Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
Somebody might have a remedy, but I've never found one after they've become severely blackened for awhile. If you clean them 2-3 times during the summer, they'll stay nice for quite awhile.
I had a big, expensive one that came with my boat and that was really grimy, but was perfectly functional. I tried many different cleaning agents, and they improved it only slightly, so I put it away for the rare occasion when I really needed it.
If you buy the dark blue ones instead of white, they won't show the grime as much and will look nicer longer.
Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind" previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22 Past Commodore
Don Lucier (C-25 Forum member) used to clean the boot stripe on his boat with toilet bowl cleaner (the clingy kind) ... I wonder if that might work on your fenders?
'Might be worth a try ...
Buzz Maring ~~Freya~~ C-25 SK/SR #68 Lake Dallas, TX
Yup--I have two dark green (my hull color) and two white--all stored in the same place. The green ones look great, the whites not so much. I recently tried a bathroom cleaner with bleach and then scrubbed them with a towel--it made about an 80% improvement. Soft Scrub with Bleach might do better. Or you could try this stuff--it's "marine quality".
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
Does anyone know how to clean a black dirty fender
I now see people with covers on their fenders
That's what I was thinking. Take the cover off occasionally and throw in washer. Might help keep some of the dirt off if the cover is coated with 303 or some other protectant/waterproofing.
I've gotten about the same unsatisfying results trying to clean inflatable fenders as described by others above.
Re: "I now see people with covers on their fenders"
And the reason is permanently stained white vinyl.
I think Don Casey's book on boat canvas uses cloth fender covers as a getting started project. A couple yards of Sunbrella, a couple feet of small line for drawstrings, sail thread, home zig-zag sewing machine with the right needle, and you're on your way to classier looking color coordinated yacht fenders.
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.