www.iFourWinns.com

Whats the best way you've found to clean your cockpit vinyl?

What chemical do you use, where do you buy it, and how do you apply it?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

I've always used Vinyl Finish Vinyl Cleaner, but it's no longer made and my supply is nearing an end. I'm going to go with warm soapy water for now, of course always following with 303.

http://www.303products.com/shop303/inde ... -vinyl.cfm

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I like Meguiars Marine Vinyl cleaner/protector.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

I have used the West Marine vinyl cleaner for years and have been very happy with it.

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2008 H210
Volvo 5.0 GXi
"Summer Sled"
Indianapolis

Babe's Boat soap products... spray on, wipe off. Has a great UV protectant and conditioner.

http://www.babesboats.com/

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

A clean rag with plain water. If there's a nasty bug stain that won't come up, I'll try a very small amount of 303 fabric cleaner and spot remover, and if that doesn't work I'll use a regular magic sponge. So far everything has come up. (knocks on wood)

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

Thats what I use.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Do you follow up with 303?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

No need to. There is protectant already in the meguiars.

Best method I have found is clean vinyl with Magic Eraser, then follow with 303 or Meguiars.
I have used Meguiars and it works fine. Magic Eraser will get your seats much cleaner than anything
I have found.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Have you found it wearing at all? I'm assuming just very lightly with the magic eraser?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

I wiped the vinyl on our new boat when we first got it with Meguiar's. It looked better, but a couple of spots
had a stain or two that were stubborn. So, I tried some Magic Eraser on the spots, the vinyl was 2 shades "brighter" than what was
cleaned with the Meguiar's. So I did all of the vinyl that way, then used the rest of the Meguiar's for protection.
No wear whatsoever from the eraser. It's not very abrasive itself, so lightly moved over the vinyl works great.

Try it on a stubborn area that is out of site, you will be happy with the results.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Great thanks Capn!

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Just so we cover it all, here are some other methods/products that are popular.

1.)Also look at Clorox Clean-up. Minimal amount of bleach and works great with just a spray and a rag (use white rags).

2.)Wesley's Bleche White - It is some mean stuff - spray it on, let sit about 15 seconds, then wash with regular soap and water & rinse well. Its actually tire/whitewall cleaner

3.)Simple Green... Inexpensive, works well, smells good and is eco-friend

4.)Spray liberal amount of a product called AWESOME (dollar store for 1.00). I use that and then wet a Mr. Clean sponge and scrub. Seats turn out gleaming white.

5.)Spray Nine, it on and it starts cleaning before the rag hits it. scrub it in a bit and wipe it off with a clean damp rag.

6.)soft scrub. It gets down in the grain of the vinyl and cleans it out!

7.)Tuff Stuff, It works on short-pile carpets too.

These are all methods I have seen used over the years, choose what works best fo you, but I will add this
note of caution.

If your new seats are cleaning up with just water then just use 303 protectant on them and you will still be able to use just water to clean them.

Do not! I repeat! do not use anything with bleach on new seats there is no need to.

303 will protect your seats and make them really easy to clean with just water. A lot of people on here are using different products because their seats are several years old and that's fine, but not on new seats.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I use starbrite vinyl brite to clean and protect, and a clean soft rag, sometimes I use 303 protectant.


Mike

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Mike
2007 Horizon 200 SS
5.0 GXi SX drive.