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I had a great sail on Saturday, consistent winds in the low 20s with gusts to nearly 30 knots. I'm sure that's nothing for you big boat ocean sailors, but it's a good blow for a 22' boat. With one reef in the main and a small headsail up I was consistently able to get above 6 knots.
It was initially going to be just a me and a friend, both sailors. But then some hangers-on heard and invited themselves and pretty soon we had a crew of five. One really likes hanging out on the bow, and she asked if it was OK in this weather. I said sure, during the broad reach down the lake, but you're probably going to want to come back to the cockpit while we beat back upwind.
Well… After the nice smooth run down the lake she decided to try her luck hanging on during the beat back up. Mostly she was lying down, feet braced against the pulpit and hands with death grips on the rail, letting out the occasional shriek when we'd hit a gust and really heel.
Now here's the bummer: She recently dyed her hair red and blue, and we took enough water over the bow that it soaked her and washed some of her hair dye out onto my boat! I now have a funky purple stain.
Anyone know how to get Manic Panic out of gelcoat?
One of the jobs of the skipper (possibly the most important one) is to keep an eye on the crew, and put a stop to any unsafe practices. Allowing someone to to sit on the bow of a 22 foot boat, while beating in 30 kt winds, sounds like one to me. Certainly not something I'd permit.
So.... That's a no, you don't know how to get hair dye out of gel coat?
I do take safety quite seriously, perhaps I should have clarified that this was on a small city lake. I would not approve of such shenanigans on Lake Superior or where you are on San Francisco Bay. Circumstances are important.
For that matter, I don't think I would deliberately take my little boat out in winds like that on big water. I think on Superior they would have called a small craft advisory, and a Catalina 22 is definitely a small craft. Saturday's sail was an attempt to get some practice with the boat in heavy winds, but still with the safety of being on a small lake with no waves to speak of.
I don't have an answer (or a criticism of you sailing)
But I do want to say I enjoy the image of purple hair on the deck... could be a granny, but I pictured a punk rock girl (with the Dead Milkmen playing in the background)
I don't have an answer (or a criticism of you sailing)
But I do want to say I enjoy the image of purple hair on the deck... could be a granny, but I pictured a punk rock girl (with the Dead Milkmen playing in the background)
Dead Milkmen, awesome stuff, loved "Punk Rock Girl."
As to what gets it out I think you are likely going to need to use a bit of solvent and likely some abrasive to polish it off. I doubt it got too deep, unless it is particularity chalky. One of the best reasons for a good wax coating.
As to what gets it out I think you are likely going to need to use a bit of solvent and likely some abrasive to polish it off. I doubt it got too deep, unless it is particularity chalky. One of the best reasons for a good wax coating.
Fortunately I did a half-assed version Maine Sail's fiberglass restore procedure on the section this spring, so it's not too chalky and even has a coat of wax on it.
I think I'll try acetone, then some more Barkeepers Friend.
But I do want to say I enjoy the image of purple hair on the deck... could be a granny, but I pictured a punk rock girl (with the Dead Milkmen playing in the background)
Split the difference, she's a public middle school algebra teacher, but at a funky public school where she can get away with having half her hair died bright red and the other half died bright blue. Welcome to Minneapolis.
Of course this is one of the nicest things about having a first boat be an inexpensive old boat. If it doesn't come out? I'm not going to be particularly bothered. Lesson learned and move on.
I think I'd try oxalic acid(Barkeeper's Friend) or bleach solution before I'd resort to Acetone. Acetone might work too but I like to try less toxic methods first.
Let me guess, it was a blond with one side red and the other blue? That'll teach you to take multi hair colored ladies on board in reefing conditions.
I hear whatcha say, that'll teach me and all, but she's my wife's best friend, maid of honor at our wedding. If she wants to go sailing she gets to go sailing.
Everyone thinks acetone is terrible, probably because it has such a strong smell. It's actually one of the least toxic solvents there are.
From Wikipedia :
"Acetone is produced and disposed of in the human body through normal metabolic processes. It is normally present in blood and urine. People with diabetes produce it in larger amounts. Reproductive toxicity tests show that it has low potential to cause reproductive problems. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children have higher levels of acetone.[14] Ketogenic diets that increase acetone in the body are used to counter epileptic attacks in infants and children who suffer from recalcitrant refractory epilepsy.
Acetone has been studied extensively and is generally recognized to have low acute and chronic toxicity if ingested and/or inhaled.[37] Acetone is not currently regarded as a carcinogen, a mutagenic chemical or a concern for chronic neurotoxicity effects.[36]
Acetone can be found as an ingredient in a variety of consumer products ranging from cosmetics to processed and unprocessed foods. Acetone has been rated as a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substance when present in beverages, baked foods, desserts, and preserves at concentrations ranging from 5 to 8 mg/L."
NB : I am not suggesting that you don't take normal safety precautions when using it.
Acetone --> bleach ---> oxalic ---> etc.
Ive had good results removing hair dye and ink from polyester fabric by spraying on hair spray and letting it soak, then remove by washing in laundry detergent ... but you have to be fast and before the stain deeply soaks in. Hair spray usually has acetone in it.
Grateful dead "Ship of Fools"
Chorus Ship of fools on a cruel sea
Ship of fools sail away from me
It was later than I thought when I first believed you
But now I cannot share your laughter, ship of fools
My work schedule kept me away from my boat for 14 days (the longest I've been absent all summer) and in that time the stain almost completely faded. I had acetone with me, but I didn't even bother to use it, I bet another week and it will be gone entirely.
You really should ask JonE about getting out stains. If I remember correctly, he had a brown one on his seat at the helm after running into 20 knots on his last outing. It was stubborn.
Man, life isn't fair; you finally get a boat and a great day on the water, a sailor's dream on her back riding the bow whooping it up and it turns out you're married to her best friend. Isn't that always the way?
Now here's the bummer: She recently dyed her hair red and blue, and we took enough water over the bow that it soaked her and washed some of her hair dye out onto my boat! I now have a funky purple stain.
That is one of the best boat problems I have heard! Just say the purple is a shadow of a Prince sighting.
Completely unrelated, and off topic: I love the Bob Dylan mural going up in Minneapolis.
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