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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 General Sailing Forum
 Cleaning the rub rail		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts
Initially Posted - 03/21/2012 :  09:55:16  Show Profile
Ever since I got my boat, the grey rubber rub rail has been a filthy mess. I've tried scrubbing with detergent, various polishes, and also solvents. Nothing has really worked.

Has anyone here found the magic combination of materials and tools that can restore the original color of the rub rails?
Rick S., Swarthmore, PA
PO of Take Five, 1998 Catalina 250WK #348 (relocated to Baltimore's Inner Harbor)
New owner of 2001 Catalina 34MkII #1535 Breakin' Away (at Rock Hall Landing Marina)
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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts
Response Posted - 03/21/2012 :  10:20:27  Show Profile

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21448
Edited by - OJ on 03/21/2012 10:22:28
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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts
Response Posted - 03/21/2012 :  10:34:48  Show Profile
My rub rail cleaned up pretty good with Goof Off, but since you said you already tried solvents, it may not work for you.
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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts
Response Posted - 03/21/2012 :  10:51:04  Show Profile
I had already tried MEK with no improvement, but after rereading the thread it mentioned keeping it wet. So I'll give it another try, being sure to keep it wet for longer (and protect my skin).

I might also try a small section with Citrustrip, since its active ingredient is a low volatility solvent (NMP, if I recall correctly). Very similar to Goof Off, but formulated with a gel to keep it from dripping off.
Edited by - TakeFive on 03/21/2012 10:51:53
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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts
Response Posted - 03/21/2012 :  11:49:15  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by RhythmDoctor</i>
<br />I had already tried MEK with no improvement, but after rereading the thread it mentioned keeping it wet.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">That's very surprising to hear. Could the C25 and C250 materials be that different? We applied one application which took off 90% of the dirt. Second application (10-15 seconds later) and voila. Rag was wet - but not dripping wet. Entire process took less than an hour.
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trptelf
Navigator

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USA
113 Posts
Response Posted - 03/21/2012 :  15:55:36  Show Profile
One of my favorite products did the trick for our rubrail. Rubbermaid Mildew Stain Remover is a professional strength cleaner that I used to be able to find at Wal-mart in the professional cleaning section - a small section in the store by hardware/paint/etc. When I saw that our store wasn't replacing the ones I bought, I bought out the neighboring store. I have 1 1/2 bottles left - but I can't find it anymore. If your stains on the rubrail are due to mold/mildew (ours were) then any mildew cleaner should work. I liked the Rubbermaid because of its strength, and because it was a 1/3 of the cost of marine brands.
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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts
Response Posted - 03/21/2012 :  16:04:11  Show Profile
Ah the old rub rail thread, As OJ said the rag should be thoroughly wet just short of dripping. Rub an area of around 4ft at a time. When the rail is clean I wet the rag again and give the entire rail one swipe kinda like a finish coat. If the rag starts to get gooey, Get another one. The key here is in keeping the rag wet. If it starts to dry and drag re-wet the rag.
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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9080 Posts
Response Posted - 03/21/2012 :  18:10:59  Show Profile
When you're done, give it a swipe with some Starbrite/WM PTFE polish. It'll be much better next year.
Edited by - Stinkpotter on 03/21/2012 18:12:00
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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts
Response Posted - 03/21/2012 :  18:31:13  Show Profile
Not sure about your area of the country - but we have what must be coal soot in the air here in SW PA. Makes a mess of the rubrail
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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts
Response Posted - 03/21/2012 :  18:43:56  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by OJ</i>
<br />Not sure about your area of the country - but we have what must be coal soot in the air here in SW PA. Makes a mess of the rubrail
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
We don't have anything like that here in SE PA. Waitaminute, I'm right at the end of the Philly airport runway. What's that stuff coming out of those jet engines?
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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts
Response Posted - 03/22/2012 :  06:05:04  Show Profile
That's jet fuel soot, not coal soot. :)

Don't forget the soot from the "trash to steam" plant near Camden, and isn't there a coal-fired electric plant not too far from you too?
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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3462 Posts
Response Posted - 03/22/2012 :  07:44:25  Show Profile  Visit OLarryR's Homepage
The boatyard recommended I use acetone on the rub rail. I have not tried it yet.
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