www.iFourWinns.com

After my week at Smith Mountain Lake, the boat came out of the water looking rougher than it has after other trips. The water was very clean, clear and warm, but still left behind quite a residue. It looks like hard water staining along the waterline and on the hull. I tried washing and even waxing with a cleaner wax, but the residue is still there. I can scrape it off with a fingernail which could actually work along the waterline, but that is not a reasonable solution for the hull. I read on here somewhere that someone uses a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. Anyone have success with that? Any other suggestions?

Here you can kind of see what I am talking about on the hull. My new High Five is also all scaled-up.



Thanks for your help.

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Seth




2005 210 Horizon
5.0L GXi
"Don't Think Twice"

Seth, we have used the 50/50 vinegar and water mix for 20+ years with good luck. The longer the water spots have been accumulating, the harder they come off. But it still works.

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Surface Interval: A scuba diving term for that time between dives to relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

Current boat: '02 FW 268 Vista
Previous boat: '95 FW 190 Horizon

Thanks for the reply. I gave it a try on a small spot today to see what would happen. It did not do much, but I was just using a towel. I read on the interweb that 3m scotch bright pads work well in combination with vinegar/water mix. That sounds kind of abrasive to me, but I really don't know. What do you use to scrub with? It is not so much the water spots as it is the hard water build up along the water line and lower.

_________________
Seth




2005 210 Horizon
5.0L GXi
"Don't Think Twice"

When all else fails I lightly go over it with wet 1000 grit sand paper.
It's a very fine finish and then just wax.

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2003 Four Winns 170 Freedom Cincinnati, Ohio / Cape Coral, Florida

Before you use anything abrasive try a hull cleaner like Mary Kate On-Off, it is made for that purpose. I use Algex aluminum cleaner to get the crud off the outdrive after the season because it's mor gentle on the aluminum.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Works toilet bowl cleaner.
I tried this for the first time last year on my waterline with great results.

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2004 248 Vista "Amante"
MC 5.0MPI/B3

Toilet bowl cleaner.

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1996 278 Vista Dlx Twin 5.0
1999 Sea Ray 215 ex cruiser (sold)
1989 Seaswirl (sold)

Scotch bright pads will make a mess of your gel coat.

Hull cleaners like Starbrite have absorbic acid in them... This might work well.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

I have also had some success with Lime Away followed by a good waxing.

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum