Black spots on tubes

[codprawn]

REALLY REALLY annoyed. Some idiot has managed to splash my boat with some black stuff that is a bitch to remove. There are about 15 small spots around the bow - also some matching spots on the pontoon but nowhere else!!! No boats have been painted or anything - total mystery to me.

Stuff looks a bit like bitumen or black waxoyl or similar. Getting it off is a nightmare. Nothing seems to work very well. Gunwash seems to soften it a bit but does the same to the tubes. Then need to scrape it with a blunt knife. Whatever it is seems to have etched it's way down into the tubes. Some doing as hypalon is very chemical resistant.

Any ideas - don't want to wreck my lovely blue tubes!!!

[mhb100]

Hi

you can get some tar remover stuff from Halfords that works really well on the hull, but suggest you wax afterwards!. Not sure about chemical compatibility on the tubes may need to be careful....I think i've seen a thread before on this problem so might me worth searching...


Mark

[mhb100]

....forgot to say the other option might be some traffic film remover stuff (can also get at halfords,etc) which i dont think is anywhere as strong as the tar remover stuff

cheers
Mark

[codprawn]

i tried traffic film remover which did nothing - I don't know if tar remover will work if gunwash doesn't - just had an idea though - I remember WD40 is great at removing tar - wonder what it does to hypalon??? Or maybe some petrol.

[steve b]

Originally Posted by codprawn

REALLY REALLY annoyed. Some idiot has managed to splash my boat with some black stuff that is a bitch to remove. There are about 15 small spots around the bow - also some matching spots on the pontoon but nowhere else!!! No boats have been painted or anything - total mystery to me.

Stuff looks a bit like bitumen or black waxoyl or similar. Getting it off is a nightmare. Nothing seems to work very well. Gunwash seems to soften it a bit but does the same to the tubes. Then need to scrape it with a blunt knife. Whatever it is seems to have etched it's way down into the tubes. Some doing as hypalon is very chemical resistant.

Any ideas - don't want to wreck my lovely blue tubes!!!

Dont laugh

try butter rub in and it wiil disolve tar and grease

it worked on my old rib

[Cypman]

I have found that CAREFUL use of Acetone will remove most stains on Hypalon. However, don't let it remain on the surface for long and keep it away from glued areas.

[Mollers]

If it is Bitumen or some sort of oil derivitive then Methylene Chloride (dichloromethane) is this stuff.( Nope, I didn't google that.) It should be ok on the tubes, but best check on a hidden area first eh.

[codprawn]

Surely gunwash would dissovle bitumen though? Just had a horrible thought - it may be some sort of coal tar epoxy.

[Nasher]

Sounds like the seagulls have been on the Guiness.

Nasher.

[fred bolton]

Originally Posted by codprawn

i tried traffic film remover which did nothing - I don't know if tar remover will work if gunwash doesn't - just had an idea though - I remember WD40 is great at removing tar - wonder what it does to hypalon??? Or maybe some petrol.

Petrol should work fine with don't forget to ignite it though, if possible lead a trail of petrol to the fuel tank this fall back measure will leave the entire boat looking pristine in charcoal black you didn't really like the blue did you