Advice on Cleaning Exhaust Fume Stains

[Jimmylee]

I have a question for the group. Back in March we stayed the night at Cap Sante and I didn't notice as we tied up that an existing large fender secured to the dock was aligned smack dab in front of the wallas exhaust. Of course we ran the stove all night to keep the cabin toasty and the stove ran just fine.

Well the exhaust left an area of blackish to grey coloring on the fiberglass in the area of the exhaust. Last night I tried to clean it with some Zap boat wash and lots of elbow grease. It removed a good bit of it, but not all of it. Does anyone have any recommendations on a good cleaner to help remove this???

Thanks in advance.

Chip

[Sea Wolf]

Jimmylee-

I'd try to rub it out a bit with some mild polishing compound, and if that doesn't work, some more aggressive rubbing compound.

The problem here may be that carbon particles, if they are down in the gel coat, are generally inert and not easily soluble in most solvents. Lacquer thinner might be helpful here, however, if they're not too deep and are partially combusted hydrocarbon compounds, and not just carbon particles.

Joe.

[flrockytop]

The answer may be the same as what I put here
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=11901

When I had my twin diesel charter boat the stern would soot up from the black fumes. I would spray on some phosphoric acid and let it sit for awhile. Then a little elbo grease with a bursh and the stern was a white as snow white. it may work on your problem as well.

Roger

[Matt Gurnsey]

Pro Products has a non corrosive cleaner / degreaser that works really well on diesel exhaust sot.

Look here:

http://www.prowax.com/degreaser.shtml

Their boat wax is also super good stuff.