Stained Cockpit Cusions

[craigwitt]

Any secrets to removing red (what looks like life jacket red) stains from the white sea ray 310 sundancer seat cushions in the cockpit lounge area?

 

[jason78]

I had the same problem year before last. Several here advised me to just let the sun do it's job rather that try a more abrasive technique. I gave it a shot and well, it worked. Suprised me. This was just sun while crusing as well. I have a covered slip and keep the mooring cover on when I am not using the boat.

 

[Nehalennia]

Any secrets to removing red (what looks like life jacket red) stains from the white sea ray 310 sundancer seat cushions in the cockpit lounge area?

Do you have pictures? Somehow I doubt it is from Lifevest. If it's pinkish, it may be the glue coming through the vinyl. Brunswick had a issue with this a while back, but I don't know if it pertains to your boat.
I like 303 vinyl cleaner. It's cleaned everything for us except an ink mark from a date stamp on a loaf of bread.
Best of luck.

 

[rcknecht]

magic eraser worked for me

 

[Bucit]

A light mixture of bleach (soft scrub) and water. Put a little soft scrub with bleach on the stain, rub it in and let it sit for a few minutes. Wash thoroughly with water and you should be OK.

 

[SteveRuss]

red/orange on a cushion that just seems to appear is usually mold in the foam. The reason the sun did the trick was because it dried it out. It will reappear from time to time and then fade in the sunlight. Only thing you can do is make sure you dry the seats well before covering for the night or you could get the foam changed in the seats. Cleaners won't help.

 

[N369RM]

To prevent this West Marine sells a small heater that blows warm air that people swear by them, even under canvas. I just bought one for $75 and we will see how it works.

For boats with shore power, assuming it works (fingers crossed), seems like a good idea.

Ron & Deborah Mason
1998 270 DA
7.4 Bravo III

 

[jason78]

I had the same problem year before last. Several here advised me to just let the sun do it's job rather that try a more abrasive technique. I gave it a shot and well, it worked. Suprised me. This was just sun while crusing as well. I have a covered slip and keep the mooring cover on when I am not using the boat.

red/orange on a cushion that just seems to appear is usually mold in the foam. The reason the sun did the trick was because it dried it out. It will reappear from time to time and then fade in the sunlight. Only thing you can do is make sure you dry the seats well before covering for the night or you could get the foam changed in the seats. Cleaners won't help.

Can't speak for the OP but mine was definitely a lifejacket. I laid it over the top of the cockpit seat to dry off. Came back next week and the logo of the lifejacket manufacturer was stained in to the seat. It went away after a summer of sun exposure and has not reappeared.

 

[RED DRAGON 1]

Magic eraser

 

[JimFromMD]

It's cleaned everything for us except an ink mark from a date stamp on a loaf of bread.
Best of luck.

+1 for date mark... except Hamburger buns. Talk about frustrating!

 

[MonacoMike]

I put the aft bench face down (seat cushion to seat cushion) on my side lounger for a week or two, a red mold appeared on the lounger only. Magic Eraser did not work on that. The sun did fairly quickly even though we are indoors for storage and only get sun when we are out.

MM

 

[Xplicitlnck]

I just bought my boat and all the vinyl was just beat up and pretty gross and stained so I was going to recover everything so since I was going to pay to have it all redone I wanted to try a little more aggressive way to clean not having to worry about ruining it I went to the store got 3m rubbing compound a little green scrub brush with very hard bristols and 3m vinyl cleaner. First I put the compound on the area and scrubbed with the brush when it started to dry sprayed some vinyl cleaner and when I was satisfied wiped te compound off sprayed again with vinyl cleaner and wipped off again. I really pushed when i scrubbed and let me say I was amazed no scratch marks no nothing looks brand new took me about 5hours to do the whole boat but I was so impressed I left the old vinyl and saved a couple thousand. I would say give It a shot good luck