Best tube cleaner?

[Tarbh]

Hi,

I've just just discovered that Ribnet have forums!, even after buying a boat advertised on this site and after reading various bits 'n pieces over the last few months....
Anyway, apologies if this has been asked before, but can anyone recommend the best cleaner / colour restorer for the dark blue tubes of my Ribtec.

Cheers
Tarbh

[Alan]

I think this question has been asked before so have a search. I can recommend a product called "RIBSHINE", just used it to clean up a RIB prior to sale and it was brilliant. Needs a fair amount of elbow grease though. I used a pan scourer to apply and washed off with plenty of water. I think its fairly widely available in chandlery's but I bought mine from a company called SEM in Essex.

Cheers,
Alan

[sea rabbit]

I have just had terrific success with Polymarine's Cleaner - it has transformed a very dirty mid grey boat into a yellow boat! It comes in 500ml bottles and I have had to use four so far to clean the interior and the above waterline. I reckon that I will nedd another few yet - then they do a finish to top it off....

[Mike Garside]

Wow! Sounds good stuff. If it will turn Magellan Alpha's grey tubes into yellow ones like Hot Lemon's I gotta get some. Wonder how it works???

[LURCHER]

Polymarine one is excellent , if you do it on a hot day it is even better! Use nylon scourer then treat with Polymarine finish to seal it .

[sea rabbit]

Mmmm - having just cleaned my boat on a very hot day I found that you have to work on small areas at a time, otherwise the cleaner tends to dry out and go streaky. Obviously the effects of this cleaner are better on a coloured material. Have just ordered some more...

[Alan Priddy]

You are all paying through the nose for something that can be purchased in any hardwear store!

Tips for the day

1.
Nothing will clean the tubes like a bucket of hot water and a healthy dose of sugar soap.
( if you want to save time wipe the tubes with Bostick thinners before moving on to the next tip)

2.
You should make inquiries about a "special secret sealer " that can be obtained on the black market. JK knows about it along with most of the boys and girls from Northern Ireland.

[John Kennett]

For cleaning (tubes, GRP, car and just about anything else) I use a product called Selsolv which is available from cleaning supplies shops. It costs a fraction of the price of any boat specific product and works a treat.

As for the special sealer, I'm afraid I am sworn to silence unless Alan P decides to share the secret! It does work though . . .

John

[Charles]

What's this 'sworn to silence' all about then?

[nigelt]

What do we have to do to find out??

[Alan Priddy]

Cross my palm with silver or buy me loads of beer!

[Charles]

You will suck us dry at this rate

[thewavehumper]

It's obviusly information that is on a ' need to know basis' and I need to know. So what are you having Alan