for a fiberglass boat. have one to vinyl .... thanks for info.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
SALT OR FRESH??? salt take a little more aggressive cleaners. FRESH wipe down with 91% alcohol and good to go. SALT. depending on it age needs sometimes a light scuff with a scrubbing pad. and then 91% alcohol. when painting boats i prefer KLEENZ EASY, napa auto paint grease/oil/bugs paint pre-kleaner....dupont is good and ditzler makes good cleaners.
[ April 22, 2017, 01:21 AM: Message edited by: old paint ]
Posted by Vance Galliher (Member # 581) on :
thanks joe...fresh water. lake michigan
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
I always trusted Rapid Prep followed be two applications of Rapid Remover.
That stuff seemed to work for virtually every circumstance.
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
Gosh, I've done a few boats in my time. I never had a vinyl job come back, it's vinyl. I could see paint being a problem, but not vinyl,,,maybe ControlTac vinyl, but not the regular Hi Performance stuff. If the outside temps are on the cold side, you might want to heat it up a bit after application to make the adhesive "Melt" onto the surface. If the boat has a coat of Penetrol on it, that could be a problem. Some people use Penetrol on boats to restore the shine.
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
Well get ready for new headaches. There is a product being advertised on social media quite heavily that has the potential for causing a lot of problems with vinyl or paint application. It's called TopCoat and it looks like a new one step hydrophobic material. It could be just another version of RainX but they are advertising it to restore boats and cars by removing the oxidation. TopCoat instructions have you really working it into the paint to keep dirt, water, you name it from sticking. Just something else we need to be aware of.
I've never had a vinyl failure and I always use Rapid Prep. Cheap insurance.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Thanks Dave....I have heard of all the wonderful individual concoctions and combinations of ingredients over the years. But, in the end, one simple product, Rapid Prep, always worked for me too.
Hey, it was developed for the sole purpose of prepping a surface for vinyl application, why would anyone use anything else? LOL
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
You're right Dave. I never thought of using anything else. Just one failure has the potential to wipe out all the savings from using a home made concoction. I've always felt that if the minor savings of a alternate product is necessary for the survival of your business, maybe you shouldn't be in business. I would never notice or miss the money spent on a product that works, works FAST, and gives you the confidence in producing good results.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
In my initial post I forgot to mention a final wipe with Rapid Tac.
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
Dave, me too, always a final wipe with Rapid Tac. BTW I got an answer from the TopCoat guys for anyone that runs into this material applied to a vehicle or boat. Isopropyl alcohol will remove TopCoat to make the surface vinyl ready.
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
I don't do vinyl but Rapid Prep is far and away the best prep going and I've used them all. Because it isn't petroleum based, it also removes the dirt instead of just moving it around. I did a motorcycle the other day and the guy had ridden over from Arkansas. It was covered with bugs. The Rapid Prep made quick work of them. The owner was amazed. Denise keeps a spray bottle of it in the kitchen. It makes an ass out of 409 or any of those other cleaners.
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
Rapid Prep also cleans reading glasses better than anything else I've found.
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
Rapid Prep is also the best bowling ball cleaner. In fact they even paid the PBA the sponsorship money so the pro's could use it but it didn't take off since most of the pros use stuff from the more well known bowling companies. He marketed it as a product called Knock Out. Roger sent me a sample and when it smelled suspiciously like Rapid Prep I called him and he admitted it was. It really does clean a bowling ball well and brings back the tackiness as good or better than any ball cleaner out there and at a fraction of the price. Cleaners typically sell for $8.50 for a 4 oz bottle or the bargain price of $30 for a quart. I can get a gallon of Rapid Prep for that.
[ April 28, 2017, 03:40 PM: Message edited by: Dave Sherby ]
