Cleaning Rails? How do I do it?

[DiMisa1977]

My 34 Sundancer is an '06 with less than 100 hours. The stainless steel rub rails are starting to look bad, they have rusty brown looking spots on them. How do I get them looking new?

 

[CSR_Admin]

Use Woody Wax. It is worth its weight in gold (and costs accordingly) :grin: It is very popular among the fishing crowd. It will renew the finish and protect it. Flitz is also nice if you have any problem spots.

16 oz Woody Wax

 

[fwebster]

or a good quality boat wax, acrylic sealer or even WD-40.......just anything that forms a barrier and maked water droplets bead up and fall off. I forget your location, but a good rinse with fresh water after using the boat goes a long way in caring for your stainless.

Stainless will rust and that is what you are seeing. Just clean it up and wax it and it'll look like new. This is one of those unforseen pleasures of boat maintenance.......stainless isn't really stainless and needs to be waxed.....bet your salesman omitted telling you that one!

 

[sbw1]

The quick and dirty way to clean stainless rails is to wheel it off using Finesse or some other fine rubbing compound. Boating in fresh water means we don't pick up rust, but some dock pilings have creosote and other things that stain rails. I cleaned some of this stuff off yesterday when I was waxing the toe rail. Works like a charm.

 

[Sea Ray 300]

Colinite Metal Wax.
We've been using it on our rails (in salt water) for years, and it works great..
http://www.collinitemarine.com/products.htm#850

 

[jackson]

rails

I use NEVR-DULL. It is wadding that comes in a blue can and cleans and polishes stainless, brass, chrome, etc. You just tear off a piece of the wadding and rub it on the metal, then wipe/buff with dry cloth. It will remove the rust spots. Works great!

 

[Bridog]

I'll second the Nevr-Dull. Probably need to put some type of wax on afterward though.

 

[Skip]

The rails and all exterior stainless on the 420 were in lousy shape when we bought her. Two hours and one can of flitz and they looked great, and stayed that way all season, without any follow up or wax applied. Moving her to fresh water no doubt helped.

regards
Skip

 

[Robski97]

I too used Flitz.. has that applicator now, it worked well....

Rob

 

[370Dancer]

Barkeeps's Friend - it is an acid, so be sure to wash it off after applying, and don't lick your fingers. About 10 cents a pound in the grocery store. :smt038

 

[First Born]

Does anyone use Meguiars Metal Polish #93? That is what I had planned on using for all the stainless.

 

[280 SeaRay]

yessir... but you already knew that. I have also tried the NXT Metal polish.... not sure what I think yet.... :thumbsup:

 

[Dave S]

I always use Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish.....it works great on all kinds of metal. And I also use it to polish out dull or marked spots on my gelcoat as well. I also use it on the car and have used it on my motorcycles too. I have used nothing else but Mothers Metal polish for over 25 years so I guess you could say I am satisified. :thumbsup:

 

[firecadet613]

Would Buff Magic work? I've got a scratch on my rub rail that has a few rust spots forming on it.

 

[bmac]

Does anyone use Meguiars Metal Polish #93? That is what I had planned on using for all the stainless.

Yes I have, I like the results. Easy on, easy off.:smt038

 

[gerryb]

Colinite Metal Wax.
We've been using it on our rails (in salt water) for years, and it works great..
http://www.collinitemarine.com/products.htm#850

+1. Tried a few others but this seems to work the best.

 

[Stray Cat]

Would Buff Magic work? I've got a scratch on my rub rail that has a few rust spots forming on it.

Until I found Flitz, that is all I ever used. You have to work it a bit, but it will clean and make the rails shine. Have plenty of old rags, it'll turn them black.

 

[JV II]

To remove the rust: Boeshield T-9 and a lot of elbow grease as your punishment for letting it get that bad.

To protect it so it doesn't do that again: Woody Wax at least every month.

 

[firecadet613]

Until I found Flitz, that is all I ever used. You have to work it a bit, but it will clean and make the rails shine. Have plenty of old rags, it'll turn them black.

Great thanks.

 

[Chris R]

Re: rails

I use NEVR-DULL. It is wadding that comes in a blue can and cleans and polishes stainless, brass, chrome, etc. You just tear off a piece of the wadding and rub it on the metal, then wipe/buff with dry cloth. It will remove the rust spots. Works great!

+1 on the wadding. It is simple and not messy. Use some latex gloves and simply grab the rail with the wadding in your hand and go up and down the rails. Buffs off really easy. Removes all the brown stuff you are talking about. You can find it at WalMart or any auto parts store. The liguids are are a pain and can drip all on your gel coat- which you do not want.