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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Varnish Drips on Gelcoat

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Bortiquai
1st Mate

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88 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/05/2008 : 08:36:04

I have a 1980 Catalina 25. One of the previous owners did a really bad job re-finishing the wood at some point. Clearly they did not bother to remove the wood to do the re-finishing, or even tape off the edges. So there are brown varnish (I think it's varnish) stains outlining all of the wood in the entire boat. Someone recommended using Penetrol to remove these stains, but I have not been able to find this product. Getting it here has also proven to be a challenge (I'm in Puerto Rico). Can someone recommend something else to remove these stains that will not harm the GelCoat, and is a little more generic or common.

I have tried scrubbing with household cleaners like Tilex and even Paint Thinner, but these just aren't doing the trick. There is a lot of stains/spills/drips/etc...

Thank you

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2008 : 11:02:54

I saw a reply to that exact problem in a boat magazine recently. Maybe in Boat US or Sail. I'll keep my eye out to see if I run across it again. It's a real stickler of a problem, and the solution was not easy. I just don't remember off hand what the recommendation was. Maybe someone else saw that too.

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2008 : 11:39:30

A previous owner of my boat had used a spray can of polyurethane to cover the cabin steps and this resulted in an overspray of the gelcoat behind the steps. The last time I had the steps out I purchased a spray can of paint and varnish remover and sprayed it on the polyurethane overspray, waited about a minute, and wiped off the old overspray. I realize that paint and varnish remover can damage gelcoat as well but varnish will react to the remover at a quicker pace then the gelcoat. If you do small portions you could probably do as I did. Try it in an inconspicuous place first. I saw no affect to the gelocat for the small amount of time I left it on.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2008 : 11:50:47

On my boat there are a few spots that may be cetol or teak oil, and this stuff might remove the cetol, but I don't know about teak oil stains: [url="http://www.ibacktonature.com/Pages/marinereadystripMARINE-PD.html"]Ready-Strip Marine[/url].

I have read that kitchen cleanser (Ajax) with bleach can remove teak oil stains with lots of scrubbing.

Good luck, and give us an update.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2008 : 12:46:42

Kitchen cleanser is pretty abrasive--I'd recommend Soft Scrub with Bleach for scrubbing stains on gelcoat. For varnish, I'd say use a fiberglass-friendly stripper--just check the label.

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2008 : 13:28:15

Iam with Dave. I use Soft Scrub and it works great.
Steve A

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crcalhoon
Captain

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USA
303 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2008 : 16:07:29

I sailed in Puerto Rico for a number of years. Where do you keep your boat?

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2008 : 16:47:05

There are a few tests you can run to figure out what type of finish is on your deck. You start out with relatively harmless stuff & work up the scale towards destructive stuff. It's unlikely that you have shellac on there as the tropical sun in PR would have probably destroyed it by now, but that's where you can start. Bear in mind that most of my experience with this stuff is from working with wood, and not fiberglass. Use caution with all of these, they're all flammable and some of them will kill you if you breathe them long enough.

Just for the record, I'd start trying to remove this with [url="http://www.citristrip.com/"]Citristrip[/url] because it's a fairly non-damaging paint stripper, and has worked well for me in the past.

Alcohol/methylated spirits. If the finish is shellac, alcohol will soften & remove it. Not much danger to fiberglass or anything else as long as you don't leave it in place too long. However, it might just do the trick.

Paint thinner/turpentine. The next step up, it will soften varnishes but will take a fair amount of elbow grease to remove from your fiberglass. Not sure how damaging it might be to it. I personally don't like working with paint thinner too much because it's oily & hard to clean up, plus I don't like the smell. I use turpentine in custom finishes I use on my lathe, and actually like the smell of pure pine turpentine. However I don't like using it as a cleaning agent for the same reason as thinner, it's oily & hard to clean up. However the oiliness makes it fairly easy to keep it where you're working, so maybe that's an attribute for what you're trying to do.

Lacquer thinner/mineral spirits. A bit stronger, but it's unlikely that you have lacquer on your boat either, so unless you're sure it's lacquer, I wouldn't bother with this step. Well melt plastic, so be careful with it around fiberglass.

Acetone. This would probably be where I'd start with your problem if the Citristrip didn't work. Relatively easy to work with, and gases off quickly so unless you soak the fiberglass with it, you should be OK. Work in small areas, try not to breath it, a respirator with organic filters would be in order if you're going to be using it a lot.

MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone). Nasty stuff, I refuse to use it anymore because I was occupationally exposed to it a couple decades ago. However, it's a great solvent (dissolved a watch band off my wrist with it once) similar to acetone in properties, but it sticks around longer than acetone. Because of this you need to be vigilant that you don't soak your fiberglass with it. Definitely an organic set of filters on your respirator, and wear rubber gloves, it'll eat right through nitril ones.

