Black spots in diamond pattern non-skid

jsed

jsed

Active Member
Feb 21, 2008
301
West Michigan
Boat Info
2002 360 Sundancer
Zodiac 310 RIB, 15hp Johnson
Engines
Twin 8.1S
Looking for some cleaning advice. I'm getting some very small black spots in the nooks and crannies of my diamond pattern non-skid. Aside from soft scrub, what's the best way to clean this? I've tried star brite non skid cleaner, spray nine, standard boat wash.
Any advice is appreciated!
 
Bleach and water mix with a strong brush or a pressure washer.
 
After you get it clean with some diluted soap in a bucket of water containing a little bleach, a good polish and wax job will go a long way towards preventing the return. I have been using Woody Wax Pine Soap this year and the non-skid Woody Wax. The soap has some wax in it and the Woody Wax spray product is made for non-skid surfaces. I have been surprised that the hype about these products appears to be mostly true. You do need to start with a clean, polished, waxed hull before using these products but they seem to preserve the glossy finishes throughout our west Michigan boating season.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the feedback. I will try the bleach tomorrow.
 
I had a big problem with the deck mold last year, I used the soft scrub with bleach. Starbright non-skid would not touch it. A couple coats of Shurhold Pro Polish and I have had no problem this year.
 
Key with starbrite, wash the area, while it is wet, spray it on, brush it well, then let it sit.

After 4-5 minutes then rinse while brushing.
 
Michigan... late Summer... less sun... It sounds like mold, so the bleach method would be my choice, too. I usually just mix it up at about 5:1 with water and spray it on. Ideally, do it out of the sun or early/late in the day so the stronger sun doesn't evaporate it too quickly. Spray it on, walk away, come back in 5 minutes, should be gone. Finish by washing it off with your boat soap and brush. In the future, if you keep up on washings, it should help keep the mold away, too.
 
Keep in mind that most of these methods strip wax and you will be causing oxidation by removing the protective coating. It's best to avoid that if you can.
 
I live in West Michigan also, and the only thing I've found that works is something with bleach. I use Zep Mold & Mildew Stain Remover in the spray bottle. You can get it at Home Depot. All you do is spray it on, wait about 5 mins and wash like usual and the mold is gone. Works like magic. As for it stripping your wax...this late in the season, it doesn't bother me too much as the boat is going in for storage soon. I also use the Meguiars Flagship Premium Wash-N-Wax which leaves just a little bit of wax on the boat after washing. Hope this helps.
 
Boat works today web site has a video on cleaning and waxing non slip and he uses a 6" carpet brush on a cordless drill.After cleaning with it he also uses it to wax the surface also.I tried it and it does a great job.
 
Ok. So I tried Spray Nine again yesterday after I washed the boat and dried it. Seemed to work OK. I only did a portion as I was not sure of the results. Lot of rain last night so I'll finish today/tomorrow.
As for keeping up with washing - I'm a fanatic when it comes to a clean boat. Full wash once a week with touch ups throughout the week. The non-skid was waxed prior to spring launch. Based on what I'm reading here, it might be good to was the non-skid again mid-season(?). Woody wax is $40! Quite a bit for a small spray bottle. It will be worth it if it keeps the spots away.
Regarding the Star Brite deck cleaner - is there a ratio for mixing with water? There is nothing listed on the bottle. I'm assuming 3 full caps to 1-2 gallons?
 
I wasn't implying that you don't do upkeep on your boat - more of just a general statement. Mold doesn't grow on clean, inorganic surfaces. By not waxing the non-skid it allows for oxidation/degradation of the surface which allows for organic substances to get "caught" much easier than if it was a smooth surface - and the coating of wax helps even more. Oxidation, under a microscope, looks like the surface of the water with a wind blowing on it. Properly prepared gelcoat (shiny reflection) looks like water with zero wind... "like glass". I never waxed my foredeck nonskid, but I did use a stiff brush for washing that area and that seemed to keep the little mold suckers away. Although I still got them once in awhile. I've never heard anything bad about the Woody Wax, though, and if I did start waxing the nonskid that would be what I would use.

Yes - definitely do another waxing on the non-skid - some waxes wear out quicker than others. Plus, a non-skid deck takes the full brunt of the sun - much more so than other areas of the boat. So the wax would tend to wear out quicker there than other places.
 
Woody Wax is expensive, but a little goes a really long way. The bottle will last you a long time.
 
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