Tdub Posted July 3, 2016 Share Posted July 3, 2016 I have a 2004 SN 196. The best boat ever. Never a problem. I maintain it well but we do use it. 786 hours. The vinyl is getting that yellowish look, not bright white like when it was new. I have tried many cleaners but haven't found the one that really works. Any favorites? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller keithh2oskier Posted July 3, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 3, 2016 I used totally awesome (dollar tree) with a upholstery brush on a dual action polisher (harbor freight) and it did an awesome job and giving the seats a good deep clean. Totally awesome is pretty caustic so I followed up with a liberal amount of 303 aerospace. Been happy with that setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller oldjeep Posted July 3, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 3, 2016 303 cleaner has always worked fine for me, followed by a ton of the protectant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller bbruzzese Posted July 3, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 3, 2016 Spray-Nine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DmaxJC_ski Posted July 3, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 3, 2016 Spray nine then a good treatment of mothers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Garn Posted July 3, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 3, 2016 Malco - hands down the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller LeonL Posted July 3, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 3, 2016 At that time I believe the CC recommended Fantastic spray cleaner. But if your vinyl is turning yellow I'm afraid that no cleaner will help. It may be that cleaning isn't the problem. Once vinyl turns yellow, due to whatever cause it may be, it just may not be able to be brought back. I haven't used Totally Awsome on my boat, but my wife raves about for household cleaning.. It's also available at Dollar General. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller keithh2oskier Posted July 3, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 3, 2016 I heard a lot of great things about malco but never used it myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tdub Posted July 3, 2016 Author Share Posted July 3, 2016 Thanks for the ideas. I am going to give Totally Awesome and Spray Nine a shot ( pardon the pun ). I will let you folks know how it goes. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BlueSki Posted July 3, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 3, 2016 @LeonL, a few years ago there were threads here or on others that Fantastic had changed their formula and was no longer safe for marine vinyl. If I recall correctly, Correct Craft had a press release or manual insert to indicate that Fantastic was no longer considered safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller keithh2oskier Posted July 4, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 4, 2016 For what it's worth when I use Awesome with the method I mention above i immediately wipe it off with clean water soaked rag to get that stuff off the vinyl. After doing a seat or two my hands instantly feel dried out. I won't use it for a everyday seat cleaner. At least not at full strength. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ALPJr Posted July 4, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 4, 2016 Try a little light scrubbing with a Mr Clean white sponge. Then 303 Protectant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skierjp Posted July 4, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 4, 2016 Guys, has everyone lost their manuals? Nautique specifically states, DO NOT USE Formula 409 or Fantastic, or any other silicon-based products. Nautique recommends Meguiar's Vinly & Rubber Cleaner / Conditioner #57. They also list using ammonia and hydrogen peroxide mixed, or denatured alcohol for ink stains and permanent markers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ScottScott Posted July 4, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 4, 2016 Marine 31 makes a marine vinyl cleaner and protectant kit that works well. they have a kit comes with a brush and microfiber towels.marine 31 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jordan Posted July 4, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 4, 2016 Those magic eraser white sponges are abrasive and can remove the finish layer of the vinyl opening up pores for mould to form....only use them as a last resort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller LeonL Posted July 4, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 4, 2016 @Jordan amen to that. I see people use them and the vinyl is dulled, so it's removing something as well as dirt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ALPJr Posted July 4, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 4, 2016 True... Recommended light use for bad stains only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Andre Posted July 4, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 4, 2016 Magic Eraser = fine sand paper... My ski finish in 16.95 but my ass is out of tolerance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Chad_Scott Posted July 6, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 6, 2016 Babes seat soap followed by babes seat saver. Let seat soap soak on the vinyl then use a sponge with a scrub pad. Will get the vinyl as clean as ever. Also Babes supports many water ski events unlike any of the other companies mentioned above. They are really good people to deal with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tdub Posted July 6, 2016 Author Share Posted July 6, 2016 Thanks to all. I have used Babe's products before. You are correct. great products and great company. That is the route I will take. Thanks to all. Cheers. