Cleaning side of boat

Fishy Cover · 07-05-2010, 06:20 AM

I have a 2005 Four Winns that has green plastic film on the sides instead of gelcoat, in other words what makes the green panels on the side is some kind of a decal or film. It now has a faded looking gray film that does not come off with a Meguiars cleaner /wax. I tried rubbing compound (very gently) with very limited results and I am wiorried that if I use rubbing compound too aggressively I'll go thru the film. Does anyone else on the Forum have any suggestions about removing the gray without damaging the green film?

Ron's Fiberglassing USA · 07-05-2010, 06:25 AM

Give Ron a call, it can be wetsanded or buff. 603-528-3217

MAXUM · 07-05-2010, 09:25 PM

I don't see how you could wet sand a sticker. If it were in gel coat then yes that option would be possible, but with a sticker or decal there is not a whole lot I can think of other than don't hit it with any thing other than maybe a fine cut rubbing compound, but honestly I think you're probably better off replacing the decal.

VitaBene · 07-09-2010, 07:11 AM

If it is a vinyl film, consider having a sign shop make some new stickers for you. They can wrap entire buses in material, they should be able to handle a boat. It really is no different than the vinyl letters many of us use for the names on the sterns of our boats.

Here is an article I found regarding it http://www.sportfishingmag.com/techn...aby-51171.html

Best of luck!

Ron's Fiberglassing USA · 07-10-2010, 06:25 AM

There is a product on the market call goobegone, it will remove the sticky film left behind, but if the decal has left dip or sun fade mark it will have to be wetsanded.

bant6m5 · 07-19-2010, 10:45 AM

Hello -

Great Forum all around. First posting!

Any suggestions as to a generic cleaner or process for the hull. We are docked in some standing water and the hull has really gotten stained. Brand new boat and trying to keep it looking as good as possible.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

masssteve · 07-19-2010, 01:13 PM

I've used Maguires oxidation remover and polish with an electric rotary buffer on both the decals above the rub rail and the gel coat below the rail and have had no issues. Use the oxy remover first, then the polish, then wax, it will look like new. My fourwinns even has a pin strip over the decal and it has not come off. The other option is to have a fourwinns dealer replace it, or even a section of it. I had a dock line rub against mine for some time and it came off in one section. For not alot of money they replaced a 3 foot section of it and it looks new.

Belmont Resident · 07-20-2010, 06:28 AM

Many of the marinas have cleaners they will sell you that take all of the built up scum off.
The old way was to use acid but now there are powders that mixed with water and applied with an inexpensive pump sprayer work great.
A friend of mine got some from Lakeport a couple of years ago and it literally took every bit of scum off the hull using nothing more than a garden hose after spraying the solution on and letting it sit.
I wax the crap out of mine at the waterline and it makes cleanup that much easier.
But if you do not have a trailer then you have no choice but to have it done by someone else.

07-05-2010, 06:20 AM	#1
Fishy Cover Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 134 Thanks: 9 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Cleaning side of boat I have a 2005 Four Winns that has green plastic film on the sides instead of gelcoat, in other words what makes the green panels on the side is some kind of a decal or film. It now has a faded looking gray film that does not come off with a Meguiars cleaner /wax. I tried rubbing compound (very gently) with very limited results and I am wiorried that if I use rubbing compound too aggressively I'll go thru the film. Does anyone else on the Forum have any suggestions about removing the gray without damaging the green film?

07-05-2010, 06:25 AM	#2
Ron's Fiberglassing USA Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 13 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Boat with film on sides Give Ron a call, it can be wetsanded or buff. 603-528-3217

07-10-2010, 06:25 AM	#5
Ron's Fiberglassing USA Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 13 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Film on sides There is a product on the market call goobegone, it will remove the sticky film left behind, but if the decal has left dip or sun fade mark it will have to be wetsanded.

07-19-2010, 10:45 AM	#6
bant6m5 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 3 Thanks: 4 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	General Cleaner Hello - Great Forum all around. First posting! Any suggestions as to a generic cleaner or process for the hull. We are docked in some standing water and the hull has really gotten stained. Brand new boat and trying to keep it looking as good as possible. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

07-20-2010, 06:28 AM	#8
Belmont Resident Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belmont NH but prefer Jackman Maine Posts: 1,857 Thanks: 491 Thanked 409 Times in 251 Posts	check with marina Many of the marinas have cleaners they will sell you that take all of the built up scum off. The old way was to use acid but now there are powders that mixed with water and applied with an inexpensive pump sprayer work great. A friend of mine got some from Lakeport a couple of years ago and it literally took every bit of scum off the hull using nothing more than a garden hose after spraying the solution on and letting it sit. I wax the crap out of mine at the waterline and it makes cleanup that much easier. But if you do not have a trailer then you have no choice but to have it done by someone else.

07-05-2010, 09:25 PM	#3
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	I don't see how you could wet sand a sticker. If it were in gel coat then yes that option would be possible, but with a sticker or decal there is not a whole lot I can think of other than don't hit it with any thing other than maybe a fine cut rubbing compound, but honestly I think you're probably better off replacing the decal.

07-09-2010, 07:11 AM	#4
VitaBene Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 3,530 Thanks: 1,570 Thanked 1,601 Times in 821 Posts	If it is a vinyl film, consider having a sign shop make some new stickers for you. They can wrap entire buses in material, they should be able to handle a boat. It really is no different than the vinyl letters many of us use for the names on the sterns of our boats. Here is an article I found regarding it http://www.sportfishingmag.com/techn...aby-51171.html Best of luck!

07-19-2010, 01:13 PM	#7
masssteve Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: North Reading, MA & Laconia, NH Posts: 67 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 2 Posts	I've used Maguires oxidation remover and polish with an electric rotary buffer on both the decals above the rub rail and the gel coat below the rail and have had no issues. Use the oxy remover first, then the polish, then wax, it will look like new. My fourwinns even has a pin strip over the decal and it has not come off. The other option is to have a fourwinns dealer replace it, or even a section of it. I had a dock line rub against mine for some time and it came off in one section. For not alot of money they replaced a 3 foot section of it and it looks new.

The Following User Says Thank You to Belmont Resident For This Useful Post:
bant6m5 (07-20-2010)