Stain Removal on Rotomolded Kayaks

[Mark]

One of the things I've noticed with Hobie's new slate color is that it shows water stains more than my old olive-colored Revo. Given frequent algae blooms this year and muddy waters my Revo was looking a little nasty, especially on the textured edges of the gunwales. Further, the stains were not coming off with a rinsing of freshwater from the hose, even when I applied elbow grease with a rag. I tried Turtle Wax Zip Wax carwash. That didn't work. I tried a little baking soda and vinegar. That helped but it did not completely remove the stains. I was about ready to assume the slate color was prone to permanent stains. Then I tried Dawn dish detergent. Bingo. That cleaned the boat to like-new condition. I was pleasantly surprised at the results.

Obviously, fish don't care if my boat is stained. But I cared. Have others here discovered a good cleaner for their boats?

[J.A. Veil]

Mark -

I have not tried anything other than water and a scrub brush on my kayaks. I have had some tough stains on the flooring of my center console boat. I moisten the area, apply some Barkeepers Friend powdered cleaner, scrub a bit, let sit for a minute or two, and rinse. It does a remarkable job of removing stains. It also removes rust stains from stainless steel.

The active ingredient is probably harsher than Dawn detergent (a favorite of persons who try to clean spilled oil from water birds), but if you have a really stubborn stain, give Barkeepers Friend a try.

[Mark]

Thanks John.

Good suggestion.

I was beginning to wonder if I was the only guy here who washes his kayak!

[kevinfry]

Thanks John.

Good suggestion.

I was beginning to wonder if I was the only guy here who washes his kayak!

One of the few...[emoji1]

Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk

[croaker d]

I use magic erasers to get any stains off of my kayaks that acts like it doesn't want to come off. Then I'll go to the good ole soap and after I remove the stains!!! Works great...

[john from md]

I have used Invisible Glass window cleaner and it works pretty good. Wally World sells it in the auto section. It is a spray foam so it gets into the crevices on my OC Trident.

[Mark]

Croaker D, John,

Thank you.

I have both of those products stored under the kitchen sink and I never even thought about using them.

Now I know.

[ronaultmtd]

After catfishing in Mattawoman, I use a heavy solution of Tide with Oxieclean...and I use a soft bristle boat brush vigorously on the scumlines, not so much on my decals, but at the waterline...on the top and inside the cockpit it is a big sponge scrubbing with the suds...then I use a Black and Decker electric leaf blower to blow dry Lady Luck before putting her in her cradle in my equipment barn...because I have the side scan transducer cover I turn the boat over, remove the cover and clean the sand and silt out around the transducer a few times a year...if you don’t do that you will notice the unit acting up from the interference of the signal...

[Mark]

Thanks Ron. Scumline is a better descriptive term. I was calling it my bathtub ring.

I bet Lady Luck appreciates the bath after her bouts with those slimy cats you catch.

[mchottie]

Mark - I read on facebook or another forum, I use LA's Totally Awesome All Purpose Concentrated Cleaner its available in 20 or 22oz spray bottle at DOLLAR TREE and they also sell 20 or 32oz refills for $1.

Ivory Dune doesn't show the small marks, but that SCUMLINE sticks out like a sore thumb.

[john from md]

Has anyone dared to enter the "chocolate syrup" which is the South River today. I definitely wouln't let that stuff dry on my hull for sure!

[Mark]

Mark - I read on facebook or another forum, I use LA's Totally Awesome All Purpose Concentrated Cleaner its available in 20 or 22oz spray bottle at DOLLAR TREE and they also sell 20 or 32oz refills for $1.

Ivory Dune doesn't show the small marks, but that SCUMLINE sticks out like a sore thumb.

Thanks Michael.

Can't beat the price on that.

PS -- Clear your PM file. I tried to send you a message and couldn't.

[mchottie]

Has anyone dared to enter the "chocolate syrup" which is the South River today. I definitely wouln't let that stuff dry on my hull for sure!

I think the best bet for the next week or two will be launching from the Eastern Shore.

Mark - I cleared my entire PM Box. I mean to link up with you last week when we returned from Savannah, but life always seems to have me avoiding fishing.

[ronaultmtd]

Even the waters down south have some scum...cleaned Lady Luck this morning with big bucket of suds from yesterday’s fishing trip at St. Jerome’s Creek...and it needed a good scrubbing...the scum is pretty easy to get off if you regularly clean your kayak, but I would not want to let it bake on in these temps and then try it..

[Mark]

Mark - I cleared my entire PM Box. I mean to link up with you last week when we returned from Savannah, but life always seems to have me avoiding fishing.

Thanks Michael.

PM sent.