Cleaning Supplies

[Jgeraghty]

I just purchased a used CP-16. It's a mess. How can I start getting it cleaned up so I can be proud of my purchase.

I keep it at the Rehoboth Bay Sailing Association in Dewey Beach, Delaware.

Thanks John

[skip1930]

"It's a mess" doesn't say ' what is a mess?

More info needed.

skip.

[Craig]

If you are talking about simple grime "Spray Nine" has been my favorite for years. Melts away dirt and works well on teak too.Doesn't erode the wood like regular teak cleaners. Another great product is "Awesome" from the Dollar store. Nearly as good as Spray Nine but much cheaper. By the way if you do try Spray Nine don't get the "marine" version it is exactly the same formula as the regular version.

[Bob23]

Interesting...Spray 9 is our first choice for all around cleaning on the construction projects we work on. We don't have space or time for a myriad of products and the "9" does it all. Great and powerful stuff.
Bob23

[Jgeraghty]

"It's a mess" doesn't say ' what is a mess?

More info needed.

My recently purchased boat was left outside for years. It has a ton of grime and discoloration....

I appreciate the concern..

Thanks John

[BobK]

Bar Keepers Friend is my cleaner of choice for dirty boats.  It also removes the chalking from the fiberglass.

[skip1930]

A stiff nylon brush that is small enough to get into the tight places on deck. But grip-able with arthritic hands. Figure your going to trash out a pair of Levies with bleach and use a name brand toilet spray cleaner with Clorox.

Grab the hose with nozzle and sit at the bow and work back. Scrub every inch of the deck, one square inch at a time, and rinse with copious amounts of water. Rinse water should be dirty, otherwise nothing is happening.

It'll take two days, and you'll swear nothing happened. And you could be right. Start over with some other suggested soap.

I really, really like Mequire's #49 oxidation remover and a lot of hand rubbing. But the deck and hull has to be clean [kind of] first.

Rule of thumb; If it can be seen on the gel coat and you KNOW it was not there when they shot the gel coat into the mold then the boat is not clean. Keep rubbing. When she is clean, you'll feel it, not see it.

The grim? Is or was a living mildew or mold and may have taken up permanent residence in the fiberglass roughness. Might have to sand it out with number 80 grit production sand paper ... I know, that's not an option without painting the deck. 3-M scratch pad?

When I did my free give-a-way dinghy it was terrible ... I found nothing that would remove the grim ... not even #3 normal muriatic acid. But I sanded it 100% and painted it with a marine urethane fiberglass primer, a little scratching up, and urethane top coat red on the wet side and Rustoleum fish oil buff enamel on the inside. Came out great. Took about 30+ days for the Rustoleum to dry in my cold garage. I think it may have gotten to 40 deg F for a day or two. But it was in the teens outside. Any port in the storm. Now I need to lay on, screw and glue the cedar gunnels, stern plate for the engine, oar locks, and bow block.

I don't have any good ideas 'cept elbow grease.
"Gotta work. Sez so in the book"

skip.

[mikew]

John, Congrats on buying a fine boat- as far as cleaning I use SOFT-SCRUB cleanser- LEMON. There is another kind with bleach -DON'T use that. The cleaner has a mild abrasive that doesn't seem too harsh on the gelcoat.  I use a brush with it on the anti-skid areas. It will remove mold, mildew,  and winter crud and make the gelcoat shine. Then rinse well and if you wish, rubbing compound and wax. Available in the grocery store.
Also good on removing the black marks on white vinyl fenders (bumpers).
Mike