Cleaning leaf stains

B

Bigpike

New member
Hi Folks!

I just recently purchased a really fab 99 16’ cruiser (Legend Dory). The boat is in amazing shape, previous 2 owners were both retired and took meticulous care of the craft. Had it out once on the river last weekend, parked in yard with the slant cover on and forgot to tarp it, we got some rain and the hickory’s in my yard left some leaf stains on the top cap and areas of the hull. What do you folks recommend for a gel coat safe cleaner to buff these out. I had waxed it with star Brite, but still got some stains. I did wash it today before I tucked it back into the barn. Love to hear cleaning success stories, I’m bummed!!
 
FSR (fiberglass stain remover) from the marine supply store will remove the stains. Spread it on, wait a little while, then rinse it off. The stuff is magic. Then you can wash and wax again. You can make your own FSR (I do) from oxalic acid dissolved in water and thickened with a little wallpaper paste. Google "DIY fiberglass stain remover." Whether you use the commercial product or make it yourself, wear rubber gloves and don't get any on any galvanized metal (your trailer for example).
 
FSR has oxalic acid and isopropanol as active ingredients. I just use saturated solution of oxalic acid crystals. These are cheap and available at most hardware and paint stores.

Bar Keeper's friend is also a good agent, which has a very mild abrasive. It also has oxalic acid.

I like Collonite Fleet wax, after mild compounding and polishing.
 
I have the same dilemma as my yard is full of towering oak trees. They are great for providing shade and low air conditioning bills but the leaves, twigs etc stain whatever they lay on for any period of time.

My recommendation is Comet with bleach, a scrub pad, lots of grease
(elbow) and keep it under a carport.
 
I used to swear by Barkeeper's Friend until I discovered how much easier a Magic Eraser works. The things are addictive - they clean everything off the boat I have tried them on except for rust stains, and they get some of those off.

You will have to rewax any areas you use them on because the wax is the first to go, but they are amazing on gelcoat.
 
I removed a boat cover on my day sailor this spring to see that a few alder leaves had gotten in and sat on the deck all winter. The tannins made perfect leaf stain patterns. FSR did little to nothing. Scrubbing Bubbles did nothing. Commercial cleaning vinegar, nothing. I saw on the web a recommendation to try Oxiclean laundry detergent, but didn't go there. I have work pants that are still orange on the front of the legs from cutting alder for firewood after repeated washings with stain removers/bleach.

I was cleaning up the boat in preparation for sale and just decided that it wasn't worth the effort. If it was a stain on my C Dory I'd probably still be working on finding a solution.

Mark
 
Thanks for the tips y’all!

The FSR did a pretty good job, used a little bar keepers friend on the tough spots. Overall pretty satisfied, appreciate the feedback.

Mike
 
Bigpike":3eowmp0t said:
Thanks for the tips y’all!

The FSR did a pretty good job, used a little bar keepers friend on the tough spots. Overall pretty satisfied, appreciate the feedback.

Mike
Click to expand...

I use Lysol toilet bowl cleaner to get the tannin stain from the water off my boat. Since they are basically the same thing, I expect that the toilet bowl cleaner would work on leaf stains too.
 
ssobol":3l6d7jtk said:
Bigpike":3l6d7jtk said:
Thanks for the tips y’all!

The FSR did a pretty good job, used a little bar keepers friend on the tough spots. Overall pretty satisfied, appreciate the feedback.

Mike
Click to expand...

I use Lysol toilet bowl cleaner to get the tannin stain from the water off my boat. Since they are basically the same thing, I expect that the toilet bowl cleaner would work on leaf stains too.
Click to expand...

Ahh ha, Tannin. I have a lightly noticeable tannin mustache from some time spent in the Delta. Thought about leaving it as a memento, but common sense is taking over so the tan line has got to go.

Thanks for the great tips (Lysol toilet bowl cleaner.)

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

0_CD_Cover_SlpyC_with_Classics_MBSP_2009_288.thumb.jpg
 
I bought some Marykate On & Off from West Marine. It's nasty stuff, but was practically a miracle worker on my old stained C-dory. I couldn't believe how good it worked on all kinds of stains, and how easy it was to use. Goggles and good gloves a must, but simply wipe on and rinse off with a hose. Did most of my boat and probably used all of 3 ounces at most, so definitely buy the smallest bottle available.

The stuff won't harm gelcoat but is very bad for metals, so I had to use an old tarp to keep it off my trailer.
 
Mary Kate on and off: $20 West Marine. 60 to 70% hydrochloric acid
The "Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner " $2 Dollar General. 50% hydrochloric acid
Oxalic Acid crystals: $27, 10# Amazon, Lifetime supply. (Or 1# about $5 at paint stores--lasts several years)

They all work.
 
By far, the best solution for gel coat/canvas leaf stains is
- do not park your boat directly under a tree.

More nautical and concerning is a solution for, and prevention
of, spiders and their droppings from invading and marking
our homes on the water.

Aye.
 
Foggy":oymj6uvi said:
By far, the best solution for gel coat/canvas leaf stains is
- do not park your boat directly under a tree.

More nautical and concerning is a solution for, and prevention
of, spiders and their droppings from invading and marking
our homes on the water.

Aye.
Click to expand...

Foggy, The best spider control I have found is one of those Bright orange plastic hammers from Harbor Freight. It works great and the flat spiders are easy to wipe up and don't leave stains (if wiped up right away).

Oh, and I really like F L A T spiders in my boat.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

SSC_CPR_and_Patient_015.thumb.jpg
 
Harvey,

I commiserate with your antediluvian urge to flatten those squalid leggy
predatory arachnids.

Au contrare, I wish only to relocate them, without harm, since their innate
predatory instincts are helpful in elimination of various other nettlesome
arthropods.

Aye.
Grandma used to say, "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater."
 
Back
Top