Rib Deep Cleaning

[Donie]

Hi,
My Zodiac Pro Open needs a good deep clean as the tubes are looking very grubby. I tried the end of a bottle of August Race Rib Cleaner that a friend gave me and it worked okay. It needed a 4 or 5 applications and a hard scrub to work. I’ve read on here that Traffic Film Remover diluted 50:50 is good. Is it okay for a PVC Zodiac rib?
Also, the rubbing strake is almost black with what looks like mould. Can anyone recommend something to clean this please? I heard acetone might work. What about bleach if it is mould?

[jeffstevens763@g]

TFR works well on PVC with mold I did a honwave which was green all over and black spots

[Iron Dials]

Hi Donie,
This is what I use. Don’t know if you’ve tried it.
https://www.chmarine.com/Pro-Marine-Ribshine-Cleaner/

I’ve used TFR but was never really sure about correct mix ratio, rinse TFR off promptly, something about prolonged exposure not being great for tubes/adhesive.

The ribshine rib cleaner works really well, after lockdown my boat was destroyed by seagulls but a couple of goes with this and elbow grease brought it up really well. Then apply Aerospace 303 (Ribshine also have a polish product) and you should end up with a great finish.

[spartacus]

Rib Revive from Rib Shop. Worked wonders on my Ribcraft 4.8 which I thought was pretty clean already. Spray on, work in with a green scourer until it foams up and rinse off. Honestly has come up like new.

Can't pinpoint the active ingredients, but have smelt something before very similar. It's an irritant, so wear gloves when using it.
Rib Revive - Rib & inflatable boat tube cleaner

Avoid solvents such as acetone unless you know what you are doing would be my advice.

[Donie]

Thanks folks,
A friend did his Ribcraft 4.8 with Rib Revive and had great results. The main concern is the rubbing strake. Nothing seems to work on it.

[Tim.H]

Hi Donie,
My futura rubbing strake was similar to yours, almost black in places. I tried the August race spot off to no real success, Peter at August race suggest carefully using petrol and it worked to some degree but not great. Today I tried (rightly or wrongly) a very small amount of MEK carefully applied with a small sponge and it worked brilliantly. And used august race uv protector afterwards.
I'll probably go to the boat tomorrow and find it melted in a heap on the floor!

[Donie]

Hi folks, the traffic film remover was a huge success. 5 litres for €17.50 and I mixed it 50:50 with water. It worked in a very similar way to the August Race so I’m guessing they are a close relation.
The rubbing strake is still an issue but I tried the August Race Mould Cleaner and it took maybe 20-30% of the mould off after two applications. I’ll try another few applications to see if it keeps removing it.
Might give the whole rib another once over with a hot pressure washer as I read somewhere that warm water helps the TFR to work.
Thanks for your help.
D

[gtflash]

Acetone.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Donie

Hi folks, the traffic film remover was a huge success. 5 litres for €17.50 and I mixed it 50:50 with water. It worked in a very similar way to the August Race so I’m guessing they are a close relation.
The rubbing strake is still an issue but I tried the August Race Mould Cleaner and it took maybe 20-30% of the mould off after two applications. I’ll try another few applications to see if it keeps removing it.
Might give the whole rib another once over with a hot pressure washer as I read somewhere that warm water helps the TFR to work.
Thanks for your help.
D

Careful with the pressure wash, you’ll lift a seam or blister the material. Softly softly catchee monkey.

[Donie]

Don’t worry Dave, my rib is a 1998 boat and I’m not sure if the tubes were ever replaced. I never pressure wash the seams. I’m really just using the hot wash to try to activate the TFR better and to clean the deck.

[Iankristy]

Polymarine uv protector is amazing on rubbing strake. Comes up shiny and new