Sponge for cleaning topsides.

[Hoohaa]

For a while now we have been using these amazing Morgan cleaning sponges to clean mould off surfaces around the house.
They do a fantastic job and don't require any detergents.
There are some warnings on the pack that says not to on polished surfaces. I am geusing this may rule out the topsides but was curious to see if anyone had given it a go on there fiberglass topsides?
Thanks

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[DRS]

Up here they go by the name of "Magic Erasers" they work great at cleaning smooth fiberglass / gelcoat. The non slip tears them to shreds.

[Jd1]

It is my opinion that the magic erasers are sponges with a fine abrasive in it's matrix (ever notice how the eraser doesn't work much past it's first use even if the foam is still there?). Although I have used it on the boat, I know I shouldn't. I would expect eventual surface damage. I would not use it on a surface that is shiny but am less concerned with gel coat that needs to be cut and polished. I might regret that in the future though ....

[Hoohaa]

Hmm. Sounds like proceed with caution...

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[GordMay]

Magic Erasers, Easy Erasing Pads and similar products all have the same key ingredient: melamine foam (formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer).
Melamine foam is an effective abrasive cleaner.
The open-cell foam is microporous and its polymeric substance is very hard, so that when used for cleaning it works like extremely fine sandpaper, getting into tiny grooves and pits in the object being cleaned.
This is also why you don't want to use it on any glossy surfaces (like fibreglass) - you'll scrape off the gloss coating.

Surfaces liable to scratching and varnished surfaces should not be cleaned with the “magician” ➥ http://www.plasticsportal.net/wa/pla...mer_eraser.pdf

[a64pilot]

Being cheap this has me wondering if a little soapy water on a sponge with baking soda would be as effective?

Soft scrub works better than anything else for me on anti skid for bird droppings.

[basssears]

Forgive my ignorance on this one, I'm new to having a boat in a marina instead of on a trailer.

Is using soapy water / soft scrub considered OK and then rinsing it into the water when you're in the marina? For years with our trailerable boat I have really enjoyed (OK, enjoyed might be wrong word, but it worked great) using SoftScrub for topsides as it whitens and cleans nicely, but I wasn't sure if I'd be able to do that while in my slip?

-- Bass

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Being cheap this has me wondering if a little soapy water on a sponge with baking soda would be as effective?

Soft scrub works better than anything else for me on anti skid for bird droppings.

[Sailorbob8599]

For cleaning gel-coat topsides, I have always used a product called 'Gel Gloss' ... Formulated for bathtubs and shower stalls, this product contains an extremely mild abrasive and premium wax content found in many top quality automotive waxes.
It can be found in many hardware stores or bathtub sales stores and is much cheaper than products marketed strictly for marine use. Easy to apply and even easier to wipe off, it leaves an excellent finish.
I clean my topsides twice per year and get many compliments on the result of my efforts. My boat hull was manufactured over 30 years ago and still looks awesome.
I have teak decks so I can't comment on non-skid gel-coat, with the exception of my cockpit floor. On this, I use a soft scrub brush with this same product. But then I also have a teak grid covering it so it doesn't really get wear and tear, only foreign material that falls thru the grid.

[Hoohaa]

Thanks for all the replies and thank you Gord. That post hit the nail on the head.

Jeff

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by basssears

Forgive my ignorance on this one, I'm new to having a boat in a marina instead of on a trailer.

Is using soapy water / soft scrub considered OK and then rinsing it into the water when you're in the marina? For years with our trailerable boat I have really enjoyed (OK, enjoyed might be wrong word, but it worked great) using SoftScrub for topsides as it whitens and cleans nicely, but I wasn't sure if I'd be able to do that while in my slip?

-- Bass

Depends on the rules where you are.

Ann

[Sandero]

Your glossy surfaces are under attack by wind carried stuff like sand and dust and over time your gloss with go satin and even dull. Waxes really fill in mirco pores and scratches and even provide a (temporary) barrier to resist the gentle onslaught.

You will eventually have to compound with very very fine abrasives to polish back to a high gloss.

Check out your auto windshield after a few years to see this process at work.