-06-2007 09:21 PM ET (US)
I cleaned the entire hull bottom of my last boat with muriatic acid. It did an excellent job of cleaning the fiberglass with the only damage being the galvanize trailer. What a mess!
Joe
wezie posted 11-07-2007 08:01 AM ET (US)
muriatic acid is a good cleaner. I would suggest that you begin with more dilute and work up as needed.
It also loves metal; aluminum and galvanizing most of all.
Be careful.
hauptjm posted 11-07-2007 12:03 PM ET (US)
Did you try Oxalic acid? Oxalic acid is the key ingredient in Starbright hull cleaner. I've yet to see something it didn't remove.
wassachu posted 04-06-2008 07:17 PM ET (US)
This thread needs to be revisited. This fungus is active in the Spring and Fall and the "Only" thing I've found to remove it is 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper sanding wet. I keep buying products in hope of making life easier but no help.
Again, please refer to:
http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/artfungus/artilleryfungus.htm
This fungus is caused by decaying wood chips. The spores are propelled about 20 ft and attracted towards the sunlight or anything that reflects the sun like a white boat. It stains the fiberglass and can't be removed.
Keep your toys away from wood chips. I'd hate to see anyone go through this.
Dave Sutton posted 04-06-2008 08:32 PM ET (US)
Believe it or not, I have a 1992 Porsche 911 with that crap growing on it. Thanks for the link, this is the first time I'd learned what it is. Nasty stuff.
Dave
contender posted 04-06-2008 10:45 PM ET (US)
what about a pressure washer?....good luck
wassachu posted 04-07-2008 08:02 AM ET (US)
Dave, I wouldn't use sandpaper on your Porsche. Fiberglass on boats, especially when oxidized, is more porous then automotive finishes. I don't have any suggestions for you. Good luck.
This fungus has attached itself to vinyl siding on houses, cars, motorhomes, lawn furniture and boats. I talked to one guy that had to replace some of his vinyl siding, siding has a texture.
Please keep your toys away from wood chips. Pressure Washing didn't help me. Again, my boat is a 1990 that's seen sun and is oxidized. I've cleaned it, used rubbing compound on it and waxed it in the past but apparently not enough wax. Maybe with more waxing I wouldn't have this problem.
SpeedBump posted 04-07-2008 07:34 PM ET (US)
It isn't just wood chips that cause this. people that use mulch in their planting and flower beds need to be cautious of this if it hasn't been well aged. Any type of ground wood mulch can harbor the fungus and it is impossible to remove from surfaces. it is particularly bad on north and east sides of homes that do not get a great amount of sunlight. the fungus grow quickly and "reaches out" for the light so to speak.
I would think on a fiberglass boat hull it would require wet sanding which isn't too bad if you didn't have a tip top gloss on it to begin with, you sure will when you are finished.
contender posted 04-08-2008 09:17 PM ET (US)
How much work are you willing to do to remove the spots? Try this, is there a place you can build a dam around some of the spots(out of clay) now pour pure bleach into the damed area and let sit for a while. From your description sounds like the fungus has enter the glass, maybe with the pool of bleach sitting on the glass it will burn the spots...good luck
wassachu posted 05-03-2008 05:02 PM ET (US)
I'm re-visiting this thread because it's so difficult to remove. I'm now seeing these spots on my house, vinyl siding which is 72 feet away from that pile of wood chips. I've been removing wood chips from that pile for quite some time. When I dig down I still see white portions of decay.
THE ONLY THING I'VE FOUND TO REMOVE THESE SPOTS IS SANDPAPER. Dosen't work for vinyl siding with a texture.
Please refer to: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/artfungus/artilleryfungus.htm
Spring time and in the fall is when these spores are active.
"PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES"
hitide posted 05-06-2008 01:03 PM ET (US)
I myself have had this problem. Here in Georgia it is really bad on the coastal waters. First thing that you can do is soak the hull with CLR i put it on full strength. Then let is soak for about 30 min or so. then you use a pressure washer to peel the spores right off. let the hull dry then re apply the CLR on the stains then rub with a brillow pad or green scrub pad. Then once you got it all out, go have the bottom of your boat treated with the anti fungus paint and you will never have the problem again. If you leave your boat in the water for more than 2 days you will get fungus on your boat unless you have it painted with the protective coating. Trust me i have a 32 ft Boston Whaler and I learned the hard way.
porthole2 posted 05-11-2008 09:16 PM ET (US)
When I first heard about "artillery fungus" and what it does I said yeah right what are you smoking.
Then I did the research.
I have it on my "ranch" house and gutters (white vinyl and white aluminum).
Everything I tried did not get the gutters clean.
I had the house professionally power washed and the siding and gutters looked like new when finished.
I don't know what these guys used - it is proprietary, but it worked.

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Author	Topic: Artillery Fungus, Serious
wassachu	posted 11-06-2007 09:42 AM ET (US) This is a serious problem. I have thousands of tiny hard shelled black spots all over my boat. When I scrape the hard shells it leaves a black tary substance that stains the fiberglass. "Nothing", "Nothing" removes it. After a lot of research I was lead to this website: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/artfungus/artilleryfungus.htm I have a new home in the woods. The trees were cut and logs were removed to make room for the house. All the braches were chip and blown into the woods next to where I later stored my 22ft boat. Spores from the decaying wood chips were atracked to my boat as explained in the fact sheet. I have a huge list of products I've tried to remove these spots and stains including MEK, Acetone, paint thinner, rubbing compound, boat bottom cleaner(Mild acid), stain removers and a great deal of cleaners. I've had two pros look at it and the only suggestion is 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper sanding wet. This is the only thing that works but a lot of work, followed by rubbing compound, polishing compound and wax. A lot of hours and work. My boat is a 1990 and was in need of a good polishing and wax job so this contributed to my problem. Please, keep your boat away from wood chips. I'd hate to see anyone go through this.
