Help cleaning boat

[Coweta]

Hi, I picked up my Heritage May 17, used it all summer and fall. But now, I have a very dark stain on the hull that is very hard to get off. I’ve tried West Marine aluminum cleaner, it works but leaves the hull white, and then you have the chore of cleaning that off, then polishing. I takes hours and hours. I’m wondering if everybody has run into this or if it is just me. The places I fish are Ft Gibson lake, Oolagah lake, Greenleaf lake, also the Navigation channel. I spoke to the supervisor and the detail person at Bass Pro, the detail man said he has never seen anything like it. I’m just looking for help here, as I said I’ve tried the West Marine, also Bar keeepers friend, and Soft Scrub(advice from Bass Pro).  Also, any advice on cleaning the boat after use?  Maybe I should wash it after every use? Thanks for your kind help. For what it’s worth, this is my first boat. 

Sorry, this should have been in the Tracker Heritage thread

[MN Fisher]

Simple Green. Non-toxic, biodegradable. Mix to an appropriate strength - don't use full-strength, it'll strip paint - and wash with perhaps a grey scrub pad (metal polishing).

[Coweta]

Thanks MN Fisher, I’ll try, but not sure if that is strong enough. I have some for use around the house tho, I’ll try that.

[Dirtyeggroll]

Get a spray bottle and wipe it down with a rag using an aluminum safe cleaner of your choice after every use. Takes 5 minutes. Less if you have your co-angler do one side.

[Log Catcher]

You're supposed to wash your boat? I think I cleaned mine maybe 5 or 6 years ago.

[Coweta]

Thanks for all of your replies.

[Big Rick]

You're gonna end up experimenting until you get it clean. But, moving forward, use a towel dipped in lake water to wipe the boat down as soon as you pull it out. The scum is still wet at that point and the vast majority will win right off. Then, when you get home, if the boat is still dirty you can hit it with a carwash brush and some soap. However, I thing you'll find the towel at the ramp will do the trick for the most part.

[Fishing Rhino]

When (not if) you get it clean, give it a good coat of wax or glaze before putting it in the water.  That will make it much easier to get rid of that scum at the waterline.

 

Try once a month to see what it takes to keep the boat spiffy.  Or, many every fourth or fifth trip.  Keeping it clean is much easier trying to clean accumulated grime.

[Coweta]

That’s good advice, thanks. I’m about half way done cleaning it, I will try your advice in the future.

[ratman]

Have had my heritage since february.My local lake has a boat wash,so I wash it after I pull out every time and I still have dark stain below water line.Actually still have some black marks from delivery.Bought flitz aluminum boat kit but that did not work,I need to clean it first.Been waiting for somebody to find something that does'nt turn white or make things more difficult.Thanks for starting thread and will be waiting to hear about something that works really works.

[gim]

This past season someone suggested Boat Bling cleaning products.  Their primary cleaning product is Hot Sauce but they also make Vinyl Sauce and Toon Sauce too, amongst other items.  Their products WORK!  And the really nice thing is that there's no water or scrubbing or rinsing required.  You simply spray it on and wipe it off with a microfiber towel.  I try to use it about 2-3 times a month during the season.  It will work whether you have an aluminum or fiberglass boat too.

 

What I can't confirm is whether it works when you have a really nasty water line stain on the hull that's been there for an extended period of time.  The reason I can't confirm that is because I never allow it to get that bad on my own boat.

[slonezp]

Sharkhide cleaner followed by Sharkhide protectant. Then you can just wipe down with water/vinegar mix after each outing.

[WRB]

Acid base cleaners tend to react to aluminum oxides and can strip the painted surfaces.

The white film after cleaning the dark grey stain is how the acidic cleaner looks after reacting. White vinegar and water solution is adding more acid. 

The dark stain could be a reaction with conductive particulates and aluminum hull do to electrical current from the battery ground. Try baking soda and water to neutralize the white oxides.

Trying to keep the aluminum hull bright and shiny is a never ending tash, let it turn dull grey and wipe off the scum with water and Bowt Bling after each trip when you put the boat back on the trailer.

Tom