I have a 1995 H21 Sport Cruiser and the hulls are dirty.

1. How should I clean the hulls?

2. Should I wax them after? Which product should I use?

3. Any other hull care tips?

4. Could I use a power washer on the hulls and tramp to clean them, or would this be too harsh?

--Doug

If you've got some time to commit, wash your boat and use the 3M gelcoat (fiberglass) restore products with a polisher (like a grinder but with a sheep fluff pad). A typical random orbit car waxer will not do it here. This 3M product has both a wax and a light polishing compound in them. They have a couple different levels for different levels of oxidation but they work wonders! Wal-Mart usually carries the 'light oxidation' stuff in their boating section and I'm pretty sure Catsailor (here) has both of them.

I just finished doing my 6.0NA yesterday and WOW. I once used the heavy oxidation polisher on my red clay and mildew stained 5.2 and my girlfriend came home asking "O.K....where did the new boat come from" and she wasn't kidding. I still follow up with my random orbit waxer and a good application of some carnuba wax.

NOTE: be sure you tie the boat to the trailer well afterwards - it get's very slippery on carpeted cradels with all that wax.

Davis Instruments makes a FSR ( Fiberglass Stain Remover ) that is amazing. The secret is Oxalic acid and it will not harm gel coats. It is in gel form and must be seen to believe. It will remove all stains completely with out any scrubing or elbow grease. Just wipe it on, wait a few minutes and stains are gone. Works on everything from tanic acid stains from those nasty rivers, to diesel and oil stains from trailering. Tip Top Teak used to make a similar product for cleaning teak. It had the same specs as the FSR. If you can find it.

This in conjunction with the 3M wax Jake mentioned will have incredible results.

Good luck!

AJ

Nacra 6.0 Express

yeah - working more on the 6.0 today and I had to put on sunglasses because the hulls were so shiny! Now I have something to be proud of when I pull off those hull covers.