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Do you constantly find yourself battling with ugly yellow stains on the hull of your fiberglass boat?
Here we’ll keep it simple and provide you with the solution to these nasty stains. Not only will you learn how to remove yellow stains from a fiberglass boat, you’ll additionally learn what causes these stains and even discover ways to delay these stains from appearing next time.
Let’s proceed.
So, What Causes These Yellow Stains?
White is the most common color for fiberglass boat hulls, and the major reason it is chosen is because it doesn’t absorb heat. It also makes scratches less visible.
This yellowing of the fiberglass is caused by surface pollutants washing against the hull. Typical examples of these pollutants include; diesel, organic matter like algae, and bacteria. The stains can also be a result of high mineral content in water.
Steps on How to Remove Yellow Stains from a Fiberglass Boat
There are many trusted commercial cleaners for removing yellow stains from a fiberglass boat. Follow these steps, and your fiberglass boat will be whiter than ever before.
Step One: Get the Required Cleaning Agents and Materials
Surely, you’ll need to have the necessary cleaning agents available. This will make the cleaning process as seamless as possible. You’ll need to have a boat cleaner, boat restorer, boat deoxidizer, boat polish, a sponge, and acid-resistant rubber gloves ready.
Step Two: Wash the Boat
It is also crucial that you wash the boat clean before trying to remove these yellow stains. A multipurpose soap and water should be enough to get your boat clean of dirt and grease. We recommend the Spray Nine degreaser and disinfectant. It is a perfect multi purpose boat cleaner.
Step Three: Apply the Yellow Stain Remover
Once your boat is all clean, it’s now time to apply the yellow stain remover. Now is a good time to wear your rubber gloves if you weren’t before.
The best way to apply this yellow stain remover is by spraying it directly on the yellow stain. You can also choose to first spray the stain remover on a sponge and then wipe the sponge over the stained surface.
The better boat eraser is the perfect sponge if you choose to apply the stain remover to a sponge first. Also, some of the best yellow stain removers available today include the Star Brite fiberglass stain remover and the Marykate on and off hull cleaner. These products function as a deoxidizer and restore the shine of the fiberglass.
Step Four: Let it Sit For A Few Minutes
After applying the yellow stain remover of your choice, leave for 20minutes and hose down with clean water. You should have shiny white fiberglass now.
Step Five: Protect the Shine
Now that the boat is clean and the yellow stains are gone, you need to preserve that shine. The product you chose must protect, polish, and restore the gelcoat of the fiberglass. It should also not contain carnauba. Your chosen product should also provide UV protection and should not be sticky or oily.
One product that ticks all these boxes is the Meguiar’s M6332. Apply it on a foam applicator of your choice, leave for a few minutes and then wipe it clean with a clean towel.
Tips to Prevent Yellow Stains from Reappearing
Now that these yellow stains have been removed, you need to prevent them from reappearing. Here are some tips;
- Always rinse your boat after every use. This will prevent stains from setting in.
- Always apply a coat of wax over your Gelcoat boat to protect the boat from future stains. Doing this also reduces the time it will take to remove any stains that form.
- Always wear rubber gloves when applying any mineral or organic stain remover.
- A DIY solution of vinegar and baking soda can also be useful in removing yellow stains from the fiberglass of a boat.
If the yellow stains are still visible after following the steps above, you should consider applying wet sand to the affected fiberglass surface. After this, remove the surface scratches and restore shine by applying the 3M super duty rubbing compound. Lastly, proceed to use any of the previously recommended boat cleaners to remove the rubbing compound.
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