fiberglass stain reduction

[Hoang Vuong]

Going on a river cruise(Illinois river) and was seeing if anyone had a suggestion as to what to put on the bottom of the boat so as to reduce the amount of river water stain on the white hull. I normally keep the boat out of water when not in use.

 

[Scott Danforth]

wax

 

[Grub54891]

I simply apply three coats of flagship boat wax on the entire boat, bottom included. Makes it a lot easier to clean up later. Dull oxidized gel coat absorbes dirt. One boat I had was dark blue, oxidized badly, after much wetsanding and buffing it looks darn good now. I believe the key is keeping them clean and waxed.

 

[dingbat]

Gave up waxing the bottom to prevent “Spring” staining years ago. Easier to clean than prevent.

Pour a half bottle of cheap hull cleaner and a gallon of water in a garden sprayer. Hose down the trailer with water to prevent any staining of the galvanize then spray the bottom with the diluted hull cleaner.

Start at one end of the boat and work to the other. The hull where you started will be clean by the time you get to the other end. Hose the hull and trailer down with liberal amounts of water and your done.

Takes me less than a half hour start to finish

 

[JASinIL2006]

We boat the Illinois all the time, and preventing the discoloration is, as others have said, a waste of time. For mild discoloration, we try to wipe down the hull right after retrieving the boat at the ramp, before anything has a chance to dry. Once it has dried, or if the boat has been in the water for more than a day's outing, I've found that toilet bowl cleaner works wonders. I use the The Works from Wallyworld. Rinse the boat and trailer really well, and you're done.

 

[poconojoe]

Diluted Oxalic acid cleans real good. Most of the hull cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners that people use on their hulls contain oxalic acid.
it especially works well on those brown stains that even a pressure washer won't remove.
I buy oxalic acid in a powder form and dilute it with water. I use a garden pump sprayer to apply it and a broom to brush it then rinse. As already stated, wet down your trailer first. Especially any galvanized portions. It will discolor galvanized parts.
it is an acid and you should use proper body and respiratory protection as with any hull cleaner.

1 quart of hot water, 4 ounces oxalic acid. If you want it more paste like, add some powdered wall paper paste.
To give proper credit, I got this recipe from this article...
http://www.greendept.com/maximpulse/oxalic/