cleaning transoms & Decks

[Chris]

Before I posted this I did a search on the subject and did not find much so I feel safe that I wont start another unecessary been said before homebrew tube cleaner type thread

My transom is dirty and stained from years of oil and grease from the engine also the deck in front of the transom is similar.

What tools and / or products do you guys use to clean up these areas?

Chris

[Hightower]

At a guess, some fine abrasive paste and a polishing mop. There are some specific ones around that deal with Gel coat. I use one from Scotch 3M, it's not the cheapest, but certaily gives a high gloss finish.

[BassBoy]

Try starting with a srubbing brush and Fairy non bio.......honest!
It's a powerful emulsifier, fairly harmless and masses cheaper than anything from your local swindlary!

I would try non abbrasives first and then work your way up to the belt sander!

There are loads of oxalic acid based products for shifting rust stains. I like Y10 because it's in gel form and sticks to vertical surfaces.

Good luck

[bedajim]

Have a look on ebay for oxalic acid

And some gloves

[Hightower]

Do it the way other people suggest if it's easier, but I bet if it's that bad an abrasive paste is what you'll end up using.

[BassBoy]

BedJ is right about the gloves depending on what concentration of acid is in the product. Y10 is relatively benign though.

I you want to spend a few quid , then you could try 'Detersil' from Veneziani. (Gloves a must!) Not oxalic but very powerful detergent. Available from Steve Hodges at Bare Marine, Shamrock Quay.

[Slaphead]

I agree with Hightower. Use something like Cif and a green scouring pad then
3M Yacht Fibreglass Restorer. It will cut out rust/oil marks down to like new gelcoat. Not cheap though- about £15 a 500ml bottle.

[Hightower]

This is what I use. I asked Steve Curtis when polishing the bottom of a 225 Four stroke Honda series racing boat what he was using. He showed me his first aid kit for hulls and consisted of Gelcoat and hardener, this 3M paste, an angle grinder polishing tool (lower RPM than a proper angle grinder) wet and dry of various grades, very basic stuff really.

[Slaphead]

I used a Sealey polishing machine and plenty of farecla G3 to go from this...to this.

[Hightower]

And plenty of elbow grease

[BogMonster]

I cleaned the mess of oil and grease off my transom the other day with some Jizer (degreasing stuff) and a scourer and considering I didn't put much elbow grease into it, it came up quite well.

[Chris]

Thanks Guys as I expected some great ideas and lots of people recommending products that are probably lethal. It would not be a RIBnet cleaning thread without

[Tim M]

To re-iterate what everyone else has said, try washing-up liquid first. I would try some diluted tfr as well - normally does the job for grease etc.

For staining pick up a polisher on ebay. I recommend the Silverline ones. Get some decent Farcia foam compounding heads, and some decent cutting compound - I use Aquabuff 2000. When compounding keep the surface wet by spraying water on with a plant sprayer - it makes it easier and you get a nicer finish. Follow this with some decent wax/polish with a softer polishing head. The results can be amazing.

[Chris]

The outer face of my transom is actually very good the inner face is what is stained and this is not a glossy finish but rather a rougher finish so I don't think the ideas that involve using wet and dry etc will have as much affect.

I think I will start with the Jif and scourer idea and see where that gets me.

Cheers All

[Stig]

sorry meant to start new thread, couldn't work out out how to delete post

[Hightower]

Just the sort of thing you'd expect from the Stig! Can't use public transport very well either.....Can you?

[Slaphead]

Just to add to what Tim M has said, if you're using an electric polishing pad/compound and water, wear something like an old waterproof oversuit and goggles because splatter gets everywhere!

[Chris]

spent some time today on the transom and can safely say that CIF and the scouring pad won by a mile.

Cheers Hightower!