Marlin	posted 11-06-2007 12:49 PM ET (US) With a title like "artillery fungus", I couldn't help but read this. Interesting. Not a problem for my boat, but it does explain a mystery on the back of my house!
westcoastwhaler	posted 11-06-2007 01:48 PM ET (US) Try muriatic acid. Nasty stuff but it does well on stubborn stains on gelcoat. Use gloves and a respirator to be safe. You will need to wax and polish afterwards.
JayR	posted 11-06-2007 03:03 PM ET (US) Bleach didn't work?
wassachu	posted 11-06-2007 04:23 PM ET (US) I used On/Off Bottom cleaner which contains a mild acid without success. I've been careful what I apply, not knowing how it will effect the fiberglass. I'll try the muriatic acid in a small area with caution. Thanks. As for bleach, it didn't touch these stains. Thanks.
Bella con23	posted 11-06-2007 09:21 PM ET (US) I cleaned the entire hull bottom of my last boat with muriatic acid. It did an excellent job of cleaning the fiberglass with the only damage being the galvanize trailer. What a mess! Joe
wezie	posted 11-07-2007 08:01 AM ET (US) muriatic acid is a good cleaner. I would suggest that you begin with more dilute and work up as needed. It also loves metal; aluminum and galvanizing most of all. Be careful.
hauptjm	posted 11-07-2007 12:03 PM ET (US) Did you try Oxalic acid? Oxalic acid is the key ingredient in Starbright hull cleaner. I've yet to see something it didn't remove.
wassachu	posted 04-06-2008 07:17 PM ET (US) This thread needs to be revisited. This fungus is active in the Spring and Fall and the "Only" thing I've found to remove it is 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper sanding wet. I keep buying products in hope of making life easier but no help. Again, please refer to: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/artfungus/artilleryfungus.htm This fungus is caused by decaying wood chips. The spores are propelled about 20 ft and attracted towards the sunlight or anything that reflects the sun like a white boat. It stains the fiberglass and can't be removed. Keep your toys away from wood chips. I'd hate to see anyone go through this.
Dave Sutton	posted 04-06-2008 08:32 PM ET (US) Believe it or not, I have a 1992 Porsche 911 with that crap growing on it. Thanks for the link, this is the first time I'd learned what it is. Nasty stuff. Dave
contender	posted 04-06-2008 10:45 PM ET (US) what about a pressure washer?....good luck
wassachu	posted 04-07-2008 08:02 AM ET (US) Dave, I wouldn't use sandpaper on your Porsche. Fiberglass on boats, especially when oxidized, is more porous then automotive finishes. I don't have any suggestions for you. Good luck. This fungus has attached itself to vinyl siding on houses, cars, motorhomes, lawn furniture and boats. I talked to one guy that had to replace some of his vinyl siding, siding has a texture. Please keep your toys away from wood chips. Pressure Washing didn't help me. Again, my boat is a 1990 that's seen sun and is oxidized. I've cleaned it, used rubbing compound on it and waxed it in the past but apparently not enough wax. Maybe with more waxing I wouldn't have this problem.
SpeedBump	posted 04-07-2008 07:34 PM ET (US) It isn't just wood chips that cause this. people that use mulch in their planting and flower beds need to be cautious of this if it hasn't been well aged. Any type of ground wood mulch can harbor the fungus and it is impossible to remove from surfaces. it is particularly bad on north and east sides of homes that do not get a great amount of sunlight. the fungus grow quickly and "reaches out" for the light so to speak. I would think on a fiberglass boat hull it would require wet sanding which isn't too bad if you didn't have a tip top gloss on it to begin with, you sure will when you are finished.
contender	posted 04-08-2008 09:17 PM ET (US) How much work are you willing to do to remove the spots? Try this, is there a place you can build a dam around some of the spots(out of clay) now pour pure bleach into the damed area and let sit for a while. From your description sounds like the fungus has enter the glass, maybe with the pool of bleach sitting on the glass it will burn the spots...good luck
wassachu	posted 05-03-2008 05:02 PM ET (US) I'm re-visiting this thread because it's so difficult to remove. I'm now seeing these spots on my house, vinyl siding which is 72 feet away from that pile of wood chips. I've been removing wood chips from that pile for quite some time. When I dig down I still see white portions of decay. THE ONLY THING I'VE FOUND TO REMOVE THESE SPOTS IS SANDPAPER. Dosen't work for vinyl siding with a texture. Please refer to: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/artfungus/artilleryfungus.htm Spring time and in the fall is when these spores are active. "PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES"
hitide	posted 05-06-2008 01:03 PM ET (US) I myself have had this problem. Here in Georgia it is really bad on the coastal waters. First thing that you can do is soak the hull with CLR i put it on full strength. Then let is soak for about 30 min or so. then you use a pressure washer to peel the spores right off. let the hull dry then re apply the CLR on the stains then rub with a brillow pad or green scrub pad. Then once you got it all out, go have the bottom of your boat treated with the anti fungus paint and you will never have the problem again. If you leave your boat in the water for more than 2 days you will get fungus on your boat unless you have it painted with the protective coating. Trust me i have a 32 ft Boston Whaler and I learned the hard way.
porthole2	posted 05-11-2008 09:16 PM ET (US) When I first heard about "artillery fungus" and what it does I said yeah right what are you smoking. Then I did the research. I have it on my "ranch" house and gutters (white vinyl and white aluminum). Everything I tried did not get the gutters clean. I had the house professionally power washed and the siding and gutters looked like new when finished. I don't know what these guys used - it is proprietary, but it worked.