Solvent for fender plastic / rubber?

[MarkSF]

As my topsides are blue, they show up very nicely the white marks where the fenders have scraped along the hull.

Well, I should get better at docking, but that's another thread.

So the fenders have left white marks over the blue paint. I think the white marks are actually a thin layer of the fender plastic, as opposed to scrapes through the paint.

Does anyone know a solvent that'll get it off without damaging the paint? The fenders are probably PVC, I suspect.

Maybe blue fenders would be a good idea, as an interim measure.

[treilley]

Fender covers are the best thing. If sailing in salt water, you should also be washing down the boat after every sail if you do not already.

Not sure about the white. I would suspect they are minute scratches.

What is your paint finish? Awlgrip, Imron, etc?

[Rozz]

i have the reverse problem, where i dock sometimes the use a black nylon and its kinda rough water. i just use a real light fiberglass cleaner/polish. comes right off

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by treilley

Fender covers are the best thing. If sailing in salt water, you should also be washing down the boat after every sail if you do not already.

Not sure about the white. I would suspect they are minute scratches.

What is your paint finish? Awlgrip, Imron, etc?

I think it's an International topsides paint, dark blue. But it was done before I owned it, so I'm not sure.

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by Rozz

i have the reverse problem, where i dock sometimes the use a black nylon and its kinda rough water. i just use a real light fiberglass cleaner/polish. comes right off

Thanks, will try it next weekend. Maybe with my random orbit polisher?

[treilley]

Originally Posted by MarkSF

I think it's an International topsides paint, dark blue. But it was done before I owned it, so I'm not sure.

Back when I restored my Rhodes 18 I used Interlux Brightsides and noted the white marks from fenders were actually scratches because that paint is not very durable.

Try the water test. If you wet the area and the marks appear to go away, they are likely scratches. If you can still see them, it is likely fender residue. Be very careful with solvents. Start very mild, like diluted simple green and work up from there.

Swore never to use it again. Perfection, a 2 part paint, does much better for durability. Painted my Ericson 35-3 spars with that. Still looks great after 5 years.

[drgamble]

I have Awlgrip and have used Goo be Gone... Use in small doses. The paint is hard enough enough to handle (assuming it has properly cured) and the subsequent rubber marks release well with minimal rubbing. Be aware that such a product will remove any wax or other protective coating (e.g. Awlcare) so you should wax or Awlcare that surface after...

[billyruffn]

What you're probably dealing with is UV damage to the surface layers of the fender. The sun transforms the surface layer of rubber compounds into a gummy, sticky gooy stuff (I'm sure that's the proper nautical/technical term) that gets dirty quickly and comes off on things that rub it.

Try cleaning the fenders with acetone and then get fender covers to protect the boat from the fender and the fender from the sun. If acetone cleans the fenders (which I'm pretty sure it will), it should take care of the marks on the hull as well, but try it on a small spot first and don't leave the acetone on longer than necessary -- clean the spot and then wash off any acetone residue.

[Minnewaska]

Fleece fender covers are mandatory for painted topsides, IMO.

How to get the blemish off is highly dependent on what it really is and what type of paint you have. If you can't know for sure, I would test these ideas in the least conspicuous place I could find. What might just knock a mark off awlgrip, could ruin acrylic. An orbital polisher on awlgrip can ruin it's clear top skin.