The Oil Spill and my boat...

[Rogerswimuk]

So the oil has started to move into the lake where I keep my boat. It's mainly in little, weathered, quarter sized balls, with the consistancy of pudding skin.

The balls are not everywhere, but if im out on a day trip, I think I could run over enough where it would look like someone shot the front of the boat up with a paintball gun. I've heard some people down here saying keep your boat out of the water because oil doesn't come out of fiberglass.

Any thoughts on the hull of a 99 Seadoo Sportster in these conditions???

I'd hate to have to take it out of the water for the summer... Its running great, and I was going to get a lot of use out of it this Summer before I tried to sell it.

 

[cheappc]

sorry to hear that...

 

[seadoo GTS 1993]

That sucks! Screw BP!

 

[scooper77515]

Not sure, but I doubt it would hurt the boat. I have gotten tar on surfboards all my life and it just wipes off with a little solvent. I have used wd-40, zippo lighter fluid, etc.

It would be harder to clean if it got inside the hull/engine bay somehow, into the fibrous part of the fiberglass.

The only damage I can think of would be if it got into your engine's cooling passages, or into the wear ring (sometimes that tar has rocks and sand in it, if it has hit the beach before going back out to sea).

So if there are just a few tar balls floating around, steer clear of them and have fun. If there are lots, I would keep it out of the water to prevent sucking them into the jet pump or engine.