Will Clear View Keep my Ports from Fogging?

Question:
M. D’Angelo asked:
I have an older boat with tinted, plastic ports that are foggy and discolored due to weathering. I’m guessing the ports are made of a Plexiglas type material. I can polish them with a mild automotive rubbing compound and they will clear up for a short time (about a month) but always foul up again. Will your Clear View product, especially the protector coating, keep them looking cleaner for a longer period of time? Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Answer:
Yes, Clear View will keep your see through plastic clear longer.

We do not recommend that you use rubbing compounds or sandpaper on your ports as it can cause additional damage and distortion of the plastic. The Clear View No. 1 cleaner / restorer is easier to use, will do a better job and is less injurious to the plastic surface. Clear View No. 2 should be applied about every 6 to 12 weeks to keep the ports clear and protected. Because you have been using rubbing compound, you may have to apply it more frequently. Clear View No. 2 contains UV protection and anti-static materials and other ingredients to protect the surface of your plastic.

Thanks for your question,

Captain Aurora

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Delamination of the Paint from the Surface of the Aluminum caused by Oxidation

Question:
Matt Klein asked:
I have a problem with painted aluminum window frames that have delamination of the paint from the surface of the aluminum caused by oxidation. After application of Alumetron to a clean bonding surface is it possible then to coat over the Alumetron with paint-i.e. will paint bond to Alumetron? If so, what types of paint, spray paint?

Answer:
Yes you can paint over Alumetron with a water based latex paint. For added protection, you can then overcoat the paint with a couple of coats of Alumetron. Because of its chemical bonding properties, Alumetron makes an excellent aluminum primer for water based paint.

Thanks for your question,

Captain Aurora

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VS721 the "way to go" in Salt Water

Question:

Allen Nonnenmacher has submitted the following:

I purchased a 1999 Bayliner Capri cuddy in the fall of last year. This was a fresh water boat and never bottom painted. The hull is pristine and looks like it just came from the factory.

I will be keeping the boat in the water at a marina in Staten Island, New York this summer. I really hate the idea of applying antifouling bottom paint to the hull.

What kind of success can I realistically expect with VS721 bottom coat in the waters of my area?

Answer:

VS721 does not contain poisonous biocides but relies on its super slippery finish to impede the attachment of marine fouling. It’s perfectly clear and will seal the pores in the gelcoat to prevent osmosis blisters. It will give you about the same anti-fouling properties as VC17 racing paint without the hassles of painting and maintaining a painted bottom.

Marine fouling in the North East coast of the US and Canada has become progressively worse over the past two decades so that now it is more aggressive than in the Florida area. No one knows why but it is speculated that the strains of algae and barnacles in the area have mutated over time to become more resistant to the pollutants and biocides in the water and are becoming ever more difficult to control. Even high load copper anti-fouling paints are barley adequate to keep up, especially if the boat is left moored for prolonged periods of time.

If you plan to use your boat on a regular basis and can wipe off the slime every few weeks, VS721 will work for you. If your boat will be stationary for weeks at a time and if you can not keep the slime from accumulating then toxic paint is the only answer otherwise you will get growth on the bottom of your boat. If you decide to paint, I suggest that first you apply a barrier coat to prevent osmosis blisters and then ask around to find what others are using successfully. I suspect that you will have to use the most toxic paint that is still legally available in your area. The most effective paints have been banned because of the damage they were causing to the environment.

Sales of VS721 continue to increase each year in the range of 350% to 450% so it works for a lot of boat owners, both in fresh and salt water but we have been getting a few complaints from boat owners in your area. This is from boat owners that do not take their boats out for weeks or months at a time. The abrasion from the water when running the boat is usually sufficient to knock off the slime and if there is not slime to feed on, algae and barnacles will not attach. VS721 will also make the bottom considerably easier to clean if you do get some growth.

The final choice of bottom protection will depend on how you use and maintain your boat.

Thanks for your question,

Captain Aurora

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Cleaning Carpet in a Bow Rider

Question:

Gilles Racicot asked:

Would Aurora have a product to clean the carpets for a 17 foot bowrider?
There is a buildup of green musty and moldy residue on the carpets. Any suggestions regarding this matter. Would a carpet cleaner with a cleaning solution do the trick or would I be able to scrub it out with a brush and a solution?

Answer:

Aurora Boat Clean Plus will do a better job of cleaning boat carpet than professional steam cleaning.

If it’s a snap in carpet, remove it and clean it on the dock, driveway or on a lawn. If it’s permanently attached, you can clean it in the boat.

