Removing Sunbleach Staining.

Alice · 09 March 2006, 17:25

I'm sure that this has been covered before, but. We have a dear little Quicksilver 2.3m hard transom tender. I foolishly left it uncovered for most of the wnter and it's now in a bit of a state. The topside of the tubes are a sort of horrible browny/yellow colour and have become almost sticky. I assume that the tubes are PVC on these things. Does anyone know the best way to remove the staining? Thanks.

Alice · 09 March 2006, 18:39

Here are some pics.

J S · 09 March 2006, 19:13

Hi Alice

I have a Zodiac and i have used Cif Cream on rust stains and these are pretty hard to remove. I apply with those sponges you get with a slightly rougher side. This method seems to remove rust stains. But I am not sure what it will do on sunbleach stains as i have not had experience of that.

James

codprawn · 09 March 2006, 19:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice

I'm sure that this has been covered before, but. We have a dear little Quicksilver 2.3m hard transom tender. I foolishly left it uncovered for most of the wnter and it's now in a bit of a state. The topside of the tubes are a sort of horrible browny/yellow colour and have become almost sticky. I assume that the tubes are PVC on these things. Does anyone know the best way to remove the staining? Thanks.

Sun staining in winter in Britain???

Didn't leave it under some trees did you?

Alice · 09 March 2006, 19:45

Well, late summer, Autumn leading into winter. Trees were nearish but I don't think were a factor.

codprawn · 09 March 2006, 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice

Well, late summer, Autumn leading into winter. Trees were nearish but I don't think were a factor.

You would be suprised - I have seen these kinds of boat left out in the Med all summer with no probs.

Looks like tree sap or something - maybe even creosote from a fence being sprayed?

BOG RAT · 10 March 2006, 06:01

I've done the same in the past with my rib I think the yellowing was some trees not too far away, I also had black dots, & heavy staining, all over my RIB.
I went to a local haulage depot, & asked them how they clean their trucks and the curtains on their tautliner trailers, as they seem to be made with the same sort of stuff that rib tubes are made from, and they use stuff called T.F.R. Traffic Film Remover.
The chap gave me a bit, and it's "BLIMMIN BRILL STUFFl" he told where to buy it locally, & I use it now & then, to clean the hard to shift crap of me RIB,
but after that, I always put on some inflatable& fender cleaner, from towsure, & me tubes shine like new.
Jif, or what ever they call it now, is quite good too but not as good as TFR.

roycruse · 10 March 2006, 07:37

Ribshine is what I used to clean up my old humber - amazing stuff looked like a new boat when I had finished.

Bit of elbow grease is required though and dont do it in direct sunlight and have a hose pipe ready and rinse regularly.

If you let it dry on the boat it can cause a streaking effect. Do a small area at a time and rinse as you go.

Tim M · 10 March 2006, 11:21

If it's grease I would try white spirit and or hot water with lots of washing up liquid. That should get the sticky stuff off. Then clean it with cream cleaner and a pan scourer.....

Rodan · 10 March 2006, 14:06

303 aerospace protectant. just bought a few different ones to try so I think this is a pretty good verdict...

verdict - Inflatable Boat and Fender cleaner to clean, supposed to leave a good finish but instead then use the 303. Looks brand new - cannot say enough about this stuff. TFT would probably do the cleaning job.

Also for the rubber deck grip - armour all. Wonderfull, looks like new and once soaked in it is still grippy.

roycruse · 10 March 2006, 14:12

I also use 303 to protect and shine after cleaning. It is excelent...

I wouldnt mind getting hold of some of this Traffic Film Remover they use to clean trucks - does anyone know where you can buy it - preferably on line...

codprawn · 10 March 2006, 14:23

Is there a machine mart near you? Stuff tends to be heavy in 25l drums.

Alice · 10 March 2006, 15:25

Partco sell it, the Swarfega branded stuff in the orange cans is the best I've used. Be wary of using it neat though, it's nasty stuff. Avoid the concentrate in sachets, it's poor by comparison. Roy, @ £25 for 25ltrs to buy, the postage would be as much as the TFR to by it online!

Dino · 10 March 2006, 15:37

I've used TFR for years now but do be careful with the dilution,start with 60% water and 40% tfr and keep rinsing,make it stronger for stubborn stains,if you leave it it will stain!.Do wear gloves as this stuff will open your skin and cause sores!! All that said though I wouldn't use anything else and then to finish "back to black" or some other proprietary plastic conditioner.Avoid "marine" products if you want to save money.

Alice · 19 April 2006, 19:10

Ok, finally got around to dealing with our mucky little QS 2.3m. Neat TFR spayed on and scrubbed with a metal pan scourer brought it up like new. I did it a panel at a time and rinsed before it got close to drying. I'll post a pic.

Alice · 19 April 2006, 21:51

Looking a lot nicer.

BOG RAT · 20 April 2006, 18:48

Looking good - Bet your arm aches now. Fancy coming over to do mine now?

Alice · 20 April 2006, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOG RAT

Looking good - Bet your arm aches now. Fancy coming over to do mine now?

I'll send you my scrubber!

Mollers · 17 July 2009, 09:54

The 2.3 has had another TFR birthday after more months of neglect. DHD and myself spent about 40mins attacking it with scotchbrite pads and dilute TFR. We then went over it with 303. It really is like a new'un now.

Treated it to a nice 5hp Tosshatsoo, she'll plane one-up at 12knots.

bedajim · 17 July 2009, 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

The 2.3 has had another TFR birthday after more months of neglect. DHD and myself spent about 40mins attacking it with scotchbrite pads and dilute TFR. We then went over it with 303. It really is like a new'un now.

Treated it to a nice 5hp Tosshatsoo, she'll plane one-up at 12knots.

Feck me you've joined them

hope you had gloves on, next you'll be swapping your favourite pesto sauce recipes with one of the nobbers