cleaning the oxidation from tubes

Stephen · 17 April 2002, 09:40

My RIB has dark blue tubes which have oxidised over the four years since they were new. I have cleaned off the chalky residue with washing up liquid but the tubes just don't look all that pretty any more.
Is there anything I can do? is the oxidation just on the surface or is the colour now permanently gone?
Can anyone help me by suggesting any magic products they have used to clean/protect the rubes on their RIB?

Alan · 17 April 2002, 10:27

Try "inflatable boat cleaner" from Inflatable Boat Supplies in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex. Works OK but needs LOTS of elbow grease!

HTH, Alan

GED · 17 April 2002, 10:34

I had the same problem this year!
what I used was a commercial hand cleaner with grit in it, rubbing it well in to the tubes even using a scrubbing brush on the heavy stuff. After this a good jet wash, then use a good fender or tube cream and buff well.
It took me all day on my 8mtr. rib but it now looks like new again.
Good luck!!!!
p.s. take the next day off you'll need it.

Garygee · 17 April 2002, 19:43

Hi folks

Forget expenisve cleaners we use cheap cream bathroom cleaner.
It is very slightly abrasive, has a built in detergant and is cheap.
The only slight down side is it takes plenty in rinsing to get rid of the chalky powder,but it works and is cheap.

The other thing athat are worth their weight in gold are the green pan scrubs. Not the metal ones but the plastic ones.

These above also work wonders on dull or dirty fiberglass

Regards Gary

Mike Garside · 08 May 2002, 20:01

Regretably now, I gave a small patch of the grey hypalon of my tube a scrub, as suggested by Garry, with a green scratchy thing and some Jiff. The result is brilliant - and so I have now spent a whole day doing the rest of it and am now totally knackered. But the result is great.

However, it still throws up a question from me. The worst oxidation came off the hard black rubber rubbing strake - the bit that leaves those nasty black marks on the other boats that come along side.

Has any one tried any sort of product that I can treat this rubber with to stop it leaving black marks on other boats, my tender and me? Tyre wall black is probably not the right answer, I guess. But there must be something I can rub on the wretched thing to stop it marking things so badly...

Keith Hart · 08 May 2002, 20:19

By the way that slightly abrasive kitchen cleaner is good for getting the odd small scratch off your car paint.

Keith (top tip) Hart

erico · 10 May 2002, 09:50

Has anybody ever heard of using WD40 ...I was told by my PVC window supplier to use it to clean the pvc sills and frames and they came up like new.....so I tryed it on a older rib I have and it came up well...just wondering what the long term affect might have...?

Erico

Garygee · 10 May 2002, 12:18

Hi folks

Think I would be a little worried what WD40 would do to the glue holding the boat toghther as well as the tubes ?.

Anyone know how Hyperlon & the glue would react.

Regards Gary

Mike Garside · 11 May 2002, 04:48

Got a helpful reply from Henshaws. They recommend using 3M Inflatable Boat Polish - "available from most chandlers". Will get some, try it and report back.

Brian · 13 May 2002, 10:01

OK you guys ... this needs a womens touch !

What is needed to clean tubes, hulls, cabin, decks or anything else you may have is .. a small amount of warm water, a medium amount of Flash liquid (I prefer Scottish Heather fragrance!) and a LARGE amount of elbow grease. Using a Zim (sponge one side and nylon scourer the other) dip into the water and Flash solution, then scrub like crazy and rinse thoroughly with clean water.

What could be easier?

Anyone who wants a demonstation, please trailer your boat to Paignton and I will gladly oblige!!

Christine Elliott

Mike Garside · 13 May 2002, 12:52

Sounds good Christine.

If we make it round to Plymouth this weekend, will you come along with Brian and do us a demo there and then?

Wondered how Cyanide looked so bright and clean. Now I know!

Cheers

Mike

Charles · 13 May 2002, 13:13

Quote:

Wondered how Cyanide looked so bright and clean. Now I know!

Hmmmm, I'm not so sure about that one, maybe she was not the RIB I was on at Cardiff

Possibly because Christine did not come along?

Alan · 13 May 2002, 19:41

since I'm leaving Blue Ice with you for a few weeks you've have plenty of time for the 'ol elbow grease

Ops. thats me banned from Elliott towers for a while I guess!

See you over the weekend.

Alan

RubberJonny · 13 May 2002, 20:15

We too have a rib with dark blue tubes and revive it with Armour-all. We have had the rib 3 years and it hasn't lost any of its colour yet! It may revive the colour but it won't last for ever.
Don't do the wear or step patches as it can make them slippy.

Rubber (I love the smell of latex) Johnny