Vasoline for boat hulls!

[fatlazyless]

This might sound a little bit weird except that it works good. Got an old kayak or fiberglass canoe or sailboat that is looking like it has been out in the sun too long and has that died out - el dirty & tired look to it. For about two dollars at a store like Family Dollar, you can pick up a large container of vasoline, and using a small abrasive backed sponge, simply rub vasoline all over that old kayak to make it look like new again.

If the kayak has caught a case of kayak mildew, that black stuff that grows in the scratches, then first it should be scrubbed down with a solution of bleach-dish detergent-hot water and rinsed good before getting the vasoline rub down.

Who knew that plain old vasoline, which is dirt cheap, like $2.40 for a huge container, could do such a good job of restoring old plastic boat hulls, and is much easier to apply than boat wax.

It seems like it improves the performance paddle-ability of a kayak too, because there will be less friction between the water and the kayak hull, so the kayak will slide through the water a greater distance with each paddle stroke. No kidd'n around, this stuff really improves the paddle-abilty for a kayak!

[AC2717]

just quick question
is the vasaline good for the water?

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by AC2717

just quick question
is the vasaline good for the water?

Being petroleum based I would say probably not but if its ok for your skin then....

[ITD]

I think bacon fat would be better.

[Jonas Pilot]

Originally Posted by ITD

I think bacon fat would be better.

It would smell better too!

[SIKSUKR]

hmm, bacon fat or butter on my boat. Thats a tough one. I could name it the baconator or the butter boat.

[ITD]

The fish would probably jump right in it would smell so good!

[fatlazyless]

Ok ok, maybe it is a little unusual but isn't one of the natural reasons why fish have a slimey outer coating on their fish bodies is to reduce the friction between them and the water. A slimey fish body moves through the water better than a dry fish body which is why fish are slimey, and a vasoline coating on a plastic kayak is very similar to the slime on a fish. Slime reduces the friction, and vasoline is pretty similar to slime.

Just go talk to any slimey fish about it, and they'll tell you that their slime makes it easier to swim cause it cuts down on the friction and they do not have to work so hard!

[Sunbeam lodge]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Ok ok, maybe it is a little unusual but isn't one of the natural reasons why fish have a slimey outer coating on their fish bodies is to reduce the friction between them and the water. A slimey fish body moves through the water better than a dry fish body which is why fish are slimey, and a vasoline coating on a plastic kayak is very similar to the slime on a fish. Slime reduces the friction, and vasoline is pretty similar to slime.

Just go talk to any slimey fish about it, and they'll tell you that their slime makes it easier to swim cause it cuts down on the friction and they do not have to work so hard!

Could this be why our representatives in congress and lawyers swim so well?

[DickR]

Originally Posted by AC2717

just quick question
is the vasaline good for the water?

Petroleum jelly is basically a mix of parafinic compounds, which are essentially insoluble in water and chemically rather inert. The product doesn't contain aromatic or napthenic compounds found in crude petroleum; those would be undesired contaminants for the lake. A decent summary of the product is found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_jelly

[TOAD]

Couldn't find anything on my kayak forums or a google of the net concerning Vaseline petroleum jelly being used on the hull of a kayak.....for anything.

Some do use it to temporarily mount a transducer, thru hull, for their fish finders.

[BroadHopper]

Surfers use this for years on their surfboard. Perhaps it will be suitable for the paddlers.

[Happy Gourmand]

The only dry fish I ever saw was overcooked.....never saw a dry fish swim!

[NH_boater]

While some studies seem to indicate a slight improvement in surface turbulence due to the slime on a fish, the real purpose of the slime is clearly protection. This slime layer provides a layer of protection from infection and parasites for the host fish. This is why it is so important to use proper gear and handling during catch/release to protect this slime layer. Disturb it and you are not making the fish swim harder, you are potentially killing the fish.



http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquarium/slimecoat.php
http://www.arkansasstripers.com/fish-slime-coat.htm
http://www.petplace.com/fish/why-are...imy/page1.aspx

[fatlazyless]

Rub vasoline all over the propeller on your boat, and you will be very surprised when that propeller no longer can get a "grip" on the water and move the boat forward! The propeller will spin and spin but will have lost its ability to generate enough force to move the boat all because the vasoline greatly reduces the friction between water and the propeller. Talk about spinning your propeller and not getting anywhere but at the same time an aluminum or stainless propreller will get the restoration and renewal benefit of petroleum jelly.

