Getting rid of shoe scuff marks

[Rickysa]

Just got the boat back from the yard and have a black cockpit now. Yardman hit the oil-fill valve (after pulling the fill hose from its bucket) and managed to drain both engines and genset oil into the engine room...

They got it cleaned up (after trying to charge me for an oil change!), but the cockpit is full of scuff marks...not so much from the oil, but the running shoes the yardmen were wearing.

I've tried elbow grease and soap, on/off (acid), pretty much everything in the dockbox...any suggestions?

Rick

 

[Nonchalant1]

I've had the best luck with a nylon scrubber side of a dish sponge and regular 409 cleaner. Don't use Scotchbrite scrubbers. They'll clean anything but scratch anything they touch in the process.

Doug

 

[Traveler 45C]

Try WD-40, it worked for me.

 

[Rickysa]

Thanks folks, just the info I was needing...wouldn't have thought about WD-40!

 

[ELECTRA VI]

I have had some issues with my yard concerning shoddy workmanship and leaving open oil containers in the bilge, but never got her back as you describe. What I did was sit down with the yard foreman with the list of items I was unhappy with and asked point blank, "Is this the current industry standard?" The next time I had to deal with them, they had promised to pick up the boat to do some engine work while I was in California. That was last year when Ivan and Jean came our way. They came and picked up the boat and stored through both storms. Sometimes you have to force the issue with them. As far as cleaning my deck, I use a solution of Clorox, detergent and water. It gets just about everything up. Never tried WD-40. That sounds interesting.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I once mixed up some BarKeepers Friend with some AwlCare. It added just a bit of really fine grit to the "wax". It was just enough to remove the marks without scratching the surface up.

 

[Trojan]

I use nothing but a sponge and MEAN GREEN. Nothing but MEAN GREEN. Its cheap $5.00 at Family Dollar. Try it you will love it. Spyder droppings just run off. Works on everything. Does wonders in a rug machine. Bill

 

[jim rosenthal]

If that doesn't work, I have had good luck with the Interlux Stain Remover. It seems to get most stains off. It does not seem to hurt the paint.

 

[MicroKap]

When I was up at the Hatteras Northeast Rendezvous in Rhode Island this summer, the Awlgrip rep said to use the least abrasive product first. Never use Soft Scrub, Simple Green, Comet, etc. as they will rough up the exterior and damage the barrier protection capabilities, creating crevices in the paint. They recommended vinegar in water as the first line cleaning product and going up from there. There weren't any reps present for Imron, but I'm sure that the recommendations wouldn't be much different.

Larry K.
1980 60' Sportfish
Monmouth Beach, NJ

 

[ADaily3224]

Try Spray-9 Available at hardware and marine supply stores.

Tony D

 

[captddis]

ditto the spray9. If you have that you can throw everything else away. I use it for everything from degreasing engines to cleaning headliners.

 

[Trojan]

What is the price of a can of this stuff and how big are the cans? Will it catch fire? I clean the whole boat with Mean Green. Not Simple Green. Simple Green does not work. Mean Green also removes bird crap and won't catch fire. I won't use anything to clean with that will burn. It cost about $2.50 to wash the boat. Use whatever YOU like. Bill

 

[ADaily3224]

Spray-9

It's made by a company called Knights. As the above post states it cleans everything. It is not a petroleum product, does not burn, unless you get it in your eyes, does not seem to bother skin, I use it to wash my hands. It doesn't bleach or stain clothing. It's unbelievable on stained vinyl cushions, I have a Boston Whaler Outrage with white upholstery and white bolsters, it makes them look like brand new. Those black marks that run down the side of your hull where the water drains from the deck, wipes them right off.

It comes in a plastic quart spray or 1 gallon jug. You use it straight. I think Power Boat Reports gave it a very high rating. It's pretty expensive, maybe $8.99 a quart. I found out about it through our detail shop about 25 years ago when it was only available in 50 gallon drums. In the last 15 years it's become available on the open market. The marine and household grades seem the same to me. It's also a very powerful disinfectant, it makes the head area smell clean and fresh. If you spray it on your deck or non skid it will scrub up to a nice foam and when rinsed everything looks new.
Drawbacks: It will take wax off immediately. If you wax your boat and spray this stuff on straight, it will take the wax right off. I re waxing when this happens, just kind of spot it in.
Lastly, it's a great insect killer, spiders, wasps, bees, gets them all and makes them clean too.

Have Fun.
Tony D