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tdub Posted July 6, 2016 Author Share Posted July 6, 2016 Mother's VLR works great too. I love Babe's stuff but shipping costs are a problem. Cannot find any around these parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tdub Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 Purchased some Spray Nine. It worked VERY well. Then some Mothers VLR. Vinyl looks new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikegile Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 +1 for Babes. Not the cheapest, but it works well, they support skiing, and it smells kinda cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingshredd Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 We uses Babes and it works really well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelparayno Posted August 11, 2020 Share Posted August 11, 2020 you should try 303 multi surface cleaner. It brings every thing back to it’s original color. Does not have a particular glossy surface but looks original. If you want the glossy look then buy the 303 protectant ( without or reduced cleaners ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ironhorse Posted August 11, 2020 Baller Share Posted August 11, 2020 Malco followed by 303 protectant. Its the best I have found. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Edmund Posted August 11, 2020 Baller Share Posted August 11, 2020 I have been using Babe's products the past four or five years and they work great, interior and exterior. In fact, this past weekend I used Babe's Boat Bright to clean and wax the hull. Went around the boat several times. And I cannot say enough about the excellent vinyl seat cleaner and protectant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Minelickskier Posted August 11, 2020 Baller Share Posted August 11, 2020 Have had good response using boat bling vinyl sauce cleaner and the conditioner is great too...its just kinda pricey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Chad_Scott Posted August 11, 2020 Baller Share Posted August 11, 2020 Babes is the way to go. They make a great product. They support BOS and they support waterskiing events. The seat soap and seat saver will keep the vinyl clean and protected from the elements Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller oldjeep Posted August 11, 2020 Baller Share Posted August 11, 2020 I tried a few products other than the 303 and couldn't stand the stink of most of them. Not sure why everything needs to smell like Pina Colada. 4 years later still using the 303 cleaner and protectant on the vinyl. The hull gets collinite fleet wax a couple times a year and wipedowns with Eagle One wax as you dry to keep the water spots at bay (black boats - jeeze) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Zman Posted August 11, 2020 Baller Share Posted August 11, 2020 What @Chad_Scott and others said about Babe's. I keep a bottle of seat soap in the boat for quick clean ups. And, go over all the vinyl a couple times a year with the seat saver. Also, I bought a used car that had heal marks on the plastic trim on the two front doors. Nothing was working to clean it up and remove the marks. I grabbed the Babes Seat Soap, and the marks came off fairly easy. Good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Garn Posted August 11, 2020 Baller Share Posted August 11, 2020 I use Babes for a quick clean. But if you really want CLEAN upholstery, nothing beats Malco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller bananaron Posted August 11, 2020 Baller Share Posted August 11, 2020 Babes have great products and I have been using them a long time.@Chad_Scott is right really good stuff and they do a lot.I like the Babes boat bright.I just used it on my carbon pro and its easy to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jerry44 Posted August 12, 2020 Baller Share Posted August 12, 2020 I'll second the use of Awesome and a scrub brush. I get it at Dollar General. Also agree with rinsing with clean water after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Wish Posted August 12, 2020 Baller_ Share Posted August 12, 2020 +2 for Totally Awesome at the dollar store. Use only occasionally and for obvious dirty "can't clean it with anything else" situations. It will NOT be affective on mold but extremely affective on dirt. The dirt will run down the vinyl faster than you can keep up so have towels along the carpet to catch it. DO rinse very generously after (towels on floor come in handy again) and get a vinyl conditioner and UV protectant on it ASAP. If you are looking at a new to you boat and vinyl looks so bad you think it needs to be replaced, try a spot with the Awesome. You will know right away if the vinyl is salvageable. I've had 2 buddy's, both with 2008 SN, recently use this process and they went from gross too knew looking vinyl. Both had tried everything to get it clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller oldjeep Posted August 12, 2020 Baller Share Posted August 12, 2020 For me - I would never use that totally awesome stuff on vinyl. The reason it works is that the main ingredient that actually does something is Butyl Carbitol (acetate), which is a solvent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Wish Posted August 12, 2020 Baller_ Share Posted August 12, 2020 @oldjeep as mentioned. This is for dirt you cannot get clean with anything else. Live with dirty uncleanable vinyl or use Awesome, rinse and condition. Your vinyl probably looks great and does not need a heavy cleaner. It's a choice. And it's an option added to the many options suggested in this thread. You can also dilute it and still be affective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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