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White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 7:03 am
by IMALLYNN
I just recently found this site while looking for stereo info on my 2013 R5. Found what I was looking for, which is a whole other story I'll post later. I bought my boat new in June of 2013. Typically, it's just my wife and I on the boat, with our young adult kids once in a while. That said, the boat is always pretty clean. I decided to pull it out yesterday and give it a good detail.
I scrubbed the interior vinyl with Star Brite vinyl cleaner with a soft bristle brush, followed by mild soap and water. While the boat was relatively clean to begin with, the interior really popped after cleaning. Literally looked better than when we bought it new. Once completely dry, I applied a light coat of Star Brite vinyl protectant and that's when the proverbial crap hit the fan. My white vinyl turned brownish is areas that folks usually sit at. I'm sure it's related to spray on sunscreen (never again on my boats!) and the protectant must have had a reaction to residue, I suppose.
I tried cleaning it off and it's not coming off. Anybody else ever had this happened? Any tips for solution? It's much worse than the picture shows. Looks like my seats got a spray tan!

Re: White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 7:27 am
by Big Block Power
Oh yea that's sunscreen spray. Yes it reacted with it. I had good luck with bio kleen amazing cleaner and conditioner. The cleaner has little bacteria monsters in it. Spray it on and let the boat sit in the sun for at least 24 hours and cross your fingers. I had blueberry bird poop stain mine and blue new towel stain mine and it came out.
Otherwise call your dealer and order new viynl before you can't get it anymore. 7 year rule.
Oh and welcome and we like pictures but not that kind on your first post. Look forward to seeing you and your boat in the new member section.
Re: White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 5:58 pm
by TruckerTim
Ok, so now the question is is it all sunscreen that can stain the vinyl or just some of the spray on type? Also, is this unique to Cobalt vinyl?? Wife, kids then grand kids used spry type for the 13 years I had my Malibu and never had any staining.
Re: White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 6:05 pm
by Big Block Power
No it can happen to any boat manufacturer. I'm sure each brand is diff too. From what I know only spray on. Skiingstrongmsn is our local chemist on here so we will have to see if he sees this. He kind of makes this stuff. It's not used on my boat or within 100 feet of it.
Re: White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 6:16 pm
by NautiGirl
Stupid spray sunscreen gets on everything except your skin! Our friend this weekend used it and was RED...she said I sprayed myself down. Ummm....hate to tell ya...you missed!
Re: White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 7:58 pm
by Driller
Banned on my boat. No spray on.
Re: White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 10:10 pm
by Ytmsn
Me too. If they use sunscreen they have to put it on before we leave the house. Banned from the boat.
Re: White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 7:44 am
by cmattj
The more the vinyl is kept moisturized .. the less prone it will be to absorbing other oils and stains.
I too won’t allow spraying lotion once underway ( Hey put a shirt on


)
Re: White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 8:57 am
by mtwbldr
Im interested if theres a certain spray sunscreen that causes this? Ive used spray sunscreen since we first got the boat in 2011 and have yet to have any staining on the seats due to using it. While I encourage and enforce not spraying standing in the middle of the boat, throughout the day people need to re apply to which I tell them to use the swim platform.
I guess I can chalk up my no staining to the use of Vinyl Sauce and Condition Sauce, which is amazing stuff. My seats still look the same as they did in 2011!
Re: White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:47 am
by liquid
mtwbldr wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 8:57 am
Im interested if theres a certain spray sunscreen that causes this? Ive used spray sunscreen since we first got the boat in 2011 and have yet to have any staining on the seats due to using it. While I encourage and enforce not spraying standing in the middle of the boat, throughout the day people need to re apply to which I tell them to use the swim platform.
I guess I can chalk up my no staining to the use of Vinyl Sauce and Condition Sauce, which is amazing stuff. My seats still look the same as they did in 2011!
Boat Bling is awesome.
Spray on will also eat your sunglasses and glass. Banned.
Re: White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 1:08 pm
by Ytmsn
liquid wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:47 am
mtwbldr wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 8:57 am
Im interested if theres a certain spray sunscreen that causes this? Ive used spray sunscreen since we first got the boat in 2011 and have yet to have any staining on the seats due to using it. While I encourage and enforce not spraying standing in the middle of the boat, throughout the day people need to re apply to which I tell them to use the swim platform.
I guess I can chalk up my no staining to the use of Vinyl Sauce and Condition Sauce, which is amazing stuff. My seats still look the same as they did in 2011!
Boat Bling is awesome.
Spray on will also eat your sunglasses and glass. Banned.
And it will stain the fiberglass with little orange spots. That stuff is definitely of the devil...
Re: White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 1:39 pm
by gdane
Just a heads up the Cobalt factory uses scrubbing bubbles, magic eraser pads and Vinyl sauce
Re: White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 1:41 pm
by liquid
gdane wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 1:39 pm
Just a heads up the Cobalt factory uses scrubbing bubbles, magic eraser pads and Vinyl sauce
Yup. Rick was all in on Scrubbing Bubbles.
They used to use 303 but I def snapped a picture of some Sauce on the factory tour.
Re: White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 1:43 pm
by mtwbldr
hmm I guess I'm lucky then? Glass is still clear (again no spraying on the boat only the swim platform) and fiberglass clean as well. Scrubbing bubbles is part of my annual deep interior clean and its amazing the shine it brings out every year.
Re: White Vinyl Discoloration / Stain?
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 1:50 pm
by gdane
Don't know and prolly don't want to know what is in those magic eraser pads but they sure work !