Is AURORA BOAT SCRUB a rubbing compound type of cleaner?

Skipper May 9, 2005 Ask The Skipper

Dan T. asked:

“Is AURORA BOAT SCRUB a rubbing compound type of cleaner requiring buffing, or a heavy duty soap?”

Captain Aurora Answered:

For your convenience, I’ve highlighted the hyperlinks. Click on the hyperlink to get more information about the selected product.

Boat Scrub with Hypexine is a unique marine cleaner that was invented primarily for the purpose of removing oxidized material from fiberglass, without causing damage to the integral gelcoat. This could be chalky gelcoat, oxidized wax, rust on steel or oxide on aluminum. It contains Hypexine, a leaching agent, to help pull color back to the surface and it will also remove deep seated stains in gelcoat, even rust, red wine and fish blood. It has surface-active ingredients to lift dirt and soil away from the surface. It also contains brighteners to enhance the brilliance of the color and it’s free rinsing, which means that there will be no residue on the surface to impede adhesion of a polish or protectant, after cleaning.

Rubbing compounds are abrasive type cleaners and they work by cutting a layer of the surface away, exposing a new surface underneath. The problem is that rubbing compounds, sandpaper, scouring cleansers and other abrasive cleaners is that they remove the good fiberglass as well as the oxidized material, eventually stripping all of the gelcoat away, necessitating expensive refinishing. Boat Scrub only reacts with the oxidized material. It contains a polishing compound to enhance the gloss after cleaning, but it is not abrasive. In addition to heavy duty cleaning, it can also be used for regular maintenance without damage to your boat.

Soap and detergent cleaners are not free rinsing. They leave a residue on the surface which can impede the adhesion of polish or wax and cause premature failure. The bubbles have a sticky surface that dirt sticks to. The idea is that when you rinse away the bubbles, you also rinse away the dirt. Unfortunately the same bubbles stick to the surface you are cleaning and remains there. The polish you apply after attaches to the residue, not you boat.

Corrosive cleaners, popular for cleaning tough grime and stains, works by modifying or destroying the molecular structure of the dirt or grime so it can be more easily removed from the substrate. These cleaners also react with the substrate. In some cases they damage the surface, etch the pores in gelcoat, cause staining, or reacts with UV or oxygen in the atmosphere, which results in indelible stains. If not completely removed, the traces will continue to react with the substrate and can cause a residue at the interface of the substrate and polish, causing delamination or failure of the coating. Corrosive cleaners should be considered cleaners of last resort.

Because of it has phenomenal cleaning power, while still remaining gentle to the substrate, Boat Scrub remains our number 1 best seller after 25 years. It will remove stains, scuffs and dirt that other cleaners simply will not touch. It has also become popular for everyday cleaning of lifelines, vinyl dorades, rub rails, power cords, and fenders. It will polish and remove salt stains from stainless steel and aluminum, deep clean fiberglass before polishing, removing yellowing, blood, red wine, and other stains from gelcoat. It’s an ideal cleaner for non-skid decks because it is free rinsing and leaves no slippery residue or wax. Boat Scrub will also clean impossible stains from vinyl seats and counter tops and much more. For many thousands of boat owners, keeping a bottle of Boat Scrub aboard their boat has become a necessity, just in case.

The best way to use Boat Scrub is with a sponge or cloth, unless you are cleaning your non-skid decks, in which case you would use a scrub brush to get into the irregular surface. It can be used full strength to remove nasty stains or heavy oxidation or diluted by dampening a sponge with water for deep cleaning fiberglass prior to polishing. For non-skid cleaning wet the decks first with water and squirt a bit of Boat Scrub directly onto the surface before scrubbing.

Do not use a scrub brush on smooth fiberglass or painted surfaces, as it will scratch.

AURORA Boat Scrub is now endorsed by numerous boat manufacturers as the best and safest cleaner for their boats. It is also a required preparatory material prior to the application of AURORA Sure Step, VS721 Bottom Coat and Premium Boat Shine. Tests have shown that these polishes will last up to 8 times longer if the surface is properly prepared.

Thanks for your question,

Captain Aurora
Richard Kittar