Ring around the Rendezvous

[Chip]

I never thought about the color when I was buying the boat, but for the waters on which I've paddled, cream might not be the color that best hides dirt and grime.


I washed the boat the other day. First I used a mix I called Doug D Crud Cutter, which is dawn, vinegar, and ... I forgot. That got most of the recent grime, but there was still a brown staining. I then used Poli Ox powder cleaner, which did a great job. Now, I'd like to know how to make it easier to clean in the future. Will wax help prevent the hull stain and make it easier to clean off the crud?

 

[Alan Gage]

Wet sanding (with a detergent of some sort) with something like scotch bright pads or 1500 grit has done a nice job for me. I don't know how glossy your finish is but it won't be after 1500 grit.

Alan

 

[Boatman53]

Vinegar is my go to, but a Magic Eraser handles a lot of crud.
Jim

 

[Will Derness]

I never thought about the color when I was buying the boat, but for the waters on which I've paddled, cream might not be the color that best hides dirt and grime.
View attachment 158410

I washed the boat the other day. First I used a mix I called Doug D Crud Cutter, which is dawn, vinegar, and ... I forgot. That got most of the recent grime, but there was still a brown staining. I then used Poli Ox powder cleaner, which did a great job. Now, I'd like to know how to make it easier to clean in the future. Will wax help prevent the hull stain and make it easier to clean off the crud?

I’ve used acetone to remove the motor oil color residue on the hull of my Blacklite canoe. I’ve applied 303 protectant afterwards but I don’t think it makes removing the ugly waterline stain any easier. Periodically I return to use acetone to clean the hull.

 

[stripperguy]

My carbon copy Kite is painted white and yes, it gathers unsightly stains too.
I've resigned myself to just clean it yearly. Last cleansing was with Purple Power industrial strength cleaner.
That seems to work much better than anything else I've used...it's also very effective on RV roofs.

 

[Chip]

It’d be nice if there was something that could be applied to the boat that would act like a layer of plastic wrap, so the dirt accumulates on the protective layer and cleans off more easily. I’ve applied wax, thinking it will be easier to get the dirt off wax than off naked gel coat. Won’t know until the next cleaning. Meanwhile, I better go get the boat dirty.

 

[tketcham]

It’d be nice if there was something that could be applied to the boat that would act like a layer of plastic wrap...

You mean like a canoe condom?

I wash our canoes after each use to prevent spreading bad stuff around and I think that helps to keep the build-up to a minimum. Usually Dawn detergent in water and a non-scratching poly scrub cloth is enough but if I've been in tannin rich water it takes more to get it off and I've accepted that our canoes now have a permanent bathtub ring. I probably won't bother with getting rid of it until I sell or give away the canoe(s).

 

[GeoBoy]

I wash our canoes after every trip, not wanting to transfer from one body of water to another.
I would try Bon Ami cleanser to remove stains without scratching the gel coat.