Removing Sunbleach Staining.

[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.

[Alice]

Here are some pics.

[J S]

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]

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]

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

[codprawn]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.