Topside cleaner?

[dlandersson]

Can anyone recommend a topside cleaning agent?

Prefer:

1. Easy application (and removal)
2. Fiberglass friendly
3. hull on mold spots
4. Eco-friendly

[Jim Bunnell]

Active Captain just discussed this new product - seemed to like it. I've never used it, but may well try it.

https://somethingtodoit.com/Home_Page.html

Jim

[dlandersson]

Hubba hubba - does the girl come with it?

Active Captain just discussed this new product - seemed to like it. I've never used it, but may well try it.

https://somethingtodoit.com/Home_Page.html

Jim

[Crikey]

Kinda like Peaches, and cream!

[Paul S]

http://www.por15.com/MARINE-CLEAN/productinfo/MCG/

strange, made for the automotive industry, but called Marine Clean. POR-15 product.

I cut it 5-6 to 1, so like 5+ gallons for $21. works better than, or as good, as any product I have used.

wet down the fiberglass...spray the diluted cleaner on..scrub in.. let set a minute or 2..spray off..clean, no residue or film left behind.

[bscott]

Westley's white wall tire cleaner will remove black mold, bird droppings and scuff marks on white top sides.

Bob

[Andre Emmenegger]

Probably not eco correct, but a little bleach, diluted in a bucket of water goes a long way to making the boat clean and mold free. Be sure to rinse well afterwards.

[seahouse]

Practical Sailor tested a bunch lately and liked Spray 9. They make a green version as well.

The Wal-mart Spray 9 is cheaper, and is the same formula as the "Marine" packaged type. I'll let all the rich people buy the marine version thank you very much!

-Brian.

[FinallySailing]

I can very highly recommend Ecover, they do a whole rannge of boat cleaning products (but also interior cleaners, dishwashing liquids etc...). Their products are fully biodegradable, have minimal impact on marine life. No irritating smells, no nasty ingredients, not corrosive to stainless steel etc. I've used them for a while now on my Mac (and their other stuff at home as well). Works really great and at least here in the UK their products are similar priced or cheaper than the more toxic stuff.

http://www.ecover.com/us/en/Products/Ot ... t+Wash.htm

[Divecoz]

Thanks Paul.. I forget about that product. I have about a 1/2 gallon left over from when I was cleaning the wife's MGB Engine compartment and under-body...It does work fairly well on grease and oil..I'll have to dig it out, as its packed away with automotive paint supplies...
Wonder how it will work on those dreaded black "runs" down my white hull???

http://www.por15.com/MARINE-CLEAN/productinfo/MCG/

strange, made for the automotive industry, but called Marine Clean. POR-15 product.

I cut it 5-6 to 1, so like 5+ gallons for $21. works better than, or as good, as any product I have used.

wet down the fiberglass...spray the diluted cleaner on..scrub in.. let set a minute or 2..spray off..clean, no residue or film left behind.

[Paul S]

Thanks Paul.. I forget about that product. I have about a 1/2 gallon left over from when I was cleaning the wife's MGB Engine compartment and under-body...It does work fairly well on grease and oil..I'll have to dig it out, as its packed away with automotive paint supplies...
Wonder how it will work on those dreaded black "runs" down my white hull???

http://www.por15.com/MARINE-CLEAN/productinfo/MCG/

strange, made for the automotive industry, but called Marine Clean. POR-15 product.

I cut it 5-6 to 1, so like 5+ gallons for $21. works better than, or as good, as any product I have used.

wet down the fiberglass...spray the diluted cleaner on..scrub in.. let set a minute or 2..spray off..clean, no residue or film left behind.

Very well. Haven't really found anything that it doesn't clean well. If it doesn't, you can step up a notch and use West Marine's (or other acid based cleaner) "hull cleaner". Nasty stuff, but cleans like nothing else.

But Marine clean is the only stuff I can find that can clean those plastic white strips holding the sliding hatch and the hatchboards to like new (wet, spray cleaner, scrub scrub, let stay soaked, repeat til clean) . And it makes the fiberglass look new-new bright white with no residue left behind. And is insanely inexpensive as it is not diluted.

[Québec 1]

I use 3m marine compound for heavy oxidation and scratches followed by a step 2 glaze and wax. Gets the white looking like new.

Q1

[Hardcrab]

Topside cleaner to include the non-skid areas?

Here's another set of recommendations that have worked well for us:

1.Any softscrub type kitchen cleaner along with a good, stiff hand brush gets the non-skid topsides sparkling white.

2."Woody Wax" the non skid areas following the bottle/online instructions. (available at WM)

3.Collinite Fiberglass boat cleaner followed with Collinite paste wax on the rest of the smooth topsides. (also available at WM)

4. Asprin for Elbow wax.

[Andy26M]

For the black streaks down the side I use something called "Awesome" which I get at Dollar General for a buck a bottle ($4 for a 1/2 gallon refill jug) - in fact, it cleans most anything.

Also, before I use anything, the most important tool is a pressure washer - probably 90% of the topside stuff in my experience comes off with the pressure washer, no soap or solvent needed. That includes the white strips along the side of the sliding coach roof - I just pressure wash them to like-new. Just be careful to use the minimum pressure needed and not create new leaks.

For the black gel coat stripes - I'm about to give up... anyone tried having those stripes painted over with Awlgrip?

- Andy

[Catigale]

I use the West Marine boat soap which works with both fresh and salt water - I use my off time on Cuttyhunk to clean the boat !!