Hypalon/GRP temperature sensitivity?

[BogMonster]

As part of the "cleaning/restoring my boat" programme I suddenly had new idea this evening....

I'm shortly getting a small portable steam cleaner, not a pressure washer type but the sort of domestic unit you use for cleaning floors or stripping wallpaper, I think it cost somewhere between £50 and £100 from a DIY store when I got it while on holiday.

Would this bugger up either hypalon or GRP if used for cleaning? I didn't order it for the boat, but I suddenly wondered if it would make life easier cleaning both tubes and also the inside of the boat which is a bit grubby as well, but I don't want to risk damaging anything. How sensitive is hypalon and/or GRP to heat? I don't know what sort of temperature this would be but I doubt it's more than about 150 deg C.

Probably another dumb idea but it was a moment so I thought I'd ask

[Nos4r2]

I'm not sure I'd try it. I wouldn't want to see what'd happen if a small air bubble in the GRP or gelcoat got that hot.


I had a fair bit of success scrubbing my deck with a paste made of cheap and nasty biological washing powder and warm water.

[Limey Linda]

I would have thought that steam on hypalon was a really bad idea. Heat is the standard method of loosening up old patches, tape etc. In other words it softens the glue. Fibreglass, use 409 domestic cleaner and a scrub brush + elbow grease of course.

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

Heat is the standard method of loosening up old patches, tape etc.

Hmmm yeah good point! I might end up dismantling my tubes into their component parts! I'll keep it for the kitchen floor then...

[mdt]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I'll keep it for the kitchen floor then...

Oh Stephen you are showing us all up now… you domestic god you

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by mdt

Oh Stephen you are showing us all up now… you domestic god you

Erm - no - you haven't seen my kitchen floor

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by mdt

Oh Stephen you are showing us all up now… you domestic god you

He was showing you up anyway by trying to get his humber back to orange. Time you sent the boy out to clean up your pink boat I think

[BogMonster]

Well it has to be done. All RIBs must be orange, in the same way as all Jaguars must be dark green

And mine was more of a brown colour which isn't quite the same! Half of it still is brown, but I'm glad to say the skin on my hands is recovering well...... the other half is due to be re-oranged in the near future

[mdt]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Well it has to be done. All RIBs must be orange, in the same way as all Jaguars must be dark green

One hate to disagree but there is only one shade for a jag and it is not green but dark blue (Ecurie Ecosse)

[BogMonster]

Tut. Next thing you'll be saying it was acceptable for Jaguar to fit V8 engines instead of sixes and twelves