[SIKSUKR]

I got it now. Vasoline and a broom will solve many of life's problems.

[NH_boater]

I can find hundreds of web references to putting vaseline on props for anti-fouling, seems to be done all the time. I can find no reference on this causing prop slip or lowering the props efficiency. Do you have any additional info on this?

[ApS]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Rub vasoline all over the propeller on your boat, and you will be very surprised when that propeller no longer can get a "grip" on the water and move the boat forward! The propeller will spin and spin but will have lost its ability to generate enough force to move the boat all because the vasoline greatly reduces the friction between water and the propeller. Talk about spinning your propeller and not getting anywhere but at the same time an aluminum or stainless propreller will get the restoration and renewal benefit of petroleum jelly.

Other than perhaps some torque effect on the hull, I question the above statement very much, but Vasoline® on hulls got a very good review HERE.

[ITD]

Hopefully no one is taking this seriously..........



Less, sometimes you remind me of that Vaseline coated propeller of which you speak, no grip.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Rub vasoline all over the propeller on your boat, and you will be very surprised when that propeller no longer can get a "grip" on the water and move the boat forward! The propeller will spin and spin but will have lost its ability to generate enough force to move the boat all because the vasoline greatly reduces the friction between water and the propeller. Talk about spinning your propeller and not getting anywhere but at the same time an aluminum or stainless propreller will get the restoration and renewal benefit of petroleum jelly.

Isn't your boat on a lift? Let's try it!

[Rattlesnake Gal]

FLL might not be completely crazy... in this instance.

I found some boaters that have tried it on an IBoats Forum:

Cleaning/Waxing boat with Vaseline???

Might be worth a try, but waxing the boat after might make the most sense. According to one of these Forum members - "Gelcoat needs oil in its pores its not like paint, that's why it works so well."

[fatlazyless]

Got an old aluminum boat that has a worn out original factory paint that's 10-20-30-40 years old.......instead of repainting.....try a $2.25 large container of vasoline rubbed into the old painted aluminum with a small sponge.....BINGO....makes old aluminum look like new again!


Another good trick if you have an old worn out aluminum boat lift is to repaint with spray Rustoleum bright aluminum paint and/or vasoline for the chain, cable and vinyl parts. The spray bright alum definitely helps to give a tired old waterfront boat lift a NEW DO. The Rustoleum spray aluminum sticks to old aluminum like a magnet and is wicked easy to use!

[Kracken]

Vaseline does help to restore faded fiberglass hulls. While the restoration is somewhat temporary as it lasted about 2 months, it does work. Years ago I had a red Four Winns that I loved very much and I did not want it to become a pink Four Winns. So I grabbed a rag and a bottle of Vaseline from medicine cabinet and headed for the boat with a smile on my face. My wife caught me on route and said: “I knew one day it would come to this.”

[ApS]

I'm giving this a try, starting yesterday. It takes only a small amount of Vasoline to do an entire deck; importantly, the completed restoration is not slippery, even to the bare foot.

In the below photo, the shiny part across the top was "restored" with Vasoline. The lower right corner shows where a decal was removed, showing the brilliance of the original red color.

Let's see what it looks like after one season.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Thanks for the picture APS. I look forward to see how it holds up.

I started to "restore" an old, faded plastic Adirondack chair with Vaseline and it really is coming out well. Just as you have stated, the treated area is not at all slippery or greasy. I had tried some other protectants in the past, but even buffed, it would be extremely slippery. Hope it lasts!

[fpartri497]

you all need to thank FLL for the idea

[Rattlesnake Guy]

This weekend I was sitting in one of our chairs and slipped right out and into the lake. For some reason I had so little friction, I slid to Wolfboro and landed on Romney's beach.

[Jonas Pilot]

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Guy

This weekend I was sitting in one of our chairs and slipped right out and into the lake. For some reason I had so little friction, I slid to Wolfboro and landed on Romney's beach.

Did you get chased away with a broom?

[tis]

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Guy

This weekend I was sitting in one of our chairs and slipped right out and into the lake. For some reason I had so little friction, I slid to Wolfboro and landed on Romney's beach.

You immediately brightened my Monday morning!!!!

[ApS]

A little morning dew on the vasoline-treated deck does make the surface very slippery. It takes all day for the moisture to evaporate away.

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Guy

This weekend I was sitting in one of our chairs and slipped right out and into the lake. For some reason I had so little friction, I slid to Wolfboro and landed on Romney's beach.

I saw you go by—did you see me waving?