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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Best product to clean the boot stripe

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BCG-Woodbury
Mainsheet Editor

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USA
396 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/02/2012 : 16:44:24

My boot stripe has some staining at the waterline. Does anyone have a really good product to clean it. It is a little faded too but I think I can renew that with a little compound when I shine up the sides. Any input is appreciated.

Thanks,

Brian & JoAnne Gleissner
Knot So Fast
1984 Catalina 25, SR/SK
Traditional Interior
Lake Candlewood, CT

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2012 : 16:49:34

[url="http://www.westmarine.com/buy/products/2100-fsr-fiberglass-stain-remover.html#.T_IzWkheuRs"]FSR[/url] will probably do it for you, but you can also use ketchup, or so I've read. It's the acid that bleaches out the stain.

Edited by - on

putzmeister
Navigator

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100 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2012 : 17:05:42

Also available at WM. This product will eat the copper in your bottom paint - read the label.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=2339

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2012 : 17:11:54

[url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=109319&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50218&subdeptNum=50268&classNum=50270#.T_I4F7_Tq3c"]Starbrite Instant Hull Cleaner[/url]

Everything this company makes - works.

Edited by - on

BCG-Woodbury
Mainsheet Editor

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USA
396 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2012 : 17:31:17

Thanks all, I'll check these products out tomorrow locally.

Best regards,

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2012 : 18:24:22

I use toilet bowl cleaner to easily remove the scum line.

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dragonf1y
1st Mate

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USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2012 : 18:36:04

Do these products remove scuff marks? I have a few black marks on my starboard bow from a state park mooring buoy (tire).

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2012 : 19:57:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dragonf1y
 Do these products remove scuff marks? I have a few black marks on my starboard bow from a state park mooring buoy (tire).
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This is great for scuff marks.

[url="http://www.mrclean.com/en_US/magic-eraser.do"]Mr Clean Magic Eraser[/url]

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2012 : 20:06:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">This is great for scuff marks.

Mr Clean Magic Eraser

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

And almost everything else

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2012 : 20:10:28

You'll probably need to apply a scrubby & elbow grease to get those off. Some Scrub Brite will help with the mild abrasive that's built in. Just don't get it on your clothes.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5383 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2012 : 21:20:02

Sometimes the Gel Coat gets oxidized and becomes cloudy - that can make your bootstripe appear faded as well. If it looks whitish and patchy, it could be oxidized. WM also sells a treatment for that.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/03/2012 : 05:55:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dragonf1y
 Do these products remove scuff marks? I have a few black marks on my starboard bow from a state park mooring buoy (tire).
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I've found Black Streak Remover (RV/Boat section at Walmart) removes not only black streaks, but scuff marks, bird and spider crap stains, tree sap, and a host of other stains. It's my universal cleaner.

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 07/03/2012 : 06:53:21

Does Acetone work on scuffs? I plan to use it tomorrow on the rudder where I accidently got some VC-17 above the paint line. It's safe to use on plastics and removed the black writing off a pvc tube very easily.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 07/03/2012 06:57:56

sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 07/03/2012 : 11:05:23

I just picked up some Turtle Wax polishing compound, rubbing compound, and hard shell wax (and an orbital buffer) to try to restore the shine on the gel coat on my topsides, boot stripe, and cove stripe, all of which are severely oxidized. Does anybody have any experience with or thoughts on those products?

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 07/03/2012 : 13:57:00

Seth, Turtle Wax's Carnauba Cleaner Wax ( There is a difference from regular Turtle wax) is my favorite. The only wax that I have found that puts the deep color back in the boot stripe and keeps it that way for almost the full season for me and doesn't cost but $6-7. Does a great job on the hull also with the buffer. I don't use an orbital buffer but instead I use a variable speed buffer/sander.

If its severely oxidized like my deck and cabin top was It would be an easier job to cut through the heavy stuff by wet sanding with a 3M scrubby (The least abrasive one's you can find) and a water hose running on the scrubby as you gently scrub the heavy stuff off then you can buff it to a nice shine with just the cleaner wax.

