Cleaning hard water spots off our boat

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Squirrel said:
I'll meet up also, You guys can wax my boat, then we can test ALL your theories. Sq

I don't believe my boat has EVER been waxed.
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Deal. as long as you will wax my boat in exchange. And by boat, I mean houseboat, as that is the one that needs a waxing the most. ;)
 
Look out Squirrel, I think it's going south on you! Ryan, where were you when we had the Front Range Breakfast??
GregC
 
GregC said:
Look out Squirrel, I think it's going south on you! Ryan, where were you when we had the Front Range Breakfast??
GregC
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The only one I remember was a few years back. Wasn't there a pretty big snowstorm that day?

If another is set up, I would like to try to make it.
 
I am happy (as already suggested by Squirrel and Ryan) to use my boat as a guinea pig as well! We have used about everything suggested, and perhaps to all but the most critical eye, the water spots are pretty minimal. It's just that I am rather attached to my boat!--as I notice most everyone else is, too. What I think is we are all getting pretty bored and ansty about not fishing and will find any subject related to fishing pretty fascinating at the moment! Fish On!
 
White cleaning vinegar works better than anything I tried, and I tried every product recommended on this thread and then some. Bar none, white cleaning vinegar straight out of the bottle is perfect for water spots, and it's cheap at $2.50 a gallon. After you're done let it dry, then wipe with a water-moist towel. About every 3rd or 4th time I apply a quick coat of wax. Biggest thing in my opinion is to keep your boat out of the sun when stored. Buy a big cover to keep it out of UV. I also use the 303 Aerospace UV protectant on everything including vinyl hull, etc.
 
I have a black wake boat that can be very hard to keep clean if you don't keep on top of it. And yes, I fish out of it! When the boat comes out of the water I use 25% vinegar and 75% water (preferably filtered water....either distilled or out of the kitchen fridge dispenser) in a 1 gallon weed sprayer. But get on the cleaning right away for best results. I know the vinegar cuts a little of the wax...so I put 1 cup of Babes Boat Bright wax in the one gallon spray bottle each time I fill it. So it is applying some wax at the same time it is dissolving hard water spots and making the boat SHINE like the black beauty that she is. She looks amazing even after sitting in the water for a week at Lake Powell.
 
My father has always used a product called driven on his 34 cobalt. It does not remove wax. It is sold as a concentrate and smells great, unlike hot sauce.
People are surprised when they hear the boat is a 2005. You can find it on amazon or on their web site.
 
Their web site is; driventoperfection.com. The product he uses is their quick spray concentrate. Each pint of concentrate makes a gallon of spray. They usually have a deal on their web site if you buy 4 bottles in any combination, four for the price of 3. Check the "specials" tab.
 
I finally got around to cleaning the water spots off our boat. I just wanted to report that I used the new "cleaning" vinegar. It is stronger than regular vinegar. I sprayed it on, used one of those Mr Clean cleaning pads (they are a soft, white little block. ) For some reason, they are great for cleaning. don't last long, but really help make the job easier. One thing you probably need to do, especially since it's stronger, is use a wet rag and wipe it down after cleaning it. I worked in about 4 ft sections, and wiped it dry after that as well. Happy to report that I cannot find one hard water spot on my boat and my motor looks like it's never been in the water! It is also very shiny, but I will go ahead and wax it anyway (My once a year thing). It took about 45 minutes to clean the whole boat. Thanks for all your suggestions and advice. I won't do all that when I get it out of the water each time, but will continue to use Hot Sauce I think.
 
Vinegar is the best best.

But was is bad for gel coat, the gel coat sucks it in and starts to make the gel coat chalky and fade (or yellow if you have a white boat.

Use a glaze instead of wax (make sure there is no wax in the glaze. 3m makes a great glaze and makes the the boat look brand new.

Ryan said:
Vinegar and water is very effective at removing hard water spots. Unfortunately, it is equally as adept at removing wax. Which is why we stopped using it.

On my Malibu, I use Hot Sauce as soon as the boat comes out of the water. It is good enough that it will even remove the stains from Powell. And, unlike vinegar, it has no effect on the wax on your boat. I like it so well that I actually bought a 5 gallon container.

For my Lund, I have used their Toon Sauce a few times. I haven't had as much experience as the Hot Sauce, but from what I have seen, it works very well.

https://www.iboats.com/shop/boat-bl...1P7TxN3DADL7IMrtN0BV0nh1pwO2wf-BoCKKQQAvD_BwE
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I had my Lund wet sanded, I copuld not beleive how it worked, I had tire mark's, from year's of night fishing, and tying off to tire's, and what a difference it made. I did'nt realize you could wet sand aluminum. But that's for a real ugly boat, like mine was, and when your not going to hurt it anyway.
 
When I Googled "gel coat for boats" it said it is for fiberglass boats. So I should just stick with a wax finish for my aluminum boat unless someone knows a secret??
 
sphoppie said:
Vinegar is the best best.

But was is bad for gel coat, the gel coat sucks it in and starts to make the gel coat chalky and fade (or yellow if you have a white boat.

Use a glaze instead of wax (make sure there is no wax in the glaze. 3m makes a great glaze and makes the the boat look brand new.
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Interesting do you have some data to backup gel coat soaks up vinegar and causes chalking? Never heard that before,. Looki g at this link to 3m glaze it looks to be polishing compound www.amazon.com/3M-35928-Finesse-Marine-Glaze/ used after heavy cutti ng compound, 3m also sell marine wax which I just used with good results after polishing. Not doubting but would like to see research supporting claim on vinyger causing chalking. Been using it for 20+ years now, no problems.
 
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