
Best hull cleaning fluid
Best hull cleaning fluid
Can one use Jif without damage to the hull? For plastic baths after all. 

the other half
- Silkie
- Admiral of the Fleet
- Posts: 3493
- Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 12:55 pm
- Boat Type: Hurley 22
- Location: Bonnie Scotland
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Re: Best hull cleaning fluid
Some say it's too coarse and maybe it is for a 2012 model but I've used it almost every year for the past 9 on my now 40yo hull and haven't noticed any ill effects. I follow up with oxalic acid and cheap car wax and it looks as good as new - nearly.



different colours made of tears
Re: Best hull cleaning fluid
The past two years I have used blue Harpic as recommended by the yacht club bosun removes all the brown and green waterline staining very effectively. Again though on an older boat, Rival 32.
- Silkie
- Admiral of the Fleet
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- Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 12:55 pm
- Boat Type: Hurley 22
- Location: Bonnie Scotland
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Re: Best hull cleaning fluid
I have also used the Harpic limescale remover (hydrochloric acid based IIRC) but the oxalic works out even cheaper if someone gives you a large tub of crystals - thanks Puddock. 

different colours made of tears
- mm5aho
- Old Salt
- Posts: 918
- Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:40 pm
- Boat Type: Rival 32
- Location: West Lothian
- Contact:
Re: Best hull cleaning fluid
I make my own brew.
Its Oxalic acid and green Fairy Liquid.
Take 3 tables spoons of powdered Oxalic acid crystals, add to about 200ml hot water and dissolve. Add 100ml fairly liquid. (amounts are approx and not critical).
Mix. It makes a green brew that's like dilute detergent.
Using a scrubbing brush on the decks and a cloth (gloves advised) for vertical surfaces, scrub some on, and work up a lather. The lather helps to see what's been done and what not. Leave the lather on, don't rinse immediately.
Leave it for 20 mins (best not done in hot sunny weather, so recipe safe in Scotland!), then hose off.
This cleans all scum marks from hull, brown staining, rust marks, etc and gerenal grime, and whitens very well.
It doesn't remove the black scuff marks that the rubber seams on our dinghy make! We use Chemico for that. Its similar to Jif, only pink and sold pastelike stuff rather than liquid. Its a mild abrasive.
Its Oxalic acid and green Fairy Liquid.
Take 3 tables spoons of powdered Oxalic acid crystals, add to about 200ml hot water and dissolve. Add 100ml fairly liquid. (amounts are approx and not critical).
Mix. It makes a green brew that's like dilute detergent.
Using a scrubbing brush on the decks and a cloth (gloves advised) for vertical surfaces, scrub some on, and work up a lather. The lather helps to see what's been done and what not. Leave the lather on, don't rinse immediately.
Leave it for 20 mins (best not done in hot sunny weather, so recipe safe in Scotland!), then hose off.
This cleans all scum marks from hull, brown staining, rust marks, etc and gerenal grime, and whitens very well.
It doesn't remove the black scuff marks that the rubber seams on our dinghy make! We use Chemico for that. Its similar to Jif, only pink and sold pastelike stuff rather than liquid. Its a mild abrasive.
Geoff.
"Contender" Rival 32: Roseneath in winter, Mooring off Gourock in summer.
"Contender" Rival 32: Roseneath in winter, Mooring off Gourock in summer.
- claymore
- Admiral of the Green
- Posts: 4231
- Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2003 2:55 pm
- Boat Type: Claymore
- Location: Ardfern or Lancashire
Re: Best hull cleaning fluid
Gentlemen, Gentlemen - please. What will the honourable members of the Royal Highland be thinking? Can we stick to Marine products please in our discussions - this talk of Chemico and Home brewed products makes it all seem a bit PBO if you get my drift......
Regards
Claymore

Claymore

Re: Best hull cleaning fluid
Thanks everyone for your input. If the weather ever clears up I will give it a go with one or other of your ideas.


the other half
-
- Able Seaman
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 12:27 pm
- Boat Type: Westerley Centaur
- Location: Me: Dumfries, Boat; Gareloch
Re: Best hull cleaning fluid
garredfox wrote:Thanks everyone for your input. If the weather ever clears up I will give it a go with one or other of your ideas.
Chine shine works very well for removing the brown stains from the hull. Just roll on and wash off.
We, in dreams, behold the Hebrides
- wully
- Yellow Admiral
- Posts: 1115
- Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:29 pm
- Boat Type: sailie boatie
- Location: Argyll - where else?
Re: Best hull cleaning fluid
claymore wrote: What will the honourable members of the Royal Highland be thinking? .
This (not very honer-rabble) member is thinking he will do the same as last year and no bother cleaning his hull...
Re: Best hull cleaning fluid
Silkie wrote:.... I've used it almost every year for the past 9 on my now 40yo hull and haven't noticed any ill effects. I follow up with oxalic acid and cheap car wax
I see you've brought same to the market:

Is exchanging the "ie" for a "y" just a clumsy attempt at circumventing yer rights? bastards ..
I bought couple orra packs fer bilge cleaning at the London boat show yesterday .. would have bought more if my man-servant hadn't been engaged elsewhere.
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- Able Seaman
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 5:45 pm
- Boat Type: Vega
- Location: East Kilbride & Dalmarnock Railway Bridge
Re: Best hull cleaning fluid
Caravan cleaner from the supermarket Aldi is very good at removing water marks, stains and oxidation from the hull without harming the paintwork. Also very cheap.



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