Association Forum - Oil stains in cockpit

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Oil stains in cockpit

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

michaelj
Navigator

Member Avatar

132 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/22/2010 : 03:20:36

While changing my engine oil the other day I managed to spill some on the cockpit seats. I mopped it up but it still left a stain. Any ideas on how to get the stain out? Thanks.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2010 : 07:10:44

Mike,

I'm sure there are chemicals out there that will do the job but may be harmful to your gelcoat.

I store my boat in my yard over the winter and one of the hardest stains I've found to remove is residue from wet tree leaves. I've found that if I scrub them once then let the sun work on them, they gradually disappear with an occasional scrubbing. It takes time but it works for me. Can't say that it'll work on an oil stain but it's worth a try providing you can tolerate the stain while it's eroding in the sun.

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2010 : 10:05:19

You might try Black Streak Remover, it works great for all sorts of marks on a boat with out damaging the glass. You can find it at Walmart or West Marine.

Edited by - on

Stu G
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
17 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2010 : 11:48:20

We have a tree at the marina that drops tons of yellow seeds every spring that stain the deck. We use Westleys - Bleche-Wite to remove the stains. It's a tire cleaner but it does the job. Don't panic the first time you use it. The area you work on turns yellowish but that fades away after a few minutes.

http://www.amazon.com/Westleys-Bleche-Wite-Trigger-Spray-BC555/dp/B000VDEOTY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1279824242&sr=8-2

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
5376 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2010 : 21:11:00

I might do it in phases. IMHO, black streak remover never did anything that I could tell.

I'd start with a regular detergent - dish soap or laundry soap, or a regular boat soap. The chemical sodium laurel sulphate is a surfactant that forms a bond between water and oil - the premise behind most soaps. Wash it and rinse it several times to gradually remove the marks. The dark stains are dirt and soot mixed with the oil, so if the oil washes away with the soap, so will the dirt (so they say).

Next step is a degreaser. You can get aerosol degreasers or bottled degreasers, but before you try it on the cockpit seat, try it in an inconspicuous place like under the hatch. You can try MEK or Goof Off, but again, it could be harsh so use it with care. Go-Jo (the creamy stuff, not the sandy stuff) is also a degreaser. I'd suggest you wear rubber or nitrile gloves. If you use a degreaser, afterward wash with soap and water.

If that doesn't work, you can try dilute bleach and soap. If you see some progress, you can try strengthening the bleach solution. This may work out pretty well.

Another "miracle" cleaner is called Spray 9. Many people swear by it. I've used it and it works well on certain kinds of stains (like leaf marks).

Last thing I can mention is Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser. This can be abrasive, so again try it in an inconspicuous place, and go slow.

Good luck and always wear latex or non-latex nitrile gloves when handling strong chemicals.

And did I mention to try the cleaners out in an inconspicuous place?

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

Members Avatar

844 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2010 : 17:43:04

FSR

Fiberglass Stain Remover

It's a blue liquid gel. Oxalytic acid.

Edited by - on

captmikem
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
7 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2010 : 15:38:28

"Greased Lighting" takes off organic as well as oil stains. If its a waxed area it will take it off as well.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

Members Avatar

USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2010 : 19:01:10

From the Greased lighting site http://www.greased-lightning.com/cleaningtips/Room.aspx?RoomId=2

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Fiberglass
Keep fiberglass items clean like new with Greased Lightning! Follow manufacturers instructions for fiberglass items. Test in inconspicuous area first. Do not use on gel coat fiberglass. Spray on or apply with sponge as needed. Do not allow drying. Rinse as quickly as possible. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Paul

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.