Hull Cleaning

[strykerpilot66]

Hey all,

Just got my first "used" boat via UPS......needless to say it arrived in the box upside down, and hardened drops of something ( I assume fuel) were all over the hull. I've tried every cleaner in the house, soft scrub, and even Meguiars buffing compound-to no avail. The seller swears it left his house clean, but he also said it had no scratches or dents It showed up with quite a few dings, including badly bent turn fins, a bad nick at the bottom of the rudder, and other "surprises". Anyway...... any thoughts on cleaning the hull? I can scrape it off with a fingernail, so the gelcoat isn't affected, but it would take weeks that way.

Thanks

Doug

 

[Propjockey]

Try WD-40 on a rag, followed by warm, soapy water....

 

[ClayGlover]

another thing that works real well is dry cleaning fluid "perchloroethylene". you can probably get some for free from your local cleaners.

 

[[email protected]]

Have him put in an insurance claim for it!

If you get really desperate and your brave enough, Jasco works great. But be worn it I'll eat evrything.

 

[wavejumper]

Honda sprey cleaner and polish works well and it doesn't effect the paint. Also A product called called "DUCKY" you can find it at checker, schucks, Kragen NAPA wal-mart any place like that and it's for getting water spots off and will not harm gel or clear coat.

 

[strykerpilot66]

WD-40 isn't working at all, time for more drastic measures. This is something other than water spots, because I can scrape through it with my fingernail...it would just take forever doing it that way though.

 

[MarkScott]

You might want to try the liquid cig lighter fluid (naphtha) or even MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone ).. If you use either of these, do it in a well ventilated area and try it on a hidden spot first.. MEK will clean just about anything you need to - I've used MEK to get dried K&B Epoxy paint off the ole spray gun. If you know how hard K&B paint gets, you'll know what I mean.. If the boat is ABS, I wouldn't use MEK..

Mark..

 

[nitrotoys]

NITRO On a Rag works good, then a spray cleaner.

I have used a marine hull cleaner also, Not as abrasive as rubbing compound, but takes little scratch and **** off.

 

[strykerpilot66]

****...finally gettin whatever it is off but finding that it has eaten through the gelcoat leaving shallow craters Could that have been Nitro fuel sitting on the hull for a week or maybe after run oil?

 

[Propjockey]

Mark speaks the truth...MEK is some nasty stuff. When I worked as a painter in a chemical plant, we used it to clean two and three part epoxies from the spray equipment. I had a small coffee can about half full of the stuff that I left the nozzles and needles in overnight. One day I decided to leave in a screwdriver that I opened paint cans with. The next morning, the handle was gone! It had melted and slid down the shank and was a blob at the bottom of the can!

I bet it would make short work of an ABS hull.

 

[[email protected]]

I guess the guy didn't post the "Buyer beware " on his auction!

 

[Finne]

yea e-bay can be a real gamble. I still haven't managed to get my engine running.

proly just the glowplug lighter tho. I mean, it's a two-stroke. what can go wrong realy?

Craters eh? sounds nasty. so what now? sand it all down and re-paint?

 

[strykerpilot66]

Not likely....I'll just live with it. It still looks okay unless you are right on top of it, the white hides alot of the imperfections , and I'm sure being new at this I will add to them SOON I love speed so much that I'd enjoy a coffee can if it was doing 60MPH+!!!