Cleaning Black Streak on Pontoon Boat

Dave Forman asked:
Can you suggest the best Aurora cleaning product to buy to remove the persistent Black Streaks on the sides of my Pontoon boat.

Answer:
The product most recommended by companies like Bennington is Aurora Black Streak Remover. Pour a little on to a damp Marine Scrub Mitt or sponge and just wipe away the black streaks.

To protect the fences and rails and reduce future black streaks apply 2 coats of Premium Boat Shine with VS721 polymer.

Thanks for you question
Captain Aurora

Tweet

Removing Oil Stain on Non Skid Deck

Question:

Ron asked:

How would you suggest removing an oil stain that set in from an oil can sitting on non-skid for too long... already tried bleach, and non skid cleaner...

Answer:

Your best bet is to try a 50/50 solution of Boat Clean Plus and Boat Scrub. That’s what boat manufacturers use to remove yellowing, streaking, rust marks etc. If this does not work, then the stain has been on too long and is indelible and can not be removed with cleaners. Also, using the wrong cleaner, like bleach, can set the stain, making it impossible to remove.

When you get the stain out, be sure to seal the non-skid decks with Sure Step. It will prevent this from happening in the future. I recommend that you seal all non-skid deck surfaces as soon as possible after you buy your boat with Sure Step to prevent stains from happening.

Thanks for your question,
Captain Aurora

How Do I Remove Barnacles from My Aluminum Pontoons?

Question:

Randy asked:
What product do I need to remove barnacles from my aluminum pontoon boat? How difficult will this be to do?

Answer:
Use Algex to clean up your pontoons. Spray it on and let it work for about 1/2 hour. This will soften them up so that they are easier to remove. You will probably need several applications to get the adhesive rings off. If you need to do some scraping, use a wooden or plastic scraper so you don't damage the metal on your boat. If your pontoons are oxidized or discolored, use Alumabrite to brighten them. After you have your pontoons clean, protect them with VS721 Bottom Protectant to help prevent adhesion of barnacles and make them easier to remove in the future.

Thanks for your question,

Captain Aurora

Tweet

Alumetron Fights Aluminum Corrosion with a Chemical Bond

Aurora Marine’s newest product, ALUMETRON, is a unique direct to metal, clear, polymeric coating which bonds chemically to aluminum, protecting it against corrosion, chalking and staining from the environment, including water immersion and road salt. The ability to bond chemically as well as mechanically makes ALUMETRON an incomparable protective coating for aluminum.

This new formula uses water based technology which reduces VOC emissions making it a green product. It’s non flammable and non corrosive. There are no special handling, storage or shipping considerations to be concerned with is suitable for OEM as well as aftermarket use.

Aluminum is considered by scientists to be an anti-social metal because it rejects most coatings. Protection against corrosion usually consists of heat treating, anodizing in corrosive acid baths, special primers and paints and even then protection is limited. Aluminum is well suited to road trailer applications because it’s light, durable, flexible, inexpensive and attractive but has always suffered from susceptibility to corrosion. Now with ALUMETRON protection, it might just be the perfect metal.

Ask any pontoon boat owner what their aluminum pontoons look like after a summer in the water and most will tell you “like rusty steel drums”. Fishermen complain that their expensive aluminum towers and outriggers begin to get dull and pit from the salt water and air, even though they have been anodized. Salt water sailors maintain a constant vigil to insure that their aluminum masts and rigging are free from corrosion attack. Trailer owners watch in dismay as the once shiny aluminum on their hauler, that they were so proud of, turns to crusty white with pits or dark brown and splotchy. This new breakthrough invention from Aurora makes all this is a thing of the past. A single application of ALUMETRON can keep your precious aluminum looking shiny and new for 5 years or longer.

ALUMETRON is easy to apply. Simply wipe it on and let it dry. No primers or special pre-treatment is required. If your aluminum needs help, Aurora Marine can supply all the necessary products needed to clean and restore it to like new. A bright shiny aluminum trailer will give you greater enjoyment and fetch a much higher value at trade in time. Dealers will find it much easier to sell their trailers when they are bright and shiny.

If ever the coating is damaged from scratching or abrasion, No Problem! Simply wipe on a couple of coats to the effected area and it blends right in and continues the protection. Trailer dealers that sell ALUMETRON as a value added protection system can also sell a small bottle of product to the customer so they can do their own touch ups.

In addition to protecting aluminum from environmental attack and corrosion, ALUMETRON is also effective at protecting galvanized steel. Trailers made from aluminum or galvanized steel take a real beating from salt water or road salt in northern climates, but ALUMETRON will protect these trailers with a tough, clear, protective, coat.

Tweet

How do I Remove Fuel Stains from Fiberglass

Aurora Marine

Question:
Chuck Sullivan asked :
I have a light green hull; the gas overflow during a hot season has left discoloration on the side of the boat. Can we remove this stain? 2005 Boston Whaler Outrage 27.

Answer:
Perhaps. It depends on whether the stain has become indelible or not. If you catch it early enough you can get it out with a 50/50 solution of Boat Clean Plus and Boat Scrub. Apply the solution onto a soft clean cloth and rub out the stain. Afterwards protect the area with 2 or 3 coats of Premium Boat Shine. This is a synthetic sealer and polish that does not have any Carnauba Wax in it so it won’t yellow.

If this fails to get the stain our, the next step is to sand it out. Start with 600 grit wet sandpaper and use plenty of water. Sand until you get the stain out. Next sand with 800 grit wet sandpaper to remove the scratch marks. After, you can use a fine rubbing compound to bring back the shine. Protect the area with 2 to 3 coats of Premium Boat Shine.