Edited by - islander on 07/03/2012 14:27:21

BCG-Woodbury
Mainsheet Editor

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USA
396 Posts

Response Posted - 07/03/2012 : 16:19:43

I went to Home Depot on my way to the boat today. I looked in the Cleaner section and they had a ZEP Commercial Grade, Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaner. I figured I couldn't go wrong and could probably return it if it didn't work. I applied some to a rag and proceeded to rub it on the stain and slime residue. It was like magic, removed all the staining and slime residue easily. A good solution for $5 but make sure you wear gloves and safety glasses. The label says "Acidic" but doesn't say what kind. Emergency care say flush woth water, which is typical of most acids.

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sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 07/03/2012 : 19:08:10

I was doing some testing/experimenting while doing my bottom job. I noticed that sanding the severely oxidized boot stripe with a rotary sander pad on my cordless drill and a 320 grit sandpaper also seemed to nicely remove the oxidation without appearing to hurt the paint. I sanded about a one foot section quickly with good results, but intend to see how the rubbing compound does first before doing any more with the sandpaper.

I have a grinder too. Do you think the grinder (with proper attachment) would be better or easier than an orbital buffer?

Edited by - on

putzmeister
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100 Posts

Response Posted - 07/04/2012 : 06:39:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by sethp001
 . . . sanding the severely oxidized boot stripe with a rotary sander pad on my cordless drill and a 320 grit sandpaper also seemed to nicely remove the oxidation without appearing to hurt the paint . . . I have a grinder too. Do you think the grinder (with proper attachment) would be better or easier than an orbital buffer?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

320 is way too coarse - you are greatly shortening the life of the gel coat. The RPMs of a grinder are too high and will generate too much heat = burning the gel coat.

This is from a pro:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-maintenance/52772-tips-compound-polish-wax.html

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 07/04/2012 : 09:29:05

On & Off should be banned from use the same as 5200, Satan's Glue!!!

O&O is dangerous stuff. I far prefer FSR for brown hull stains. Much less toxic. We have an extendable pole (bought at ACE Hardware for $12!!!) and one of the automotive windshield squeegees with the wiper on one side and the sponge on the other side, with the red handles. Unscrew the handle, screw into extendable pole, pour some FSR on the sponge side and apply to the hull. O&O is more liquid than the gel FSR and is, did I mention, way too toxic for me.

Acetone works great on black streaks.

Paint brush cleaner is far superior for cleaning white fenders than acetone.

Edited by - Stu Jackson C34 on 07/04/2012 09:31:54

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2012 : 05:51:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by BCG-Woodbury
 I went to Home Depot on my way to the boat today. I looked in the Cleaner section and they had a ZEP Commercial Grade, Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaner...I applied some to a rag and proceeded to rub it on the stain and slime residue. It was like magic, removed all the staining and slime residue easily.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yep, like magic. At the end of the season when the boat is on the hard, I'll paint the toilet bowl cleaner gel on the scumline, wait a few minutes to let it do its work while sometimes using a scrubby pad on the thick stuff, then watch the stains disappear.

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sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2012 : 06:48:06

I notice the Turtle wax can says "not for vinyl paints". I think the stripes are vinyl, right? I wonder what happens if you put in on vinyl paint.

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BCG-Woodbury
Mainsheet Editor

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USA
396 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2012 : 09:37:14

Hi Seth -

The boot stripe is right in the gelcoat on my 1984. Compounds and Waxes should be fine on it. Maybe the newer boats have a vinyl tape boot stripe.

Regards,

Edited by - on

NCBrew
Captain

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USA
338 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2012 : 14:38:01

Try "barkeepers friend" near the cleansers in the grocery store. Just put it on with a wet cloth. Do not rub. Let it sit and wipe it off. Works great on the Intercoastal brown tanic stain,

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