mtullier
Forum - Petty Officer 3rd Class
Karma: 1
Boat Name / Hull Number: Mon Reve / 449
Model Year: 1987
Home Port: Mandeville, LA
Posts: 56
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« on: October 19, 2011, 09:57:07 PM » |
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I wanted to share a project I completed about a year ago. My rub rail made my boat look dated and dirty. It was covered with creosote from pilings, deep mildew, and who knows what else. I tried many cleaners and nothing worked. I then tried acetone with fine steel wool and scrubbed. It now looks like it did in 1987. No stains at all. I was afraid it may damage the rubber and fade or make it brittle. It has been a year and continues to hold up fine & look brand new. Much less expensive than purchasing a new one from Catalina Direct.
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« Last Edit: October 19, 2011, 10:02:04 PM by mtullier »
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Mike
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Ron Hill
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« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2011, 07:38:15 PM » |
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Mike : Now what I'd suggest, ,is to put a coat of 1 Step Cleaner Wax on the vinyl. It will give it some life, help keep it clean and make the luster come back out. A thought
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Ron, Apache #788
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John Langford
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« Reply #2 on: October 26, 2011, 07:33:08 PM » |
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I find that I can get by with a bi-annual wipe with acetone using a cloth rather than an abrasive like steel wool. And Ron is right. Wax does seem to help it stay clean.
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Cheers
John
"Calypso"
MkII, #1431
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Roc
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« Reply #3 on: October 27, 2011, 07:04:10 AM » |
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Doesn't acetone react with the rub rail plastic, making it permenantly sticky?
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Roc - "Sea Life" 2000 MKII #1477
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Stu Jackson
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« Reply #4 on: October 27, 2011, 09:19:24 AM » |
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Roc, no, it dries very quickly. The wax just shines it up. I used to used acetone on fenders, but recently "discovered" ACE hardware brush & roller cleaner. Faster and easier. I, too, thought those chemicals would melt the material, but they don't.
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Stu Jackson, C34 IA Secretary, #224 1986, "Aquavite" San Francisco Bay, SR/FK, M25, Rocna 10 (22#) (NZ model)
"There is no problem so great that it can't be solved."
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Jim Hardesty
Forum - Petty Officer 1st Class
Karma: 1
Boat Name / Hull Number: Shamrock/1570 M35BC
Model Year: 2001
Home Port: Erie PA
Posts: 271
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« Reply #5 on: October 27, 2011, 09:50:16 AM » |
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Stu,
Thats what Bob Casey "This Old Boat" recommends for cleaning just about everything. Check first, some of the brush cleaners have a yellow tint that will sometimes stay on the porous surface. I highly recommend "This Old Boat" as a good DYI reference.
Jim
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Jim Hardesty
2001 MKII hull #1570 M35BC "Shamrock"
sailing Lake Erie
from Commodore Perry Yacht Club
Erie, PA
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Roc
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« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2011, 12:15:24 PM » |
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The reason I mention the softening of the plastic using acetone is because on this site, people have said they used it to clean the shore power cord, only to make it worse because the acetone left it sticky, attracting more dirt. I use this stuff called M-1 Remover, which is safe for fiberglass and plastic. Cleans just about anything, without softening the plastic. I've used it to clean the power cord and I'm sure it would work on the rub rail. http://www.d-mandbetterproducts.com/downloads/M1_TJ_Remover_Sell_Sheet.pdf |
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Roc - "Sea Life" 2000 MKII #1477
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