MacGregorSailors.com

The non skid is getting a lot of black specs of mildew. There's some bad oxidation going on too. Any ideas on products and procedures to remove mildew and oxidation and shine up the non skid?
Thanks,
John

Hello:
OK, so I'm really going to get this one going. On our last trip to the gulf islands I decided to do a comparison test. I too wanted to clean up the non skid areas. On some parts of the boat I cleaned the area with softscrub. On other areas I used marine wax with a scrub brush and finished it off with a rag. Remember, when we buy our boats the non skid has mold release wax on it just like the rest of the boat.

Results:
The traction between the sections, wet or dry, was the same. Frankly, it all seems slippery when wet and pitching. My shoes (Vans "skater style") will affect the results.

Waxed sections cleaned up easier with just hosing it off.

The powerwasher takes the mildew off lick split.

This company make s a non-skid wax that protects against UV and does not slip when wet. www.auroramarine.com

Timm Miller wrote:This company make s a non-skid wax that protects against UV and does not slip when wet. www.auroramarine.com

You own stock in that company or something?

Hey Tim, I took your advise and went to the Aurora web site and ordered a bunch of their products. Boat Scrub, Boat Clean, Sure Step, Plastic Scratch Remover, Boat Wax, etc. You sold me now I'll tell you if they work!

Thanks for the suggestions; this is a great site. I'm going to do a little of all the suggestions and see which combination works best for my situation. There's two Aurora Marine dealers fairly close so I'm going to try Boat Clean and Sure Step. I'm also going to do a section with Soft Scrub and Sure Step. I've got access to a pressure washer but have to wait until I pull the boat out of the water in October.

I'd try the Boat Scrub and Sure Step.....soft scrub willl work but the Boat Scrub is amazing stuff that does just about everything. Dave, Have you tried any of their stuff?

Timm Miller wrote:Dave, Have you tried any of their stuff?

No, but I've thought about it. Lately I've been using the 3M line of products.

Would any of these type products work if sprayed out via a pressure washer? My powerwasher came with a little bottle that you can attach to the end if you want to shoot chlorine or some cleaner out...I think it would be cool if there was some sort of UV inhibiting wax that you could shoot out...as opposed to the old fashioned way..which frankly, I've gotten too busy and too lazy to do any longer. Sheesh, I don't think I've even hand-waxed any of my cars in over 5 years...let alone boats.

Did anyone try the Surestep or other noslip wx/coating on their nonskid yet? What results?

I used the Aurora three step process, 1 Boat Clean, 2 Boat Scrub, & 3 Sure Step on the non-skid. I was very impressed with all products, especially the Boat Scrub. The Sure Step gives a good non slippery surface but I didn't get much of a shine from it.

Take it easy with those pressure washers...
Blasting 1800 PSI of water will probably loosen mildew but can also drive water places you might not want it to go.
Like under your windows, your rub rail, into the tops of your bare feet, etc.




I just use a soft brush and some deck cleaner.
Rinsed with tap water mine says clean longer, I think the chlorine helps.
Letting rain water stand seems to speed up the mildew.

Somewhere on one of the posts on this site someone recommended the Mr. Clean "Magic Eraser" as the best spot remover. I tried one of the erasers(kind of like a soft sponge that dissapears as you use it). I am impressed. It removes oil, tar, wine spills, fish blood, leaf stains, scuff marks easily! I would imagine it would get rid of mildew in the non-skid too. Try it, you'll like it!