Dirty Sponsons - Clean and Protect

[Mr Smiff]

Hello, Hoping for some advice please.

Our rib pretty much lives on the water from end March until October - salt water in the marina.

The sponsons are filthy and I was hoping for some advice about what I can buy to help clean them. And once they are clean, is there something I can put on to protect against UV and weather that wont make things slippery?

I found lots on Google but figured there is no substitute for asking for help from you guys as you’ll have been there, seen that, bought the tee shirt….

If I can find any way to attach a photo, I will. But for info, the dirt is general dirt and also like green mouldy dots.

Thank you for any help you can offer.

[spartacus]

You've got your work cut out there!

You're going to get a few opinions, so here's mine.

Pack of green Scotch Brite pads. Given the ingrained dirt, you might be better giving a soak with diluted TFR (traffic film remover) first. Test small area first. Wear gloves and only let it sit for a few minutes and agitate with soft bristle brush. Rinse off and treat tube sections a portion at a time with Rib Revive. Comes in 1 litre spray bottle and use in conjunction with a green pad, or stiff brush, then rinse thoroughly.

In terms of protecting, 3M make a marine conditioner for vinyl surfaces. At £30 for a 250ml tube it's not cheap. Apply with damp microfibre. Should help reduce UV damage, but regular cleans will keep on top of dirt becoming engrained. Rib Shop make something similar called Rib Conditioner.

The danger with covers is damp and mildew if you're considering that unless well ventilated which isn't practical

[User name]

I've used this "Pink Stuff" to clean up a few boats that looked even worse than yours and it was great. I used it with a wet scrubbing brush and just worked it in and after a little elbow grease it really brought the boat back to life again. I've also tried Cif/Jif or whatever it's called. It was effective, but not as good as the pink one.

I've yet to find a good UV protector that doesn't make the tubes a bit slippery though.



Not a great photo, but you can see the difference.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by User name

I've used this "Pink Stuff" to clean up a few boats that looked even worse than yours and it was great. I used it with a wet scrubbing brush and just worked it in and after a little elbow grease it really brought the boat back to life again. I've also tried Cif/Jif or whatever it's called. It was effective, but not as good as the pink one.

I've yet to find a good UV protector that doesn't make the tubes a bit slippery though.



Not a great photo, but you can see the difference.

That looks a bit like cemco we use to use it to clean fly crap off signal lenses

[User name]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

That looks a bit like cemco we use to use it to clean fly crap off signal lenses

I'm not familiar with Cemco myself but this stuff is a slightly gritty paste and you can buy it pretty much anywhere. They do a liquid version as well but I found it wasn't as good.

[User name]

Found another photo of one that cleaned up well. This boat was in really poor condition but it looked pretty good after a good cleaning.

[Kristoff]

The thing to keep in mind is that cleaners like pink stuff are abrasives. Yes they will remove dirt and grime, but they also key the surface, so dirt and grime clings on better next time, so gets dirtier faster. Keep at it again and again and you will damage the PCV.

The best thing to do is clean a rib from new with non abrasive cleaners and protect the tubes with something like Aerospace 303. That is a bit slippery but imo its the best at what it does.

We don't live in a perfect world though and if a boat is dirty, then its dirty. Only an abrasive cleaner might get it back to clean. So use what you need to use but start with the less abrasive options first, would be my advice.

[User name]

In theory, some more aggressive abrasives maybe could damage the PVC, but this pink stuff doesn't.

Having used actual sandpaper of various grades on PVC for repairs, I think it would take an extremely abrasive cleaner to do any kind of damage at all tbh. P600 barely dulls the surface and that's many times more abrasive than this cleaner.

[Johno99]

I use Starbrite rib and fender cleaner and protector. I’ve tried many cleaners and chemicals and I’m pleased with this, it cleans well and leaves and good protecting finish.

[Wightdiver]

Fairy power spray and 303 Aerospace protectant

[lakelandterrier]

What works for me is Ribstore Toobshine to clean the tubes - apply with green scouring pad and rinse off before it dries in small sections, and HypaTech tube proctector- it does not make the tubes too slippery,

[jonp]

Originally Posted by Johno99

I use Starbrite rib and fender cleaner and protector. I’ve tried many cleaners and chemicals and I’m pleased with this, it cleans well and leaves and good protecting finish.

I use starbrite products too and been very happy with the results. When people buy a product advertised safe to on plastics etc you at least have some sort of backup if these products damage your tubes. That could be through the company or your own insurance. Ive seen on forums where people have use the wrong things to clean and protect their boats which have resulted in damaged tubes and even dissolving the glues. At least if something goes wrong you have used what's recommended for purpose.

I also use aerospace 303 uv protectants which don't remain greacy once dried.