Boat Soap...the GREAT rip off

S

SEA3PO

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C Dory Year
2003
C Dory Model
22 Cruiser
Hull Identification Number
CDO22132D303
Vessel Name
SEA3PO
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
 
Well Joel do tell.... how did it clean?? :mrgreen:
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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.
 
Come on Joel, tell us how you really feel. :lol:
 
Chris Bulovsky":1tn8r7lr said:
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
Click to expand...
I have 2 sons who've been in the auto detailing business for over 15 years -- they use Dawn to wash cars before detailing, and that's what they use on the boat before detailing :)
 
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! :shock: )

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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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"
 
Don't know about Dawn but we used to use Joy for bathing in salt water. Believe it's bio-degradable, too.
 
I'll give Dawn and Joy a try, after I run out of Simple Green.

Bob Cat
 
Joy is a joy. Great for smelly bilges too. I use Lemon Joy and if I'm careful I don't get caught stealing it from the Admiral.

Beats the heck out of Navy salt water soap too for a salt water shower.

Dusty
 
Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author
 
Sounds like a big price gouging scheme to me. West Marine and Boat US should be split up into 77 smaller companies to increase competition. That'll learn 'em!
Click to expand...

I think that was done with AT&T (Baby Bells).....Has anyone noticed a decrease in their phone bill yet?

West Marine on the other hand decided they didn't like sharing the profits so they bought up Boat US....

Let's face it...it's US aginst Them and with tips like the ones above we will get even in the long run. Keep the trade secrets coming.
 
Bob Cat":16ovf6rp said:
I'll give Dawn and Joy a try
Bob Cat
Click to expand...

I would use Dawn and Joy to clean our boat as well :smilep , except my wife would not be a happy camper having those young ladies cleaning our boat........and when she's not happy, I'm not happy! :sad
 
I'm a Dawn fan because using a bunch of it stumps my wife ("Where did all the dish soap go?")

I have also found that plain old rubbing alcohol takes off those black streaks, but wash the area down with detergent immediately after. Rubbing alcohol (not the Jack Daniels) is used to prep/clean gel coat prior to repairs and for removing tape and adhesive residue (see www.practical-sailor.com).

Other cleaners: a super mild solution of oxalic acid will remove rust stains (see http://www.mousecleaning.com/boat cleaning.html) - rinse well; G0-Jo or that Orange stuff hand cleaner is great for removing marks on the gel coat caused by metals - it has a mild abrasive in it; Clorox Clean up is awesome for removing that good ol fish smell from coolers, bilges, etc.
 
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