Xylol, caustic strippers, etc. I don't think I'd want to use any of these on my hull, the corrosive or nasty nature of them makes me not want to use any of them period. Just touching MEK gives me an instant taste of metallic garlic in my mouth, xylol gives me a headache almost instantly, etc. I don't use them unless I absolutely have to, and then it's outdoors with suitable protection. Even with that I'll still get headaches. Last time I used MEK was at the recommendation of a davit manufacturer to remove their glue from my dinghy. I decided after an afternoon at it, that I'd just live with the glue patches on my Avon.

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glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2008 : 18:33:20

David pretty much covered the topic with regard solvents. I would only add that you want to wear gloves when working with acetone as well; any of these organics are readily absorbed into skin. We had the same issue when we purchased our boat - a large spill (dark teak oil?) on the cabin sole and over-brushing of Cetol(?) on deck (interestingly none remained on the wood). The cabin sole cleaned up nicely with acetone and a medium stiff brush. About 80% of the non-skid deck area cleaned up also, but then had to mechanically loosen the remainder by carefully working a utility knife or small screw driver along the grooves in the non-skid. One additional go with the acetone and brush and the deck cleaned right up. Not the most mentally challenging task, but it sure looks great.

David - with regard the headaches when you are near some kinds of solvents. My wife is the same way - I swear she can detect concentrations in the ppb range.

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Bortiquai
1st Mate

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88 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2008 : 09:34:34

Thanks to everyone who replied. There is some good information there, and I really appreciate it.

To, Crcalhoon i live and keep my boat in Fajardo, PR - The North-Eastern most corner. Some amazing sailing around here - tons of spots in all ranges.

What I ended up doing was getting this stuff called "Safe Strip" from Lanco. I think Lanco is kind of a bargain/cheap-o brand, but it was the only one that didn't say "Not recommended for Fiberglass" and actually recommended it for marine applications. It said to apply the stuff generously, and let it work for about 20 minutes, then wipe/scrape off. I started in a small corner and let it sit for 5 minutes, and the old Varnish drips (or whatever it was) came right up. After I cleaned up that spot, I waited 15-20 minutes, and near as I could tell, it didn't cause any problems with the Gelcoat/fiberglass. By the time I really started, the sun had gone down and I was working by lamp light. I think if you look closely, you might be able to see a very faint shadow of where the stains were. My next step is to do the entire interior with a Fiberglass restorer/wax, and I think that will finish it up nicely.

The stripper was a little more harsh than I wanted to use, but like I said, thus far I don't see where it caused any real problems, and I am mostly satisfied with the results. I had used several (but not all) of the other items David mentioned with not much success. Certainly I will retain that information for the future.

Thanks again for everyone's help

Matt

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2008 : 12:57:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Bortiquai
 To, Crcalhoon i live and keep my boat in Fajardo, PR - The North-Eastern most corner. Some amazing sailing around here - tons of spots in all ranges.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Matt,

My work took me to Fajardo quite a bit and I stayed at a villa that is right next to the marina. Nice marina. It's been a while, but there used to be a sandwhich shop in the building just ahead of the marina that had great hot pastrami sandwhiches.

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Bortiquai
1st Mate

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88 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2008 : 09:49:35

Don,
The marina my slip is at is called Villa Marina. There are about a half dozen marinas right in this area, all within a square mile. I almost wonder if you were more towards Puerto Del Rey - that's a bit further south but still (barely) in Fajardo. That is one of the largest - and nicest - marinas in the Caribbean. Maybe if i win the lottery some day I'll move over there. Anyway, it's a small world. How long ago where you down here?

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crcalhoon
Captain

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USA
303 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2008 : 10:57:05

Bortiquai--In the late seventies I kept my boat at Villa Marina for awhile. D or E dock, I think, but it's been a long time. In the late eighties I kept her at Puerto del Rey for several years. Great marinas, both of them. The guy I sold my boat to moved her to Isleta Marina. We have such grat memories of our times there. The next time you are at Icacos, lift a cold one for us.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2008 : 16:19:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Bortiquai
 Don,
The marina my slip is at is called Villa Marina. There are about a half dozen marinas right in this area, all within a square mile. I almost wonder if you were more towards Puerto Del Rey - that's a bit further south but still (barely) in Fajardo. That is one of the largest - and nicest - marinas in the Caribbean. Maybe if i win the lottery some day I'll move over there. Anyway, it's a small world. How long ago where you down here?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Bortiquai,

I had to look at Google Maps to refresh my memory and the villas I always stayed at are next to the marina that is on Carretera Cabezas road. I was there on and off throughout the early '90's. Since I was there for a month or so at a time a couple times a year, I hooked up with a real estate agent who managed vacation properties to get a monthly rate. It was a whole lot nicer, and cheaper, than staying in a hotel.

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