If this fails then you are looking at refinishing the area. This is best done by spraying a matching color of gelcoat onto the sanded area and feathering it into the surrounding gelcoat. If done correctly the repair will be invisible. Unless you have the skill set necessary to do the job, you will be better off leaving this to a professional refinisher.

In future, carry a bottle of Kwik Shine in the boat with you. Whenever there is a fuel spill, and this is still quite a common occurrence, spray Kwik Shine onto the spill on the side of your boat. This will react with and remove the fuel as well as reseal the surface and replace the polish. The other benefit is that you will contain the fuel in the wiping cloth rather than flushing it into the water, which is the environmentally correct thing to do.

Thanks for your question:

Captain Aurora

Removing Yellow Stain from White Fiberglass

Customer asked:
I have a 10 year old white fibreglass boat and it now has a faint yellow tinge to the white hull. This is not left in the water. Is this something that one of your products could return back to the original white?

Answer to the Question:
This is a common occurrence resulting from the use of Boat Wax that contains Carnauba Wax. Many boat manufacturers now recommend that you do not use Carnauba Wax based products and only use synthetic products like Premium Boat Shine to protect your boat.
The best and easiest way to remove the yellowing and restore the original color and shine is with a 50/50 solution of Boat Clean Plus and Boat Scrub. This is what’s recommended by the boat manufacturers. Wash the boat first with a 1:10 solution of Boat Clean Plus and water and then use a soft cloth and the 50/50 solution to rub away the stain. You can use a Marine Scrub Mitt to reduce the labor required and the amount of time necessary to restore your boat.
Because of the age of your boat, the stain my have built up over the years and become indelible. If the above remedy does not work then the next solution is to wet sand the surface, followed by rubbing compound to remove the surface scratches and restore the shine, followed by Boat Scrub to remove the rubbing compound. This is pretty extreme because you will be cutting several layers of gelcoat off your boat, exposing the pores and making it more susceptible to environmental deterioration in the future.
Once a boat has been compounded or wet sanded you will probably have to detail the boat 2 to 4 times per year, depending on where you’re located and the ambient weather conditions, to maintain the finish. Compounding should be a remedy of last resort and should only be used if all else fails.
When the color and shine is restored protect your boat with Premium Boat Shine. It is synthetic so it will not yellow or stain and it will give you a diamond hard anti-static finish that will not get greasy or oily in the sun. Waxes tend to be greasy when warmed by the sun and this attracts and holds dust, dirt and pollutants against the surface. You will notice that Premium Boat Shine resists black streaks much better than wax। It is a combination sealer and polish and it contains some of the VS721 polymer for added durability. On boats in good condition, two coats on the hull will last a whole year even in South Florida.

Thanks for your question,
Captain Aurora

Tweet

Inflatable Boats & RIBS: Cleaning, Restoring, Protecting

http://www.auroramarine.com/

Verrryyy slow leaks in inflatables

Customer asked:What is the expected amount of normal deflation in an inflatable? I bought a used one last year and it deflates just a tiny amount...enough that it needs to be pumped up about once every week or 10 days., even when it is stored indoors (like now). Is that normal or is there a small leak somewhere?


Your problem is quite common. If an inflatable boat is in good shape, there should be no leaks and it should hold air. There are numerous causes for these slow leaks. Most can be corrected but in some cases, it's just not worth while and you can either live with the leak or retire the boat.

The biggest cause of leaks are the valves. Unscrew them, clean them and make sure that the O Rings are in good shape. If they look pinched, compressed or deformed, replace them. Often particles of sand or dirt are enough to cause a passageway for air to escape.Next, check for pinhole leaks or leaks around the seams. Inflate the boat hard. Mix a solution of dish detergent and water and wash the boat with a cloth. Keep the boat wet and watch for telltale bubbles. This may require some patience especially if the leak is very slow. You should be able to repair small pinhole leaks by yourself with a special repair kit available at most Inflatable Boat dealerships. If the leak is at, or near a seam, you are better to get a professional to do the repair as this can involve removing the seam and rebuilding it from the inside as well as the outside.

The other cause of slow leaks is porosity in the fabric. This is usually the result of poor, or no maintenance. This can be caused by UV, suntan oil, diesel in the water, or the use of wrong cleaners or protectors which will break down the plasticizers in the fabric and allow air molecules to migrate through the tube. This occurs most often with PVC boats. There are Air Seal products on the market that can be used to extend the life of a boat in this condition, if it's not too far gone. It's a coating that is injected into the tube. The tube is then inflated and the boat tumbled to make sure that all interior surfaces are coated. If you use this, it's a good idea to keep the boat permanently inflated to avoid the fabric from sticking to itself when the boat is deflated.If the boat has been treated with oil, silicone or Teflon based products, the boat may not be worth repairing as it will be very difficult to get patches or adhesives to stick with any durability and you will be forever patching.Many major Inflatable Boat manufacturers recommend cleaning their boats, right from the beginning, with Speed Clean and protecting them with Poly Guard. These products are safe for all fabrics, seams and adhesives and will give good protection against UV, suntan oil, diesel, acid rain, dirt, grime, pollutants and other environmental damage. They can also be used to restore older boats that may be chalky, faded, or stained, to like new condition. Inflatable Bottom Spray is recommended for removing marine growth without damaging the tube or fiberglass hull and Repelin is recommended for anti fouling protection if your boat is left in the water for any period of time.Thanks for your question.

Captain Aurora

http://www.auroramarine.com/

Tweet