Cleaning a stain out of Gel-Coat?

[porsche4life]

We have a wave runner that has had the misfortune of sitting outside for a bit. The footwell areas filled with water and good OK red dirt. Now the gel coat has a nice pinkish red hue that won't wash out with carwash soap. I tried good old elbow grease and some zymol as well to no avail.

Anyone have any suggestions? I'd like to wash this out before I put in the new mats.

[KevinP73]

Try scrubbing it with Soft Scrub bathroom cleaner. It'll clean fiberglass in general but I've not got any experience with OK red dirt. If that doesn't work try straight bleach.

[drcoastline]

starbrite hull cleaner. no rubbing no scrubbing. just wipe it on.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

starbrite hull cleaner. no rubbing no scrubbing. just wipe it on.

^^^ This...I'd be wary of harsher stuff also...

[Jferr006]

Hubs used the 3 step Mcguires stuff on his buddy's boat last year and it looked brand new. It probably wouldn't take long at all to do on a wave runner.

[UconnTim97]

We had good results with Gel-Gloss on my parents' boat. It removes stains and leaves a protective wax coating when you are done.

[ErVikingo]

I have had good results with "Clorox Magic Eraser"

[red-beard]

If it is Oklahoma clay in the gel, you might try a clay bar.

[porsche4life]

I tried ice clay bar and zymol already. Ill try some of the other suggestions this weekend when it warms up. It's in the 30s and raining, I'm not that worried about it.

[Zeke]

I think you're gonna have to wet sand it and polish it out. Gel coat is no more than paint made with resin, i.e., pigments and a medium that cures.

[ale 911]

I use muriatic acid I believe it's 15%. Just pour a bit or spray in the stain you'll see how the stain "dissapear" after that pour water on it to remove the acid and that's it. It even removes rust stains. I just let it stand for about 30 sec and washed it down. Just in case it would do something to the gel coat but never had a problem with it.

[dhoward]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

starbrite hull cleaner. no rubbing no scrubbing. just wipe it on.

This. Hydrochloric acid. Used it on my boat all the time.

[Rot 911]

Starbrite hull cleaner will work. For a cheaper alternative, that at least works on boat hulls here at Lake of the Ozarks, try "The Works" tub and tile cleaner. Also lots of boat hull stains can be removed with just vinegar.

[flyenby]

I have had great luck with the cleaner CLR on fiberglass tub enclosures