Cleaning Fenders

[deblen]

Just passing along my recent experience with cleaning fenders that worked extremely well for me.
I have a white Taylor 8 x 23 & a white with blue ends Polyform F3.Both were badly marked up & scuffed with black embedded in the scuffs,as well as stained on the smooth areas.
I tried several different cleaners : Detergents/soaps,Spray Nine,Fantastic,GooGone,Laquer thinner,Javex chlorine bleach 5.5% & Acetone -all with a cloth & a scrubbing pad.
Most of these cleaned some areas reasonably well,but none could clean the scuffed areas.
I then borrowed a method used by lobstermen to clean fouling from their bouys.
I took a clean plastic 20L/5Gal pail,added a gal of Javex,(less may work)stood fender in pail,used a bungie cow hitch to lash top eye of fender to the bail & filled pail to brim with fresh water. Let sit for a couple hrs.(may have worked sooner).
Removed fender & rinsed bleach off-beautiful snow white.
Inverted fender & repeated other end.
After rinsing & drying,I waxed fenders with Nufinish car wax to seal surface.
Cheers/ Len

[IdoraKeeper]

That's excellent): My method has been to drag them clean behind the boat...works but takes several days atleast.

[David M]

Acetone and then vinyl protectant. Works for me.

[Sailor647]

Tilex Mold and Mildew Remover and a green Scotchbrite pad. Bling!

[SY FRIDA]

Any oven cleaner foam spray will work. Spray the foam onto the fender, wait ten minutes, rinse with water: bling

[SVTatia]

Timely question.
I just found 4 fenders in the trash bin, pretty dirty, oily and looked beyond repair.
I took them and cleaned with lacquer thinner, using gloves and several rags.
They now look like new, even the brown sunburn stain is gone.
This is the same method I used when I restored the cowl vents, only that I paint the cowls after cleaning them.

[Stu Jackson]

paint brush & roller cleaner, easier than acetone

[AD28]

old sweatpants made into fender covers

[Sailor Doug]

I power wash them and then a coat of vinyl paint.


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[Schooner Chandlery]

I've washed them, scrubbed a bit and when they're still bad, put them in some fender covers. The benefit--the covers themselves actually polish the fenders. I discovered that after 3 years of cover when I took them off the sunburn was gone from the fenders. Rubbed off!