Top Sides Cleaning Trick and Bronze Cleaning

[Dave and Jane Olson]

This is the first season for us with our 25D. What a wonderful boat!

We have her on the Triad trailer next to our garage for another two weeks before she goes to the barn. Minnesota winter... This is a nice arrangement for us because boat maintenance can be balanced with fall chores. Clean the hull, cut off the hastas!

I started to wash the stern with Fantastic with not good results. Same with Simple Green Marine, soap, Bon Ami was OK but VINEGAR WAS THE BEST.

I subsequently mixed roughly 2 tablespoons of salt with a squirt of joy and 2 cups of vinegar in a large souvenir beer cup. The Joy seems to keep the smell down and keep things wet longer.

I poured this on my cotton rag and coated the entire stern. I just kept gently rubbing the boat while adding enough to keep it all wet. It was clean in no time and no scratches on the gelcoat! This removed the waterline stains too!

I used a fingernail brush on the bootstripe and the white stripe between it and the bottom paint.

I spent about a half hour per side just keeping things wet and agitated. I then rinsed with the hose.

I used West Marine boat polish with Teflon and now the Sophie looks like she is brand new!

By the way, I scrubbed the tarnish off the exhaust through-hole and the bilge pump through-hole using this and a toothbrush. Then I will use a paste polish to get a little shineand seal the tarnish away for a while. I haven't tried this vinegar trick on polished bronze yet. It may etch the shine so be careful! Let me know experiences.


Dave and Jnae Olson
S/V Sophie
Minnetonka, MN



102065.2666@Compuserve.com

[D. Stump, Hanalei (CD-30)]

Dave & Jane,

The cleaning solution sounds like a good trick. Hanalei comes out on the hard next week or the week after, I'll give it a try when that happens. Only question is, how is the beer mug?? Regards....

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30