Best hull cleaning fluid

[garredfox]

Can one use Jif without damage to the hull? For plastic baths after all.

[Silkie]

Some say it's too coarse and maybe it is for a 2012 model but I've used it almost every year for the past 9 on my now 40yo hull and haven't noticed any ill effects. I follow up with oxalic acid and cheap car wax and it looks as good as new - nearly.

[garredfox]

Happy New Year - and thanks for that

[Mercian]

The past two years I have used blue Harpic as recommended by the yacht club bosun removes all the brown and green waterline staining very effectively. Again though on an older boat, Rival 32.

[Silkie]

I have also used the Harpic limescale remover (hydrochloric acid based IIRC) but the oxalic works out even cheaper if someone gives you a large tub of crystals - thanks Puddock.

[mm5aho]

I make my own brew.
Its Oxalic acid and green Fairy Liquid.
Take 3 tables spoons of powdered Oxalic acid crystals, add to about 200ml hot water and dissolve. Add 100ml fairly liquid. (amounts are approx and not critical).
Mix. It makes a green brew that's like dilute detergent.
Using a scrubbing brush on the decks and a cloth (gloves advised) for vertical surfaces, scrub some on, and work up a lather. The lather helps to see what's been done and what not. Leave the lather on, don't rinse immediately.
Leave it for 20 mins (best not done in hot sunny weather, so recipe safe in Scotland!), then hose off.

This cleans all scum marks from hull, brown staining, rust marks, etc and gerenal grime, and whitens very well.
It doesn't remove the black scuff marks that the rubber seams on our dinghy make! We use Chemico for that. Its similar to Jif, only pink and sold pastelike stuff rather than liquid. Its a mild abrasive.

[claymore]

Gentlemen, Gentlemen - please. What will the honourable members of the Royal Highland be thinking? Can we stick to Marine products please in our discussions - this talk of Chemico and Home brewed products makes it all seem a bit PBO if you get my drift......

[garredfox]

Thanks everyone for your input. If the weather ever clears up I will give it a go with one or other of your ideas.

[Dougie the Mate]

Thanks everyone for your input. If the weather ever clears up I will give it a go with one or other of your ideas.

Chine shine works very well for removing the brown stains from the hull. Just roll on and wash off.

[wully]

What will the honourable members of the Royal Highland be thinking? .

This (not very honer-rabble) member is thinking he will do the same as last year and no bother cleaning his hull...

[ParaHandy]

.... I've used it almost every year for the past 9 on my now 40yo hull and haven't noticed any ill effects. I follow up with oxalic acid and cheap car wax

I see you've brought same to the market:



Is exchanging the "ie" for a "y" just a clumsy attempt at circumventing yer rights? bastards ..

I bought couple orra packs fer bilge cleaning at the London boat show yesterday .. would have bought more if my man-servant hadn't been engaged elsewhere.

[Old Troll]

Caravan cleaner from the supermarket Aldi is very good at removing water marks, stains and oxidation from the hull without harming the paintwork. Also very cheap.