Hypalon Screw Up!

[menzies]

So last time out on the big RIB we stopped by the fuel dock before home. I filled her to the brim so as to last us longer before the next fueling detour.

Ran the twenty minutes to home and put her on the floating dock. Yesterday, a week later, we went on a run with the dog to the local sandbar. And this is what we found.

We have had extreme heat here recently (feels like 100+) and even though we ran for a while after filling, unnoticed by us the gas expended and leaked over the side of the boat - evaporating and leaving a stain.

It came off the fiberglass with soap and a scrubbie, but not the hypalon. I will probably try acetone next but have asked my RIB guy down in St Augustine for his advice.

Even though the tank has a vent I guess I filled it so much that I filled the vent as well!

Sigh!

 

[RickyD]

I was able to clean stains off of my Hypalon with Crud Buster. I'm not sure if it may dry out the Hypalon but it did a great cleaning job.

 

[RickyD]

Also, acetone may attack any glued portions.

 

[Shrew]

Don't they recommend cleaning Hypalon with MEK?

 

[smitty477]

First step for oil and fuel stains on Tubes is Aurora tube cleaner or you can use the orange hand cleaner mechanics use with a soft brush and scrub for a bit.
If after a few scrubs that does not work the stains will likely come out by laying old rags/towels soaked in bleach and water 50/50 on the tubes for 10 minutes or so.
If you keep the bleach solution just on the tubes and not anything else you will not have problems.
We did this with a few of our larger RIBS above 19' and it worked great.

 

[ssobol]

I have seen yellow stains on the FG of my boat due to overfills. IME, the discoloration goes away by itself after a day or two. Faster if the boat is in direct sun.

 

[rgano]

For any time you need to have a Clorox type solution remain in place for a time, I recommend the gel style toilet bowl cleaner. It's a wonder for clearing away pesky mildew on the caulking in shower seams here at the house.

 

[tiltrider1]

Don't they recommend cleaning Hypalon with MEK?

Yes, MEK is what the manufacturers have recommended to us in the past.

 

[Pete Meisinger]

If you can get some real TSP it will probably cut through the stain. At least it did on my fiberglass from a diesel expansion overload.

pete

 

[menzies]

Fiberglass wasn't an issue, it came off with soap and a green scrubbie. Will try the MEK.

 

[Ventana]

MEK should do the trick. Afterwards, make sure you go over the clean area with 303 Protectant. The MEK can dry out the fabric and remove some of the UV protection, 303 helps bring the fabric back to normal.

 

[menzies]

Well I used MEK, scrubbing with a green scrubbie with no luck, maybe a bit of lightening. Will try the 50/50 bleach rags next.

 

[helm]

We had good luck getting intractable oak leaf stains out of our hypalon with a paste we made out of oxyclean and simple green. Basically just covered all the stains with the paste, kept it moist with a spray bottle of simple green for 24 hours then rinsed off. Nothing else had worked, not sure if it will do the trick for your diesel stain but there is an idea for you.
Eric

 

[Tolly Roger]

We've had our AB patched by a reputable guy (who also glues the pads on for all SEAWISE davit installs).
He always says "Toluene" is the best cleaner.
Best to double check with someone in your area to be sure.

 

[menzies]

So I tried the 50/50 bleach this morning with no effect. So I have tried acetone, MEK, and the bleach so far.

I think I will try Helm's idea next. Though in this heat it is going to dificult to keep the paste moist. I may have to apply at dusk and then keep revisiting during the next day.

 

[Rufus]

I use the inflatable boat cleaner from Aurora Marine with good results on stains. The container lists “hypexine” as the active ingredient. Safe for hypalon.

 

[slowgoesit]

So I tried the 50/50 bleach this morning with no effect. So I have tried acetone, MEK, and the bleach so far.

I think I will try Helm's idea next. Though in this heat it is going to dificult to keep the paste moist. I may have to apply at dusk and then keep revisiting during the next day.

Flamethrower? Guaranteed to get rid of the stains! Won't do the boat much good though.

Following, since I have a Hypalon dink . . . .even though we don't have our boat yet . . . .Yeah, my wifer thinks I'm crazy to have bought the dink when there's a fair chance whatever boat we buy will already have a dink!

 

[BandB]

So I tried the 50/50 bleach this morning with no effect. So I have tried acetone, MEK, and the bleach so far.

I think I will try Helm's idea next. Though in this heat it is going to dificult to keep the paste moist. I may have to apply at dusk and then keep revisiting during the next day.

Wifey B: Not being a scientist but it seems I recall something called evaporation and something else like drying and someone in this thread mentioned that big ball in the sky called the Sun, although just one of many suns so seems like it should have another name. Based on all this, I wonder if you're not too impatient. I'd suggest trying to wait a bit and see what the sun does. Then go back to MEK or even, don't laugh people, magic erasers. I think these things deal better with dried than with wet.

 

[Scottwb96]

Krud cutter!!!

Krud Cutter (get it at any home improvement store) spray on, wait 5-10 mins, use a green scrub/brillow pad and EVERYTHING comes right off... Rinse while scrubbing "krud" off...
First pics are of the BAD parts, acetone barely made a dent...

Make sure you re-spray 303 protectant on it after...

 

[menzies]

Wifey B: Not being a scientist but it seems I recall something called evaporation and something else like drying and someone in this thread mentioned that big ball in the sky called the Sun, although just one of many suns so seems like it should have another name. Based on all this, I wonder if you're not too impatient. I'd suggest trying to wait a bit and see what the sun does. Then go back to MEK or even, don't laugh people, magic erasers. I think these things deal better with dried than with wet.

This is the discoloration after the gas evaporated.

 

[BandB]

This is the discoloration after the gas evaporated.

Wifey B: Days after or just hours after?

 

[menzies]

Wifey B: Days after or just hours after?

A week. And it's still.there.

 

[landshort]

In the airplane world we get gas stains from fuel venting that spreads in the slip stream leaving stain. Using gasoline soaked rag to work on the stain, sometimes requiring multiple rub downs removes the stain. This is painted surface On an airplane but it might work Your RIB.

 

[menzies]

Well it will all have to wait a month or two now.