Waterline Scum

Kurt

Kurt

New Member
May 3, 2008
623
State Park Marina Table Rock Lake
Boat Info
2005 280 DA
Engines
Twin 5.0 Merc/B3's
Kohler 5K gen
My boat is out of the water getting the drives serviced and I want to clean the scum around the waterline. The boat is bottom painted and could probably use a repaint however, I want to wait until next year. Can I use an acidic hull cleaner such as Zing to clean the waterline without damaging the bottom paint? Any other suggestions are appreciated.
 
No experience with Zing. I've used FSR on my boats for years and never have seen any bottom paint problems. but then I'm pretty careful to not get much anywhere else as it obviously strips any wax protection. I put a rag on my finger, dip it into the FSR, wipe the gel between the paint and boot stripe, wipe off, go over it with Collinite precleaner and then apply a coat Collinite Fleetwax paste. I usually do this twice a summer and it keeps the waterline clean as a whistle.
 
FSR is good stuff.

Another easy option is Slimy Grimy - mix it up in a spray bottle with hot water. Spray it on, walk away. Come back 5 minutes later and say "Wow, that worked great!". No damage to bottom paint and environmentally friendly, too. I sometimes even just smoosh the stuff onto the stain with my fingers, too - a little water in my palm and make a quick paste.
 
searay40dad said:
No experience with Zing. I've used FSR on my boats for years and never have seen any bottom paint problems. but then I'm pretty careful to not get much anywhere else as it obviously strips any wax protection. I put a rag on my finger, dip it into the FSR, wipe the gel between the paint and boot stripe, wipe off, go over it with Collinite precleaner and then apply a coat Collinite Fleetwax paste. I usually do this twice a summer and it keeps the waterline clean as a whistle.
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Just did this exact procedure on Saturday.
 
Starbright's hull cleaner is amazing too if you have hard water or mineral stains in addition to the scum. Spray on and the stains disappear on contact. Spray off and your good as new.
 
Whatever you end up using, whether its Slimy Grimy, muratic acid, iron out, sno bowl, on/off, FSR, etc, you need to get the area stripped clean of the degreaser/acid residue you used and a good coat of wax back over it or you'll be doing it all over again in no time. A quality wax is your friend.
 
Thank you for the advice. I have never heard of Slimy Grimy or FSR so I need and try and find it. There is some hard water deposits so the FSR sounds more realistic. I wax every year in the spring but I wish I could twice a year.

Thanks again
 
Alegria said:
Slimey Grimey worked great for me. Just spary it on wait about 15 mins and rinse it off. Best part no acid.

Sent from my Galaxy S3
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Slimey Grimey is acid. I believe its Oxalic acid, the same as in wood brightener. Its just not as harsh as muriatic acid and gives off less fumes.
 
The scum is fairly adherent. I attempted to remove it with McGuire's cleaner wax and failed. I ordered a bottle of Slimy Grimy through Amazon for $20 or so.

For future reference, could this be done in the water as long as I can get coat of wax back on it?
 
Creekwood said:
Slimey Grimey is acid. I believe its Oxalic acid, the same as in wood brightener. Its just not as harsh as muriatic acid and gives off less fumes.
Click to expand...

Kurt said:
The scum is fairly adherent. I attempted to remove it with McGuire's cleaner wax and failed. I ordered a bottle of Slimy Grimy through Amazon for $20 or so.

For future reference, could this be done in the water as long as I can get coat of wax back on it?
Click to expand...

FSR and Starbright's Hull Cleaner are essentially the same product -- both contain 5% Oxalic acid and 91% water with the rest being non-toxic lubricants. I couldn't find an MSDS for Slimy Grimy but if it contains Oxalic acid then it's the same thing too.

I personally like Starbright because you can put it in a spray bottle and quickly spray the entire hull while on the trailer. By the time I finish spraying the both sides it's ready to be sprayed off with a hose.

It would be difficult to apply any of these while in the water unless is was really calm water. Not impossible but not easy.
 
anything with acid or any kind of degreaser (like simple green) is going to strip your wax off. I'd just use a good quality boat soap (like Woody Wax Boat soap) on the hull unless you have hard or tannic stains you need to remove. That's why I only use FSR (Davis Fiberglass Stain Remover) for the waterline stains and occasionally around a through hull and why I apply it carefully, not that its going to turn anything green but because I have no desire to re-wax a 50 foot hull more often than I need to. It takes me about 2 beers to float around the boat putting the FSR on, wiping it off, putting on the pre-cleaner, wiping it off, and putting on the wax. all done easily while in the water. if your boats trailerable, and its easier for you to do while its out, sure thing go for it. btw, I've seen several boaters clean their boats with Dawn or other dishwashing soaps. this also strips wax off.

FYI, the only stains I haven't seen Collinite #920 pre-cleaner remove are the harder tannic stains. It gets about everything else. the advantage here is that the area is now chemically prepped for the Fleetwax. they're formulated to work together to improve the bond.
 
Yes, you could use the Slimy Grimy while in the water - as long as the water doesn't immediately wash it off, of course. I have not used their "pre-mixed" stuff that's already in a spray bottle. I've only ever used the granular stuff and made my own mix, so I can't testify to how effective the pre-mix is.
 
I found FSR at Academy. I am going to give it shot in the next few days so I can wax after. I keep my boat slipped in a very calm slip so the Slimy Grimy sounds like it should work. Thanks for all of the advice. I have the port side drive off now getting some bearings replaced. I was losing a small bit of gear oil out the top of the reservoir. I also am having all the magnesium replaced.
 
Well the calcium deposits were worse than what I expected. The FSR did nothing so I found some toilet bowl cleaner "The Works" and carefully sponged it on. Now it is clean as a whistle. Reapplied the wax, project done.
 
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