How to Clean Grease From a Fiberglass Boat

Grease and mechanical toys, like boats, go together; though there's nothing as much trouble as grease on the hull of a fiberglass boat. The grease must be cleaned from the boat carefully, to prevent pollution, and any cloths used to clean up the grease must be handled as a fire hazard. While most grease is flammable, some forms produce heat when in contact with the air and start fires almost spontaneously.

Things You'll Need

  • Garbage bags
  • 2 metal trash cans
  • Wide-blade putty knife
  • Degreaser
  • Clean cloths
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Instructions

    • 1

      Insert a plastic garbage bag into a metal trash can. Position the trash can near the grease.

    • 2

      Scrape off as much of the grease as possible, using a wide-blade putty knife. As you scrape the grease off the boat, transfer it to the garbage can. Use the edge of the garbage can to scrape the grease from the putty knife's blade.

    • 3

      Spread an automotive degreaser onto the grease, with a clean cloth, once you finish with the putty knife. Clean the area surrounding the grease to ensure full coverage. Allow the degreaser to remain in place for several minutes.

    • 4

      Wipe the degreaser and the grease away with a clean, damp cloth. Fold and refold the cloth, so that you are always wiping with a clean cloth. As the cloths become saturated with grease, switch to clean cloths and place the saturated cloths in a second, covered, metal trashcan. Close the lid on the can.

    • 5

      Remove the trash bag of grease from the boat at the earliest possible time for disposal by an authorized shore facility. Discard the cloths saturated with grease, or wash them at least twice, with a strong detergent, before bringing them aboard again. Do not dry the cloths in a dryer.