How Do You Get Rid Of Those Black Scuff Marks?

[Muscongus]

I borrowed an aluminum boat from my Dad as a tender over the summer. I have purchased a fiberglass one for next season.

I have all sorts of black scuffs on the sides of my boat now AND a bunch of those rub marks on my Dad's boat from where it was tied up with others at the town dock.

I am planning to repaint my boat this spring, but, have some other things competing for the money. I may have to just clean her good.

Regardless, though, I need to clean up Dad's boat before I return it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Dan

[Seaworthy Lass]

Try WD40 spray and a rough green kitchen scourer (if the aluminium is unpainted).

[SaucySailoress]

I think your dad may well understand that bumps and grazes are part of the package when boats get used...

[Auzzee]

If the scuff marks are on the fibreglass boat, for which the aluminium dinghy was the tender, it is best to use an automotive polish with a light cutting action. The black marks are from aluminium oxide. It may look a bit odd when you have little patches of shiny, bright gelcoat, but when you clean the whole boat it will look uniform. If however you use something too abrasive such as scouring pads or Jiff, you will mark the surface and be left with dull patches when you polish the entire hull.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Auzzee

If the scuff marks are on the fibreglass boat, for which the aluminium dinghy was the tender, it is best to use an automotive polish with a light cutting action. The black marks are from aluminium oxide. It may look a bit odd when you have little patches of shiny, bright gelcoat, but when you clean the whole boat it will look uniform. If however you use something too abrasive such as scouring pads or Jiff, you will mark the surface and be left with dull patches when you polish the entire hull.

Yes, agreed, that's why my technique had the proviso of only being suitable for unpainted aluminium. The cleaned bit may look disparate at first, but the surface quickly oxidises.

[Kettlewell]

Try Prism Polish. Best stuff I have found for removing marks on fiberglass and works well on metal too.

[Paul Elliott]

If the black scuff marks are from rubber / vinyl fenders or dock bumpers, you can try using acetone and a rag. It works great on my gelcoat.