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Sunscreen


justdriftin

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I know this issue has been discussed before but searches didn't reveal anything on-point.  Looking for info on the sunscreen-gelcoat staining issue.  I'm trying to isolate the issue.  I've never had too much problem with it and used coppertone and neutrogena primarily - sport lotion and spray without much issue on my current boat ('08 Pathy) and previous ('00 Hewes).  Been noticing much more issues with it lately and I've determined the primary difference is kids.  I have a bunch of them now and they lay on the floor, crawl all of the decks, get up against the gunnels, etc.  Its great fun, but when we come home there is this orange stain everywhere.  I don't think I had much problem before because without kids, about the only part of my body that comes into regular contact with the gelcoat is the bottom of my bare feet - no sunscreen there.

Last weekend, made a rule that there would be no spray, but didn't make a difference.  I think everyone used neutrogena.  That is what my dermatologist recommends, so I tend to follow that advice and avoid the cancer if practicable.  Tried and tried to scrub with dawn and oxiclean on Sunday without much luck.  But left it out in the sun for and most seem to have dissipate which is what I anticipated. 

 

So I'm looking to see if I can head this off in the future so I don't have to use harsh cleaners, or leave it out in the sun.  I was planning on waxing this weekend anyway so busting out the dawn was not a concern, actually kids want to detail the boat for Father's Day (they are 8,6,3 and 3 months, so i'm guessing I'm still going to be doing the bulk of the buffing, but I'll take it).

What is it that is actually reacting with what to cause the stain?  Is there a compound in certain sunscreens?  Is it reacting with the actual gelcoat or oxidized wax or something else?  I have heard before its the spray but I'm not so sure.  I know i have in the past sprayed the top of my foot with it right on the deck.  Now it makes the deck slicker than owl poop and you'll bust your arse, but don't recall staining issues.  Just looking for any facts so I can try to avoid issues in the future.  And if anyone wants to know how many barbies you can fit in your bow pitch well, just let me know and I'll get my girls to find out while I'm waxing the boat this weekend.

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from what I have been told and seen, it is something in the spray type sunscreen. no spray's allowed on my boat. son used bleach to get it out after using the boat one day. kids used spray. never had a problem with lotions.

I tried researching it and found nothing. I have also seen where it will also orange stain the vinyl cushions. not on my boat.

 

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Good to know - I haven't had the issue, but appreciate the post.  Will definitely keep the spray's out of the boat.  Always nervous about having aerosol cans onboard anyway  as hot as it gets out there.

Cool to see you have 4 kids and still get out to fish (and obviously involve them in it).  I've got 4 with another on the way and still manage to get out there with them a lot.  

And if I recall, the number of barbies you can fit in there is something north of 20, but they have to be aligned just so . . . 

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Try applying "woody wax" on the gunnels, floor and console where you are getting the stains. I use it frequently to keep fish blood and guts from staining and it works great. Easy to apply and will generally last about 3 or 4 heavy washings before you will need to reapply. Look it up online or almost any marine store will have it. Spray on / rinse off.

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7 hours ago, mustang190 said:

 Thats why I make everyone use baby oil and iodine on my boat, leaves no stains on the gelcoat/deck.

Baby oil & iodine?  Are you being sarcastic or is that some kind of home remedy sunscreen.  My wife thinks vinegar is the cure for everything - last week told me we could use it as herbicide for weeds in the yard.

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Collinite is a really good choice of wax, also I have been using Rejex, it's a soft liquid type wax and goes on/ off very easy. I use the Rejex on all slick surfaces now. I also still apply the woody wax frequently on the deck because it is a great product for easy clean up of fish, shrimp, pogeys, etc. 

image.jpg

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  I've also had stains from sun-screen on the gel-coat, but it was the rub-on type, not aerosol/spray stuff.  Got some really nasty stains on my leaning post back rest, because my wife likes to throw her arm over the backrest. These stains were on my old boat that got washed and waxed all the time. So far, nothing on the new boat. The stains on the upholstery finally faded away but some stains on the gel-coat never did fully go away.

  I know, in the past,  some sun screens stained my fishing shirts (on the sleeves and collar). We have been using "No-Add" sun screen for the past couple of years and haven't had any problems with  stains on our clothes or the new boat.

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15 hours ago, justdriftin said:

Baby oil & iodine?  Are you being sarcastic or is that some kind of home remedy sunscreen.  My wife thinks vinegar is the cure for everything - last week told me we could use it as herbicide for weeds in the yard.

SUNSCREEN!!!!, in the olden day's baby oil & iodine was use to get a dark tan. not to block the sun at all. you were slick as a piggy, LOL

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The spray sunblock did stain the deck on my old 17MA, it also made the deck very slippery on the old school non-skid. Some of that spray got on my old Garmin and it permanently stained the screen. I don't notice the same effect on my current 18HPX deck but I still don't like the spray stuff. I log 2-4 hours in the water at a time when I surf and the most effective sunblock I've ever used is 50+ Bullfrog & Banana Boat. Of course, the colored zinc oxide is the only true sun block but it can create a mess on a boat.

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On June 16, 2016 at 3:11 PM, justdriftin said:

Baby oil & iodine?  Are you being sarcastic or is that some kind of home remedy sunscreen.  My wife thinks vinegar is the cure for everything - last week told me we could use it as herbicide for weeds in the yard.

Back in the 60's and 70's it was used as a suntan lotion(later on we were told it was very bad for you), Coppertone was to expensive for us.LOL

 

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