Cleaning Dirty Fenders

[Paul D.]

Does anyone have a simple cleaning method for cleaning white plastic fenders? Several of mine have seemed to have rubbed up against some sticky mess that is testing my assortment of solvents and sponges. I also cannot seem to find the copy of Good Old Boat that had a remedy for this very thing which I put away in a place I knew I would remember.

I have not tried denatured alcohol yet but wanted to check first if this would be OK if even recommended. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I'll have more deckhands handle the things if they looked and felt a bit more decent! Seriously, whatever sticky goo is on these should be used by wide receivers everywhere.

[Joe CD MS 300]

Recently used a Star Brite fender cleaner. It worked Ok but left a few stubborn stains. Then tried Clorox cleaner with bleach. Sprayed it on and left for a while and actually forgot about it. When I checked it was all very white. Also worked very well on white throw float cushions.

[jim trandel]

Hi Paul,
I use Spray Nine cleaner on about anything dirty on my boat. Spay it on for a minute or two and leave the cleaner do its work.
Good luck,
Jim

[tartansailor]

Paul,
When you say "sticky mess" we really need to know the source. If it's sap or creosote from wood, then
a water based system like Dawn dish wash would seem appropriate.
If it's tar from a tarred piling, then VMP Naphtha from a paint store would easily dissolve tar.
If the above does not work then assuming it came from a polluted water source, then look at in the following order:
alcohol, acetone, MEK, and finally toluene.
If it turns out to be bacterial growth embedded in the plastic, try hydrogen peroxide followed by pine oil.
If none of the above work, trash them then canvas cover new ones.
imho.
Dick

[bottomscraper]

We had some "sticky mess" of unknown orgin on our fenders. "Krud Kutter" worked real well, I think we found it at Lowes or Home Depot.

http://www.krudkutter.com/

[Paul D.]

This is a bizarre sticky mess of unknown origin. I cannot denote a specific smell like creosote. And it does not strike me as mold or mildew. Just very sticky and gummy, effecting the topsides even. I will try some of the suggestions here, thanks, and also bring my assortment of solvents and share my learnings. Hope to make it aboard this weekend. Maybe I can make it a science experiment for my boys!

If I could just put a word in for the function and durability of the humble modern fender. They take some amazing abuse. More than once our topsides have been saved by my rare insight to have the idlest person aboard stand with a fender, ready to put it between the 13,000 lb. boat and whatever we were about to hit. They get little love and ridden hard and put away wet. I bet old timers would have killed for these things!

[Ken Cave]

There is a product that really does the job, especially on sticky tops of inflatable dinghies and taking off the crud you get on the bottoms if left in the water for a period of time.

It is called Mary Kate and can be purchased in most marine stores for about $11.00 a quart. Just spray the product on your bumpers or dinghy and watch it work. If used on the bottom of your dinghy, just use a soft brush then rinse it off with water.

If used on your dinghy, you might want to paint on a rubber paint to protect it. I have had my inflatable dinghy since 1995 and usually refresh the rubber paint on topsides about every other year. No sticky mess to contend with!!

Ken Cave
Cape Dory #227
LaConner, WA