The directions are:
1. Pre-spot clean the carpet. In other words, spray straight Boat Clean Plus on any stains, heavy soiling, mould or mildew.
2. Wet the carpet with a garden hose.
3. Spray Boat Clean Plus evenly over the carpet.
4. Use a deck brush or stiff bristled scrub brush and give the carpet a good scrubbing in all directions, paying special attention to the stained or heavy soiled areas. You should see foam from the brushing. That indicates that you have enough Boat Clean Plus on the surface. If not, spray some more. If you are getting heavy foam, you are using too much.
5. Rinse well with water
6. Let dry in the sun
7. When dry, vacuum the carpet to fluff up the pile.
8. When the carpet is out of the boat, use Boat Scrub on the fiberglass to deep clean any remaining mould spores out of the pores in the gelcoat. Rinse, dry and apply 2 coats of Premium Boat Shine to seal the pores and protect the gelcoat against further damage or mould spore propagation.

You can also use Boat Clean Plus to clean the vinyl seats.

Thanks for your question,

Captain Aurora

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Aurora Products Safe to Use on Painted Surfaces

Question:
Rick Milner has submitted the following:
Aurora Boat Clean Plus, Boat Scrub, Premium Boat Shine & Sure Step, can these products safely be used on painted fiberglass hulls and decks?

Answer:
Boat Clean Plus is safe to use on all surfaces and is an excellent cleaner for boat paints which are two part polyurethanes.

Boat Scrub should be used with care and only applied with a damp sponge or soft brush on textured surfaces. Boat Scrub can sometimes be used to remove stains or scuff marks that can not be removed by any other safe means. Care should be taken on new paint as it can scuff the surface if used too aggressively, but this can be the trade off necessary to remove a bad scuff mark.

Boat Scrub is recommended for cleaning non-skid deck surfaces prior to the application of Sure Step. In that case pre-wash the deck with a 1:4 solution of Boat Clean Plus and water and while still wet, pour on some Boat Scrub and continue scrubbing with a mild to medium bristled deck brush. Rinse clean and let dry prior to applying the protector.

Premium Boat Shine is synthetic and will not harm painted surfaces like wax will.

Sure Step is recommended for painted decks, both non-skid and smooth. In addition to protecting the surface from UV chalking, dirt and stains it adds a degree of safety because of the increased grip, especially when the decks are wet.

Another excellent product for painted boats; hulls and superstructure, is Kwik Shine. It is a combination cleaner, deoxidizer and protective polish, with exceptional shine. It will remove many stains, grime and dirt, bug splatter, bird droppings, light oxidation and salt deposits while leaving a beautiful protective shine. It’s a favorite amongst boat owners with painted hulls.

Thanks for your question

Captain Aurora

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Protecting Black Hull from Sun Damage

Question:
Jim Wade has submitted the following:
I have a black hull and my boat will be exposed to the sun part of the day. What is the best product and preparation I can do to prevent my hull from fading or discoloring from exposure to the sun? I really would like to keep it looking good and shiny.

Answer:
Black is especially tough to protect against fading from the sun. You have several options which can help. Clean the hull first with Boat Clean Plus and Boat Scrub to make sure that the protective polishes bond to the gelcoat rather than to old wax or pollutants or dirt etc.

Option 1 is to apply 2 or 3 coats of Premium Boat Shine. This is our most durable polish and it contains the VS721 polymer for added durability. It has excellent UV protection which will outlast any other polish available but even so all UV protection systems will degrade and the dark color will absorb more radiation and degrade the UV protection more quickly. I would suggest reapplying a couple of coats of Premium Boat Shine every 90 days or so. If you can keep the boat in the shade or under a cover of some sort, two coats will last for a full year.

Option 2 is to apply 2 coats of Kwik Shine and then reapply it every 2 weeks or so. The advantage of this is that you are constantly renewing the UV protection. Also, since Kwik Shine is a spray and wipe cleaner / polish, it is fast and easy to apply. Many boaters that have trailered boats, especially if they boat in salt water, love Kwik Shine because they can spray the boat down after every use and quickly wipe off the salt and water spots and they get a brilliant shine which keeps their boat looking new. Kwik Shine also contains Salt Busters which ionize the salt and convert it into a polish.

Keeping black, red or dark blue boats covered or in the shade when not in use, is still the best protection for the boat. The best UV protection systems available only have a maximum life of about 6 months of constant UV radiation and this is shortened by the darker colors.

Thanks for your question.
Captain Aurora

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How to Restore a 30 Year Old Aluminum Boat

Question:

Joyce Dornan asked

I am looking for a miracle product to clean a 30 year old aluminum fishing boat. Could you please suggest one of your products to me.

Answer:

We have several. You can use Algex to get the marine growth off the bottom of your boat. Alumabrite to deoxidize and restore the shiny appearance of the aluminum. Alumetron to put a protective clear coat on the aluminum that will keep it bright and shiny for up to 5 years. Boat Clean Plus to wash and clean the boat and prep it for Alumetron. And, VS721 to prevent the attachment of marine growth when you leave your boat in the water. All these products are easy to use and if you follow the instructions on the bottles, you will get guaranteed results.

Thanks for your question,

Captain Aurora

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