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cleaner for gel coat |
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bsucics 
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Joined: July-18-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 109 |
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 Topic: cleaner for gel coatPosted: October-26-2008 at 4:19pm |
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trying to get the boat cleaned up before storing it away and am having no luck cleaning off the water spots on the gel coat. I obviously need something a little more aggressive than soap and water. what do you guys use? I kept the boat on a lift this year so no scum...
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86BFN
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Joined: July-28-2008 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 882 |
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Posted: October-26-2008 at 5:59pm |
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I like to use polish (not wax) such as NuFinish. Any discount store carries it. If that does not take them off, I'll use a mild rubbing compound. I use 3M liquid, not real aggresive. both go on easy and come off easy.
If you have to use rubbing compound, make sure you follow up with polish. Good Luck. |
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SNobsessed
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Joined: October-21-2007 Location: IA Status: Offline Points: 7102 |
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Posted: October-26-2008 at 8:02pm |
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For hard water spots, I use vinegar & water, about 50/50, plus a little dish soap. Doesn't take much to cut thru it. You will have to re-wax as it strips that off too!
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“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
Ben Franklin |
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JoeinNY
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Joined: October-19-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5698 |
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Posted: October-27-2008 at 10:22pm |
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Second on the vinegar and water, or if you are lazy like me vinegar cleaner from windex.
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74SkiNautique
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Joined: July-29-2008 Location: Lynchburg, VA Status: Offline Points: 228 |
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Posted: October-30-2008 at 12:38am |
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The best gel coat cleaner is 3M marine fiberglass restorer. It will take that waterline off of your hull, any white and chalky oxidation too. Makes it shine and look brand new! Also, it waxes. After I'm done, I apply turtle wax too.
3M fiberglass restore This is available at walmart. Just look in the marine section and you'll see it. It also comes in different grits. More course or fine for the right job. I would recomend the medium grit. DONT use on your letters or decals. Using this is tedious but it is great for a waterline scum or algae. The water/vinegar is faster, and more for the spotting. |
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74SkiNautique
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8122pbrainard
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Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: October-30-2008 at 7:45am |
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When I first got my Tique, I was anxious to run it in the lake but didn't have the time to haul it all the way 300 miles to my second home yet. I have a friend with a home on Powers lake (yes, the infamous PLBC lake!) so I dropped it in one weekend. I have NEVER been in such a hard water lake and ended up with plenty of water spotting. I considered using some "Lime Away" but opted for the vinegar and water. Worked great!
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tullfooter
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Joined: March-02-2007 Location: White Lake, MI Status: Offline Points: 2225 |
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Posted: October-30-2008 at 10:25am |
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Second on the NuFinish for polishing!
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Play hard, life's not a trial run.
'85 BFN '90 BFN White Lake, Michigan |
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74SkiNautique
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Joined: July-29-2008 Location: Lynchburg, VA Status: Offline Points: 228 |
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Posted: October-30-2008 at 8:52pm |
What exactly are the hard water spots you guys are talking about? Is it just a waterline or some sort of reaction with the water? |
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74SkiNautique
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74SkiNautique
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Posted: October-30-2008 at 8:53pm |
What do you mean by a "hard water lake?" |
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74SkiNautique
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8122pbrainard
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Posted: October-30-2008 at 9:28pm |
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Chris,
Hard water as in high in minerals. It's what water softeners are made for when your house water is "hard". When the water droplets dry, it leaves the minerals on the surface. Your home dishwasher running on hard water will leave glassware spotted if you don't add a surfactant such as "Jet Dry". The water spotting Dan (bsucics) described isn't a waterline scum or a below the waterline staining. Powers lake in high in lime. There are even limestone quarries in our area. |
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74SkiNautique
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Posted: October-30-2008 at 10:11pm |
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Okay. Yea I understand now. Smith Mountain Lake here in VA is very VERY clean. You can drink the water and not even tell it was from a lake. No spotting on our boat. I only get a waterline if it is left in overnight in a very calm cove where all the scum collects. So the water/vinegar you just mix it 50/50?
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74SkiNautique
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8122pbrainard
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Posted: October-31-2008 at 7:54am |
Chris, Hard water isn't dirty. People used to go out of their way to get "mineral" water for drinking. Today, they go out of their way to buy water in small containers with fancy labels that cost more than beer or soda and is nothing more than distilled and filtered!! Yes on the 50/50 mix. Vinegar being a acid breaks down the minerals and Chris's (SNobsessed) adding the dish soap is the surfactant. |
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74SkiNautique
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Posted: October-31-2008 at 2:31pm |
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Is it okay to use this water/vinegar solution on my lettering? Our graphics were hand painted. Any chance of the vinegar cutting through it?
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74SkiNautique
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8122pbrainard
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Posted: October-31-2008 at 11:05pm |
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Chris,
The vinegar won't hurt the paint. |
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bsucics
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Posted: November-02-2008 at 8:58pm |
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That's more like it. The 50/50 and soap worked like a charm. The gel looks great! Thanks
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SNobsessed wrote: