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 Post subject: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Sun Jun 02, 2013 3:51 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 3:31 pm
Posts: 2
My friend gave me his hobie17. It has been undertrees for 9 years. All the rigging has be stored and seems to be in good shape. the fiberglass is a mess. Can I send photo for someone to look at? How do I get the gunk off without hurting the fiberglass?


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 Post subject: Re: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 8:45 am 
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Hobie Approved Guru

Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:11 pm
Posts: 5197
Location: Detroit, MI
Wash the boat thoroughly with a good, grease-removing dishwashing detergent (Dawn). A scrub brush will help with the non-skid. Don't use anything more aggressive than a medium-stiff brush.

If the boat has not been painted, then the gel coat is impervious to almost all organic solvents. The vinyl stripes are not.

One of the citrus-based cleaners or turpentine will work to get tree sap off. Acetone will work on almost everything else. Again, use a brush on the non-skid. Wear hand and eye protection when you do that. You may want to tape off the striping when you use solvents, or just remove the stripe (but there will be a "shadow" of the stripe left - impossible to remove).

Wash the boat again after using solvents to remove residue. That should do it.

To really bring back the shine, use a rubbing compound followed by a polishing compound (applied with an angle buffer), then wax.


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 Post subject: Re: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 4:34 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 3:31 pm
Posts: 2
AMAZING

Thank you very much for taking the time to help me. Your kindness and knowledge are very much appreciated. May God Bless you

Ken Miller

I got 3 new 8 ply radials for the trailer

Hey, would using a pressure washer (gently) be a good idea?


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 Post subject: Re: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:12 am 
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Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:11 pm
Posts: 5197
Location: Detroit, MI
kenmiller wrote:
Hey, would using a pressure washer (gently) be a good idea?
NO. You can't really control it, and it will drive dirt into the gel coat, which while impervious to solvents, is fairly soft. For sure you'll nick the stripes, and they come off all too easily under a power washer.


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 Post subject: Re: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 12:12 pm 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 10:25 am
Posts: 4176
Location: Jersey Shore
No to the power washer?

I've used a power washer several times and it's done a good job of removing dirt that won't come off easliy with a scrub brush, especially on the non-skid. Also good for removing road grime, just be smart with it. Use a nice wide nozzle and keep the nozzle a reasonable distance away from the surface, definitely be mindful of the hull stripes.

sm


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 Post subject: Re: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 12:16 pm 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 12:36 pm
Posts: 788
Location: Tri-Cities, WA
Ditto, power washers work great, it really cleans out the diamond deck. Per srm, use fan setting and keep a respectable distance, be carefull around any striping of decals. 8)

Power washers 'drive the dirt into the gelcoat' :o I'd like to see the data to support that claim. :? That must be one hell of a power washer. :roll:


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 Post subject: Re: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 4:23 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2005 9:58 am
Posts: 42
I use a car wash power washer every spring. It does work pretty well. My Nacra decal has held up pretty well; the H17 gets very clean, esp the non-skid.

Good luck

Mike


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 Post subject: Re: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 5:16 pm 
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Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:11 pm
Posts: 5197
Location: Detroit, MI
Newbie + power washer = damaged boat

You guys are experienced Hobie owners. This guy isn't. You can't hurt the boat with a scrub brush and a bucket of soapy water. You can with a power washer.

My Tiger was damaged by a dealer when he cleaned it with a power washer between the time I said I'd buy it and the time I paid for it. That mistake cost him significant $$$.


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 Post subject: Re: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 9:58 pm 
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Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:28 pm
Posts: 265
Location: BC, Canada
kenmiller wrote:
My friend gave me his hobie17. It has been undertrees for 9 years.


Before you trouble yourself with washing and polishing, check the boat for soft-spots. A small delamination can be repaired, but if a good part of the hull is soft, it is a landfill material. Start with the top of each hull, press quite firmly with palm of your hand. If you hear a crunch, or feel a significant deflection, it is a bad news. Then, check sides of each hull.

Let us know.

If you use a pressure washer, make sure to angle the stream of water. This would assure, the dirt is not pushed into the pores of the gelcoat.

_________________
H17
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 Post subject: Re: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 11:39 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 12:36 pm
Posts: 788
Location: Tri-Cities, WA
Quote:
Newbie + power washer = damaged boat


Again, I'd like to see the data. One data point is not compelling. Anyone, doing almost anything can = disaster. However, just because someone is a sailing 'newbie' does not make them an idiot. For all you know the sailing 'newbie' may be a power washer Guru. One bad experience does not necessarily create a 'Never Again' situation. :roll:


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 Post subject: Re: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 5:33 pm 
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Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2009 6:53 am
Posts: 232
Location: Storm Lake, IA
fastcat wrote:
For all you know the sailing 'newbie' may be a power washer Guru

OK who thinks fastcat is a little jealous about Matts "Hobie Approved Guru" site rank status???


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 Post subject: Re: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 5:42 pm 
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Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:28 pm
Posts: 265
Location: BC, Canada
hobieandy wrote:
OK who thinks fastcat is a little jealous about Matts "Hobie Approved Guru" site rank status???


Any Guru can be pressure-washer challenged :wink:

_________________
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 Post subject: Re: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 5:43 pm 
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Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:11 pm
Posts: 5197
Location: Detroit, MI
fastcat wrote:
For all you know the sailing 'newbie' may be a power washer Guru.
If he was, he wouldn't be asking about how to wash a boat.

Like I said, you can't hurt the boat with a scrub brush and a bucket of soapy water.


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 Post subject: Re: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:34 pm 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 4:27 pm
Posts: 576
Location: Central Oregon
My old 14 had been sitting under pines for years. TONS of dried up sap boogers all over the decks.
No soap would touch it.
Scraped sap off carefully with fresh straight edge razor blades, then used a wd40 soaked rag to get the rest off. Followd by a wash and wax. Cleaned up great.

_________________
1980 H16


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 Post subject: Re: Sitting under trees
PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:34 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 12:36 pm
Posts: 788
Location: Tri-Cities, WA
Quote:
OK who thinks fastcat is a little jealous about Matts "Hobie Approved Guru" site rank status???


Shut the door and paint my face red. I hadn't noticed. Had I noticed, I probably would have used a different term, say Wizard, Master or Jedi. :wink:


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