How do you clean your outboard motor.

[brgbassmaster]

So when I bought this boat a few years ago it's always had this white discoloration. How do you get rid of it. I've tried vinegar and water but that does nothing lol. CLR? maybe. Idk please help!!!! Lol. 

[A-Jay]

What do you think it is ?

Hard to tell in the pic.

A-Jay

[brgbassmaster]

12 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

What do you think it is ?

Hard to tell in the pic.

A-Jay

Honestly I'm guessing the guy before me never wiped down the outboard after fishing. So eventually it just kept getting worse and worse. Everyone i know that wipes their outboard down never has this problem. 

[tander]

Maybe rubbing compound and car wax ?

[A-Jay]

I'd start with straight vinegar.

If it's a moderate calcium build up, the vinegar may break it down and remove it without affecting the top coat.

Give it time to work - might take a few minutes of 'wetness' to break it down.

If it's going to work - there will be very little if any 'scrubbing'; something I'd recommend you avoid.

If it's a serious build up, a next level product like the CLR you mentioned, may be required.

Still I'd let it soak some so there would be as little aggressive efforts used as possible.

I've never used that on a marine product so can offer nothing in the way of expected results.

As a last resort, perhaps you could go this route . . .

A-Jay

[Log Catcher]

You're supposed to clean your outboard motor?

[Way2slow]

Yea, most people think they need to make their, new to them, boats all pretty and shinny when they first get them, but they soon grow out of it.

[brgbassmaster]

46 minutes ago, Way2slow said:

Yea, most people think they need to make their, new to them, boats all pretty and shinny when they first get them, but they soon grow out of it.

Nope I just like to take care of my boats as best as I can. All the required maintenance, keep records of it, wipe boat down after every use, wax it once a month, etc etc. Keeps it looking good and better for resale. 

58 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I'd start with straight vinegar.

If it's a moderate calcium build up, the vinegar may break it down and remove it without affecting the top coat.

Give it time to work - might take a few minutes of 'wetness' to break it down.

If it's going to work - there will be very little if any 'scrubbing'; something I'd recommend you avoid.

If it's a serious build up, a next level product like the CLR you mentioned, may be required.

Still I'd let it soak some so there would be as little aggressive efforts used as possible.

I've never used that on a marine product so can offer nothing in the way of expected results.

As a last resort, perhaps you could go this route . . .

A-Jay

Hahaha I wish ajay!

[WCWV]

I couldn't agree more about taking care of it.

I believe I would go A-jay's way and see what happens, by the looks you have nothing to loose. 

Once you get it, just keep it wiped, wash and wax it right along with the boat. 

 

[WRB]

1 to 1 or 50% vinegar and water tends to wet and break down calcium deposits, let soak.

3 to 1 baking soda to water paste follows the vinegar wash, use a sponge to work the paste and then rinse with warm water. May take a few tries to get the paint looking black again, it will not be glossy.

You will need a marine cleaner polish to restore a gloss to the paint.

Tom

[MickD]

I used dilute CLR on mine, and it worked fine.  Mine was not as bad or as long term as yours, though, so you may have to clean it many times.  

 

Once you get it cleaned up, use Lucas liquid spray wax each time after it's in the water, and it will clean the new, fresh, deposits off and put a shine on it (if there is a shine still left).  A-Jay, what's the Lucas product's name-you recommended it to me, but I forgot its name.

[A-Jay]

9 hours ago, MickD said:

I used dilute CLR on mine, and it worked fine.  Mine was not as bad or as long term as yours, though, so you may have to clean it many times.  

 

Once you get it cleaned up, use Lucas liquid spray wax each time after it's in the water, and it will clean the new, fresh, deposits off and put a shine on it (if there is a shine still left).  A-Jay, what's the Lucas product's name-you recommended it to me, but I forgot its name.

Lucas Oil Slick Mist Speed Wax works on a CLEAN hull ~ smells like Bazooka Bubble gum.  Nice.

Boat Bling Hot Sauce removes water spots off a waxed hull without removing the wax - it's a white vinegar based with a fairly strong vinegar smell.

 Lately I've been adding some of the Lucas to the hot Sauce - works well and smells better.

A-Jay

[Jig Man]

Cheap clean  CLR.  

 

Easy clean Pureklean descaler 

[brgbassmaster]

7 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Lucas Oil Slick Mist Speed Wax works on a CLEAN hull ~ smells like Bazooka Bubble gum.  Nice.

Boat Bling Hot Sauce removes water spots off a waxed hull without removing the wax - it's a white vinegar based with a fairly strong vinegar small.

 Lately I've been adding some of the Lucas to the hot Sauce - works well and smells better.

A-Jay

I used the boat bling also. Then realized it's just water vinegar and good smelling stuff lol. So been just reusing the bling bottle and mixing my own. 

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, brgbassmaster said:

I used the boat bling also. Then realized it's just water vinegar and good smelling stuff lol. So been just reusing the bling bottle and mixing my own. 

Yea - It's supposed to have some level of wax or sealant in it as well - does smell might fine though.

I'm guess your particular unit may require something with a little more 'gumbo' to get the results you're hoping for.

A-Jay

[brgbassmaster]

18 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Yea - It's supposed to have some level of wax or sealant in it as well - does smell might fine though.

I'm guess your particular unit may require something with a little more 'gumbo' to get the results you're hoping for.

A-Jay

I posted an update. Title is thanks for the help. Check it out. Night and day difference! Vinegar and water. 

[gim]

I tried the boat bling products myself recently and they are awesome.  The hot sauce removed all the water spots off my dark surfaces, the toon sauce cleans my aluminum hull, and the vinyl sauce cleaned all the water spots off my seats.  It smells kinda funky but it sure does work, and its easy to use.

[DINK WHISPERER]

I start with awesome spray cleaner and elbow grease. Then I use rubbing compound. I finish with Meguiar's Ultimate black gel. Looks like new afterwards.