Cleaning the "mascara" marks off fiberglass.

[strace]

For some reason this summer I've been experiencing the "mascara black drip" marks way more than usual. Mainly around the snaps of the cockpit cover and all along the pinstriping. Cockpit cover area I get, but around the decals I really don't understand why. Oh well, my question is what is everyone using to remove these markings. Some say not to use directly on decals and some don't. Not looking to test numerous products over time, just what has proven to work for you. 99 Sundancer 270, looking for something to clean white/cream colored fiberglass all around the boat. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

[Quint4]

Your canvas is dirty and the run off is causing your trouble.

 

[mrsrobinson]

You can install isinglass strips under the rub rail where the water runs off, that will help as well. By design on my 330 where the water ran off always left black streaks on the hull. Canvas guy suggested this to me, he cut me four strips, I installed them, and the black streaks went away.

 

[techmitch]

Or you can focus on the root cause.

 

[techmitch]

The black streaks man, the black streaks...

 

[ErikE]

I use a boat eraser on areas that don't clean up with my normal washes.

And let the comments begin on the evils of boat eraser

Premium Boat Scuff Erasers
https://a.co/d/90z1Xm3

 

[ocgrant]

use some meguiars cleaner wax on a micro fiber and the black marks come right off. Plus you are coating the fiberglass with new wax to prevent it again.

 

[dvx216]

The Air this summer with all the Canadian forest fires might have something to do with it.

 

[KevinC]

@Quint4 was correct with his advice. The weave of the canvas works to trap dirt particle that float in the air and settle on the boat. Then when the canvas gets wet the water washes off most of the dirt particles that take the same path of least resistance. Not all that dirt will wash down the side of the boat/hull and will leave the dirt marks as streaks. With all the smoke from the fires this year it is even more evident.

Depending on what the dirt was and how it sticks to your boat will determine the best cleaners to use. If your hull was properly sealed then you should not need anything to harsh to get it off. I usually recommend starting with the least harsh and working your way up. Keep in mind that the harsher you go the more likely you will need to reseal that area.

-Kevin

 

[Smashpjp]

In Sandusky, we always have this issue with the black soot from the air, but this year its been alot worse with the Canadian wildfires. After a week, just a wipedown of the isinglass produces a black towel..

 

[Strecker25]

Same in Rochester, everything is black/sooty. I’m surprised it travels that far with enough to be this noticeable but it has completely covered our canvas.

 

[Creekwood]

Agree with all of the above. It’s dirt and probably smoke this year. Two years ago I bought some cleaner designed for sunbrella. I wet the top, then sprayed on the cleaner and brushed it with a deck brush. When I went to rinse it I was shocked by the colour of the rinse water. It was coffee coloured. Really really dark and dirty. After I dried it and re-applied the 303 protectant, my hull streaks stopped (for a while). I am due to do that again, but I probably will replace the forward parts of the top next spring, so won’t clean this year (I’ll reach out to @KevinC when I do)

 

[my3sons]

Its been bad. No problem washing it off with the normal wash for the first 2 months, then became a pita so a quick Meguires touch up as mentioned above and it washes off easily again for a while. The wind actually let up enough yesterday to use the foam cannon on the bimini and then rinse it, (can't really get up there with the brush very easily) and that helps.

 

[Stee6043]

I can't clean my canvas enough this year to avoid it. Streaks...and streaks.

I've used Roll Off successfully to remove the black. It's easy to use - spray on, boat brush off, rinse. I do it on my sides from the dock/dinghy. If I can reach an area easily (eg. transom locker door) I do also use cleaner wax.

 

[strace]

Brain fart......never thought about the smoke from Canada. I'm directly across from Canada, can see them from my slip. Guess I'll start with some cleaner wax or spray and something else to reseal afterwards. Canvas sounds like it will need a bath as well. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[strace]

Brain fart......never thought about the smoke from Canada. I'm directly across from Canada, can see them from my slip. Guess I'll start with some cleaner wax or spray and something else to reseal afterwards. Canvas sounds like it will need a bath as well. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Blueone]

If I were you I would put your mascara on over the sink or a bucket

 

[techmitch]

If I were you I would put your mascara on over the sink or a bucket

That's the best one in a while. ROFLMFAO

 

[mrsrobinson]

If I were you I would put your mascara on over the sink or a bucket

Or stop crying so much while on the boat

 

[Scott215]

@Creekwood . Did you spray entire canvas with 303. And what 303 did you use , I have 303 that I use on my vinyl inside the boat thank you