Awl Grip scumline help

[Ash_ofthe_lee]

My boat was painted with awlgrip and unfortunately our water lime needs raised so we have salt water constantly on about an inch of awl grip and I am having no luck removing the scum on the paint. The only think I've found is to very slowly scrape it off but I'd love to find an alternative. Any advice greatly appreciated.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Ash_ofthe_lee

My boat was painted with awlgrip and unfortunately our water lime needs raised so we have salt water constantly on about an inch of awl grip and I am having no luck removing the scum on the paint. The only think I've found is to very slowly scrape it off but I'd love to find an alternative. Any advice greatly appreciated.

You didn’t enter your profile info so we don’t know where you are located, what boat you have etc.

For the US, the product On & Off would do it.

[neilpride]

Scrape Awlgrip its awful,you risk to damage the topcoat, i guess the best idea its haul out the boat and rise the antifouling 1inch or 2 below the waterline, dont put antifouling on top of awlgrip unless you apply epoxy primer in the line. Blisters occur if you dont primer on top of the topcoat. My 2 cents.

[neilpride]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

You didn’t enter your profile info so we don’t know where you are located, what boat you have etc.

For the US, the product On & Off would do it.

On Off work fantastic on waterlines , but awlgrip its very sensible to acids, if i do it with on off, i would rinse it immediately.

[neilpride]

In my own last boat i use On Off in the past in the waterline , so often, and the topcoat just give up and start to peel off.

[Ash_ofthe_lee]

Thanks all, I'll see if the marine store has on off

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by neilpride

In my own last boat i use On Off in the past in the waterline , so often, and the topcoat just give up and start to peel off.

I agree, it is just a temporary measure until the waterline can be raised.

I recommend to first wet the painted surface, then use a soft brush (expect to have to throw it away) with on&off to brush it clean and immediately rinse it. You can simply do the with the water you’re in.

The paint has already been compromised or the grime wouldn’t stick to it so bad. Raise the waterline at first haulout.

[Franziska]

You'll probably hate me when reading what I do, but we have a waterline which gets submerged and fouls too.
The complete top sides are painted with two component polyurethane paint.

I use a simple steel pot cleaner and cut the slime and tiny Barnacles back with it every few weeks (Portugal, Algarve).
Don't need any chemicals for it. Just don't wait longer than 4 weeks..

Works very well until we paint our underwater new in a few months time and raise the waterline.

The suction cup is great to hold yourself while doing it, just needs to be positioned above the waterline.

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by Franziska

You'll probably hate me when reading what I do, but we have a waterline which gets submerged and fouls too.
The complete top sides are painted with two component polyurethane paint.

I use a simple steel pot cleaner and cut the slime and tiny Barnacles back with it every few weeks (Portugal, Algarve).
Don't need any chemicals for it. Just don't wait longer than 4 weeks..

Works very well until we paint our underwater new in a few months time and raise the waterline.

The suction cup is great to hold yourself while doing it, just needs to be positioned above the waterline.

Attachment 268042

Added comment, as we intend to raise the waterline anyway, we will sand the paint slightly anyway before applying the antifouling.
So any scratches which might happen by using the pot cleaner are not a problem. They will be below the new antifouling.

[MarkSF]

Have you considered trying a pressure washer?

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Added comment, as we intend to raise the waterline anyway, we will sand the paint slightly anyway before applying the antifouling.
So any scratches which might happen by using the pot cleaner are not a problem. They will be below the new antifouling.

Exactly, you’ll be ready to put the antifouling paint on straight away

[neilpride]

Originally Posted by Franziska

You'll probably hate me when reading what I do, but we have a waterline which gets submerged and fouls too.
The complete top sides are painted with two component polyurethane paint.

I use a simple steel pot cleaner and cut the slime and tiny Barnacles back with it every few weeks (Portugal, Algarve).
Don't need any chemicals for it. Just don't wait longer than 4 weeks..

Works very well until we paint our underwater new in a few months time and raise the waterline.

The suction cup is great to hold yourself while doing it, just needs to be positioned above the waterline.

Attachment 268042

That steel pot cleaner is a crime on board a boat, I hope you don't use it on hatches..

[wrwakefield]

And once you get your waterline raised... [And don't delay too long; Awlgrip is not waterproof (for submersion...)]

We were introduced to a product from the aptly named Someone To Do It boat detailing company: Cream Cleaner. This is the non-abbrasive formula that makes short work of stain removal on our 2 part LPU [Awlgrip] painted hull- including diesel exhaust stains. Since it is water based it can be shipped by any means. [Did I mention it is also very reasonably priced?]

Note that same company has several other products including mild, medium, and heavy cut abrasive versions of their Cream Cleaner. The one we use and recommend has no harsh abbrasives and does not affect the mirror finish of our Awlgrip surface...

No affiliation; just a very happy customer who was able to replace several other 'cleaners' we used to keep on hand...

FWIW

Cheers! Bill

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by neilpride

That steel pot cleaner is a crime on board a boat, I hope you don't use it on hatches..[emoji3]

It's one of the best tools on a boat if you know when and where to use it.
I know, do you?
[emoji12]

Tangent [emoji6]:
A crime on a boat in 99% of cases is to use silicone.
Ever tried to paint a surface which had the slightest bit of it on it. Nononono.