water spots

[MAD]

I have owned a couple of boats and water spots seam to be always be a battle. does anyone know a product or secret to removing water spots?

[David]

With a completely black/red boat, we used to have terrible water-spots. We would clean and scrub as hard as we could with the marine cleaner stuff but nothing worked.

We picked up a bottle of ducky and it worked really well but was a bit pricey at marine stores.

We then did the good ol' half vinegar / half water solution and besides the not-so-good smell, its worked great and has left the boat with not one single water-spot.

[smendez]

I go w/ David. We use Ducky - no smell, no mess, no water spots.

I've heard of the water / vinegar solution, though I have never tried it myself.

[TeamAllen]

Water/Vinegar. A gallon of vinegar is about a dollar at the store and will last for years. I have also heard of people using water/CLR. It is more expensive at around $5/qt.

[bfrank]

TeamAllen has the cure!!!! alittle vinegar works wonders!!!! dont waste your time with any thing else!! Pluse it makes your boat smell great :cool:

[Ruune]

water/vinegar is acidic and will cause the wax on your boat to separate- thus stripping it off.

CLR is HIGHLY acidic (hydrochloric acid) and can damage your gelcoat w/ frequent use. Dont get this on any metal plating... especially if its already started oxidizing (i.e. your trailer).

Ducky is inert (for the most part), and removes water spots just as well or even better. I've been using it on boats and jet skis for years, and wouldnt use anything else!

[bfrank]

It might be acidic, but I wax my boat every two weeks, as well as take off the water spots. Never had a problem in 15 years of boating.

[TeamAllen]

That's alot of waxing bfrank. I bet the 97 looks great!

[Original Wing Nut]

We polish the boat down after every ride. I have had grumbles shen the bugs are bad a sunset or it's been raining. I am a Ducky fan, two bottles at a time, one for each side of the boat. You can get the bulk gallon and it's not that bad. How much are you paying for the bottled water on the boat?

[bfrank]

Looks like new!!!!

[flackpack]

I have used Ducky for years, and it works well, but sometimes the Vinegar is needed. Some Waterspots are too tough for Ducky.

After wiping it down with the Ducky or Vinegar mix, I have had great success with Protect All sprayed on and wiped down. It is a RV/Marine Light wax. A quick wipe is all it takes, no buffing or wiping off a haze. You can coat the whole boat in 5 minutes or less. I find the Waterspots are then virtually eliminated for a whole season without a complete wax job.

http://www.protectall.com/pawaxlg.htm

[dogbert]

If you wipe your boat down after pulling it out of the water with a damp towel, it also helps. You can avoid having to wax it as often as bfrank. After a while, you'll still need Ducky or vinegar.

[scootc]

I've been using the water/white vinegar solution for years and haven't noticed it breaking down the wax. I don't use a very strong solution (about 20% vinegar) - and it still works great.

[rmarion]

water/vinegar and we completly wipe the boat down 100% after we pull the boat out. Also this way everyone helps to clean her up.

[BrentRR]

My 24V is my first boat. I would appreciate any detailed info on how you keep your boat looking new. Do you use the vinegar/water solution after every outing? Is this effective on glass? Do you then wipe it down with a chamois? Then polish/wax?

Thanks in advance for your time!

[TeamAllen]

At Lake Mead there is no water to wipe down. It evaporates in the 110 degree + temps. and 18% humidity. It is like a furnace sometimes! The boat is dry before I can put the car's tranny in park.

[xpjim1]

It is 115 + at Lake Havasu. Even more important to Use Ducky or water/vinigar to get those baked on water spots off as quickly as possible. The longer you leave them the more stubborn they become. Lake Mead is awesome. For years we would houseboat in the overton arm and not see anyone for miles.

[rmarion]

Originally posted by TeamAllen
At Lake Mead there is no water to wipe down. It evaporates in the 110 degree + temps. and 18% humidity. It is like a furnace sometimes! The boat is dry before I can put the car's tranny in park.

TA

Bring a spray bottle filled with water/vinegar with you on your outings, and some boat wipe down towels


Brent

Water/vinegar are what window cleaners use, so yes it's perfect with glass.

[TeamAllen]

Thanks rmarion! That's a great idea! Spray and wipe. Now I'll have to survive the heat myself. I better get two spray bottles one for the boat and one for me. Yaaaouuu!

[Paublo]

I used Ducky for a long time and loved the results. Then I tried Eagle One "Wax As-You-Dri" and now use it on the boat and my cars. It takes the water spots off and leaves a smoother, nicer finish- like it was waxed. In Phoenix when it is very hot, I have to wet down the boat again with a wet towel, spray a section, then wipe it off. It takes the water spots off and leaves a mirror finish.

[TeamAllen]

Yeah, Phoenix is blistering hot! Is that Eagle one a car or boat product? Do you just get it at any big chain auto parts dealer?

[Paublo]

It is sold in auto store/ departments as an auto product. I heard about it from another boat forum from a few people who swore by it. I saw it at Costco and picked up two bottles. Great stuff.

[BrentRR]

Got the chance to really work over my new 24V today. We have used the boat a couple of times but after each outing we left it with the dealer for some minor repair work. So, needless to say, it was full of water spots.

Filled a spray bottle with a 50/50 water/vineger solution and went to work. My wife helped greatly and we were quite impressed with the results. If you haven't tried this cheap remedy, $1.50/gal at the grocery store, you need to give it a try...

Then we rinsed the boat, sprayed Eagle One Wax As U Dry and dried it with a chamois. Man, does the boat look sweet!

Thanks for all of the tips guys!

[Tequilasun]

Just used the vinegar and h20 mixture this weekend myself. I used a 25% mixture and it worked great. I had water spots from several outings and it took them right off.

Gotta wax the hull soon though...and swim platfrom needs some attention!!

[smendez]

Originally posted by draginass
...and swim platfrom needs some attention!!

Sounds like It's Miller Time down at Table Rock lake :D

[johnbandrews]

We use "industrial strength" spray bottles - one per person on the trip (usually 5 or so). Mix roughly 1/2 and 1/2 water and vinegar, then put in about a capful of liquid turtle wax. Looks awful, smells awful, and you have to shake it up all the time while spraying, but it works like a charm. Spray on, wipe off. Presto! Clean boat, no water spots ... especially at Lake Mead in 110 degree heat.

Adding the wax to the formula helps keep the solution from stripping your nice wax job off the gel coat. Give it a try!

[TeamAllen]

Sound's like the secret recipe is out! Get it to smell nice and you've got yourself a product. Thank's for sharing!