First off, I have tried everything from a pressure washer to Zit Cream, heck, you name it, to get stains out of the hull and vinyl seat covers, and nothing works as this stuff does, or as I call it, "Deep Clean in a Bottle." Some words of caution and tips: This stuff is harsh on your hide, and God Forbid if you get it in your eyes.
As such you will need and should wear...
Rubber Gloves
You should wear clear shooting/safety glasses or something similar to keep it out of your eyes "even if" it is diluted.
I would not recommend wearing shorts while you use this stuff, but if you have a garden hose handy, you might be fine and can rinse it right off. 😉
A water hose and a bucket filled with car washing soap/water are handy for your brush.
And a soft bristle car washing brush (stiff is not needed and is counterproductive)
As many here know, inside the console (usually the worst), parts of the deck, like under the gunnels, etc., get nasty black. Not from dirt, as you might first suspect. However, from junk growing on and inside of it and household bleach, it is not strong enough and does not work well.
Here in Florida, with our warm temperatures and much less rain, even being undercover can make the boat a living swamp, and the last time I opened the console hatch, I fully expected a Gator to drag me into it!
Well, let me tell you, the boat now, even inside that console, has not been this white since the day it popped out of the mold... And just when you were thinking it was dirt stains on the hull, trust me, I suspect it is/was some crud "growing" in those little scratches, and this stuff just "Thumps" it big time!
You can now order some and have it delivered to your door by clicking on the picture above.
But you must be MOST careful using it! It will chew on your hide just like it does the Mold and Mildew and is not something you need to work real hard with, for it will only fleck/spray back on you. Then it will eat on your skin like a Bull shark does a Tarpon 🤨 Trust me, it only took a few minutes for me to go and grab a pair of my wife's dish-washing gloves, for my hands were already on fire when I first started using it! 😮
And you do not need to rub hard or be in a rush to use it... Just spray it on, scrub lightly with a long-handled brush (some times magic eraser), have a drink, and let it EAT 😉
My hull, trolling motor, seats (which now look almost new), and I know some of those stains that were there for a while are now "gone" on stuff that even a 3000-psi pressure washer or other Magical chemicals we all have tried, would not even put a dent on many of them in the past.
Again, the best tip I can give you is to spray it on, then work it into all the little joints and stuff with a soft car-washing brush on a stick. Just be careful, do not be in a rush, and rub hard so it does not land back on you! Nasty stuff indeed, but it does one **** of a job, and I am impressed, as have others I have recommended it to.
Afterward, as I did this and as time progressed, the more I applied it to sections and locations on the bow, working my way backward. Rinsing with the hose also lifted more crud as it was "killing" stuff while I progressed further toward the stern. I was also very mindful to ensure I used the shower setting on the hose "inside" the console so it would not wipe out any wiring. Make sure to rinse it all very well afterward and get it off as you wash. And I say a second run all over again with just boat soap to help neutralize the effects of this chemical is not a bad idea either.
And from what I saw draining out of the bilge as I progressed from Bow to Stern, I do not think much is "alive" down there now. The fumes from this stuff flushed more than one critter out of there like a covey of Quail for sure!
Again, my best advice is to take it slow and enjoy your newfound "white" boat. No need to be in a rush or rub it hard since that will only get it flicked back on you, which "Trust me" is not fun, and no, flip flops should not be worn for this party either! 😁
So, enjoy your new boat that you "already" now have after using it for a super cleaning session 😎
Speaking of other types of stains like rust, I will say that I am not all that impressed with most rust stain removers. Bar Keepers Friend, which my sweetheart turned me onto, simply sticks and works better! And you don't have to pay big bucks at West Marine for something special; it's usually found in most grocery stores. You can also click the picture below to have it shipped to your door.
Just make a paste of it (let it set) and rub it until it is gone. I find this product works well on both Metal and other boat surfaces. I had a bad rust stain when I took the Trolling Motor off the mounting puck on the deck, and it worked great in getting rid of it! I hope these tips help yours look great again, and we will have more on the way soon!
In the meantime,
We invite you to take in a few Flats Nation Podcast Episodes to help "Scratch that Fishing Itch" when working or traveling and you cannot hitch up the Skiff and go, on these links:
Our newer Flats Nation YouTube Channel can be found by clicking here. Share our media with family and friends if you find them entertaining and educational! We have some great guests in the works on a wide range of topics and product coverage soon.
Also, The "Flats Nation" Merch and Swag collection, if you like our content, has some new works, from T-shirts to our newer Technical wear, and will need for a trip to say, Aruba, can be found Here:
Lastly, we launched our new lineup of Flats Nation stickers, which turned out awesome!
You can see all eight Flats Fish Species we now have (more on the way) and order some of those cool combos and show (them) just how good you are or are looking to target by clicking Here 😁
Tight Lines, and God Bless!
Dave and the Team
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