Boat Soap...the GREAT rip off

SEA3PO · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 4:08 pm Post subject: Boat Soap...the GREAT rip off

I bought a gallon of concentrated Boat Soap...from Starbrite (West Marine) and it was listed at $49.99 (I didn't pay that) and today the label came off.....and amazing what I found under the label.....
it is ProValue Blue Dish Detergent ....available at Smart&Final for under $15.... what a rip-off.... all they did was put a label over the dish soap and write a neat description of special boat soap...

Ya think you are buying something special for cleaning fiberglass and all it is is dish soap.....What a Rip

Joel
SEA3PO

Byrdman · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 4:15 pm Post subject:

Well Joel do tell.... how did it clean?? Mr. Green

james · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 4:15 pm Post subject:

Wonder if the purchasers at west marine know this.

it will make me think twice before I ever buy starbrite products again.
always thought "starbrite" name sounded hoky.
remember "spark o matic" ? reminds me of that..LOL

I usualy go for 3M products anyway.

James

SEA3PO · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 5:09 pm Post subject:

It does a really nice job...but I kinda feel cheated....when you look at the advertisement in the catalog, ya think this is some special stuff.....
Nope...just plain ole disk soap......heck and all these years I have been buying automotive soap and boat soap...coulda been swiping it from under the sink .....

Joel
SEA3PO

SEA3PO · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 5:23 pm Post subject:

I sent West Marine an e-mail telling them I thought I was cheated....selling
a gallon of dishwashing soap for $49.99 is just wrong...when ya read the listing you think it is somthing special for fiberglass... nope...just dish soap....their wax is probably just floor wax...

Joel
SEA3PO

Chris Bulovsky · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 6:02 pm Post subject:

I bet it doesn't even leave spots on the glass! I'd feel cheated as well................Thanks for the info. I have been using dawn dish soap mixed in a spray bottle with water for window cleaning for a sometime now. Works pretty good.

Chris Bulovsky

Pete in NY · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 6:03 pm Post subject:

Is it possible they just used up packaging made for another product and put the Starbrite stuff in it? Sometimes printed packaging is over bought and the plant that does the filling of customer formula's uses them up and simply puts another customer's label on the bottle to save money. Or maybe Starbrite got a better price for using someone elses excess bottles. Unless of course you use the dish soap stuff and know it to be identical.

C-Hawk · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 6:09 pm Post subject:

Come on Joel, tell us how you really feel. Laughing

CatyMae n Steve · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 6:14 pm Post subject:

Rabidfish · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 7:05 pm Post subject:

Might be a sticky subject for a dealer to post a reply... but here goes...

My personal preference is, and always has been, JOY. It's safe for almost all of the vinyl as well as plastic surfaces, and you gotta love the lemon scent. Been using it for 28 years. Stole the first supply of it from Mom's kitchen. ( I am a big boy now... I steal it from Cindy's kitchen! Shocked

)

I have also used "turtle wax" product called ZIP WASH. While it's a wonderful cleaner, it's not half as much fun to procure!

Craig

Sea Wolf · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 7:07 pm Post subject:

Guys-

Reminds me of the fan pricing deal on the Force 10 Direct Vent heater I mentioned earlier in a post:

"They use a small (computer power supply) fan to aid in heat distribution in propane stoves. You can buy it for $2-3 in surplus stores, $5 at Radio Shack, or $72.95 at WM. Caveat Emptor!"

Joe.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 8:06 pm Post subject:

We've been using Dawn dishwashing soap (It cuts the grease... says so in their advertising Wink

) on our vehicles, motorcoaches, and boats for years. I tried the RV wash stuff from Camping World and it streaked (although the Black Streak Remover from Starbright does work well); went back to Dawn. Joy also works well as a body wash for saltwater.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

Valkyrie · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 9:30 pm Post subject:

Jim,

Your sailing background shows in your comment on Joy in salt water. When cruising in the Keys and Bahamas, I alkways used Lemon Fresh Joy in salt water for body and hair (when I had a lot more ahir than now.).

Another trick: add a capful of fabric softener per gallon of water to salt water in a solar shower for a fresh water feel. No stickiness.

Years ago, when working as a free lance marine writer, I lost a valuable source of income when a sailing mag quit using my stuff due to aftermarket boating suppliers pulling ads after I wrote a piece about how to save money by using common materials in place of outrageously priced "marine" products. Very popular wioth the readers I'm told, though. Their letters of appreciation never saw publication.

Nick
"Valkyrie"

Cheers · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 9:53 pm Post subject:

Don't know about Dawn but we used to use Joy for bathing in salt water. Believe it's bio-degradable, too.

Bob Cat · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 9:56 pm Post subject:

I'll give Dawn and Joy a try, after I run out of Simple Green.

Bob Cat