Click for Comfort Click for Nordhavn Click for Nordhavn Click for YF Listing Service Click for Burger

Ocean Alexander ‘64

Discussion in 'Ocean Alexander Yacht' started by Dealership, Apr 20, 2021.

  1. Dealership

    Dealership New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Vancouver island
    I have an OA 64 and am having trouble with the hull going yellow after a day of cruising. Any thought on why and/ or remedies?
  2. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    What area exactly is going yellow? Waterline to rub rail? Above rub rail? Below waterline? Is it yellow even after you do your rinse down?
  3. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,205
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Most likely tannins from decomposed plants in the waters you cruise. It's annoying but natural. Longer it's left on though the harder it is to remove. It can be found anywhere but most often in back canals and small rivers.
  4. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    My initial guess too but would like more info to answer based on.
  5. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,205
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Well it's not oil and mud washes off easier. Tannin stains the bows.. I seem to recall that the New River had a lot of tannin.
  6. Dealership

    Dealership New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Vancouver island
    Waterline to halfway up the hull where the bow is in the wash
  7. Dealership

    Dealership New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Vancouver island
    Yellow even after a wash down
  8. Dealership

    Dealership New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Vancouver island
    This happens in the ocean waters on the west coast, no plant based stuff
  9. Dealership

    Dealership New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Vancouver island
    I’m thinking that there is an issue with the gel coat and think there must be a way to seal it properly
  10. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    How long have you had the boat and how long have you had this problem?

    The most common cause is the styrene in the gelcoat being too thick. That goes back obviously to manufacturing but would manifest itself gradually, not on a per trip basis normally. A less common cause is wax on the gelcoat yellowing. However, when it's the gelcoat, it typically happens gradually and not based on a short cruise. That's what makes me not dismiss environmental.

    Is it cleaning up when you wash it stringently?

    If the gelcoat itself, then many solutions touted online. Most extreme is sanding a layer down. Milder are things like Top Gear and Cleanshine and Starbrite. There's a product called Yellow Treat used for pools and boats.

    It's an algicide so if it works, the problem is from the water. I still don't dismiss that possibility as the gelcoat issues are far more common in hot climates than in your area.

    I'm assuming the boat hasn't been painted and no gelcoat repair?

    I'd try some of the products mentioned and see how they work.
  11. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Algae everywhere.
  12. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,205
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Although less common in the open ocean it's possible, but my bet is it's happening on the way to and from. Watch your bow wave for where it's the color of tea. You could certainly take a water sample and have it analyzed, but my bet is tannin unless there's an old chemical plant where they dump or dumped waste products. Back in my boat yard days we used to acid wash the water lines and bows at haulout. Dk if that's still legal. Common problem.
  13. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,120
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    How old is the boat? What a the history? As the boat been repainted or is it just the original gelcoat? Any special treatment applied ? Some “miracle” shine products yellow with time.

    how do you expect any useful advice when you can’t even tell us basic information!!

    best product to remove yellow stains on hull, or deck, is a blue gel called Davis FSR.

    but the hull should not yellow again after just a day on ocean water.
  14. Dealership

    Dealership New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Vancouver island
    The boat is a 2005, has never been painted, owned it for 4 years, FSR won’t touch it, at last haul out cleaned and waxed the hull thinking perhaps there was nothing on hull to protect it, the rusty looking film soon came back, using a product called Rust Off (purchased from the local chandlery)will remove it but I’m sure that it has removed the wax as well
  15. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,205
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Paint and gel coat issues wouldn't just show up at the bow wave and waterline nor just after cruising. You're obviously cruising through something that's staining the hull. Do your dock neighbors have similar happening? I'd be careful about regular use of the rusticator. Also most environmentally friendly products will be too mild. Maybe use of a mildly abrasive wax would clean it, but that's a lot of work. Your mention of rust raises the question of are there rotting steal bulkheads or such in the area?
  16. Dealership

    Dealership New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Vancouver island
    Sorry no, have owned many boats travelling in these waters, never experienced this before. I am fairly certain that it is a problem peculiar to Ocean Alexander
  17. Capt Cole

    Capt Cole Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2017
    Messages:
    120
    Location:
    Pittsburg CA
    I have run the exact same year and model OA along the coast of CA between Long Beach and S.F. Bay as well as many hours in the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta with no issues similar to what you are seeing. I tend to agree with NYCAP on this.
  18. Dealership

    Dealership New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Vancouver island
    I also have a friend with the same boat, same problem and he recommended a cleaner for me. Cleans it off but it comes back
  19. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    And where is his boat located?
  20. Dealership

    Dealership New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Vancouver island
    Vancouver/ Vancouver island, we boat in the same waters