Black spot on the transom gel coat from the neoprene pocket on boat cover

[sarasetp]

I have noticed that the neoprene from the boat cover pocket that houses the ratchets that cinch down the boat cover somehow rubbed off a black spot color on the gel coat on the transom.

Have you experienced this? How do you take off the black color?

What caused this?

[NautiqueJeff]

I have never seen this happen. Do you have any pictures?

[James]

If somehow neoprene did in fact make a mark on the gel coat, acetone should take it right off. Then put a coat of wax on the area.

[sarasetp]

NautiqueJeff Thanks for your response. Please find the pics attached. Hopefully you can see the black spots. Please let me know what you think. It may look like shadows, but they are not.

[James]

As typical it is a little hard to tell from to pictures what has actually occurred. If it appears to you that there is an actual substance on the gel coat then I would first try acetone to remove it being sure to keep the acetone off the black part of the rub rail. If it appears that the gel coat has actually been stained I would use a quality “fiberglass hull/bottom cleaner” containing hydrochloric acid (residential swimming pool “muriatic acid” will do the same) to penetrate the pores in the gel coat and remove the stain. Be sure to use rubber gloves and protective eyewear. Hydrochloric acid will not damage the black part of the rub rail but will etch the stainless steel. If It appears the gel coat has been abraded the only solution might be buffing and waxing.

[sarasetp]

As typical it is a little hard to tell from to pictures what has actually occurred. If it appears to you that there is an actual substance on the gel coat then I would first try acetone to remove it being sure to keep the acetone off the black part of the rub rail. If it appears that the gel coat has actually been stained I would use a quality “fiberglass hull/bottom cleaner” containing hydrochloric acid (residential swimming pool “muriatic acid” will do the same) to penetrate the pores in the gel coat and remove the stain. Be sure to use rubber gloves and protective eyewear. Hydrochloric acid will not damage the black part of the rub rail but will etch the stainless steel. If It appears the gel coat has been abraded the only solution might be buffing and waxing.

Thank you for the response and ideas. I will try your recommendation with acetone.


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

2016 G23

[sarasetp]

Acetone did not remove the black coloring

[mcosub]

Yikes! my boat is white so that would look terrible.

For some reason, I was thinking the ratchets and enclosures sat below the rub rail on the back. Why are you getting that staining up above the rail?

Can you take a picture of the inside of your cover right were the staining is occuring?