I know that this subject has been discussed before, but I need some additional help. I covered some cushions on a Century boat, and some of them have developed the dredded pink spots. I remember that Marine Spray 9 was noted as a cure for this, but it didn't work on these spots. I am open to almost anything, as is the owner, short of re-doing the covers. Any ideas out there?
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Danny D.
Developed as in "spilled some red liquid on them?"
There are two types of red stains
1. Organic such as red wine, berries, etc. You can treat these with hydrogen peroxide or one of the oxygenating bleaches such as Oxi-Clean. Pro's Choice makes a "Stain Magic" product that is a strong hydrogen peroxide solution with a catalyst in a second bottle. Mix, apply, and let it do its work. UV light helps, which should not be a problem on boat seats.
2. Non-organic, i.e., red food dye. Common in many foods, medicines, and beverages. Red Kool Aid is the classic example. These need a reducer (the opposite of #1). There are very specific stain removers for red food dyes. I use Pro's Choice "Red Relief" This is a two-part solution that you mix, apply, heat lightly, then it chemically converts the dye to something you can remove. They have just come out with a "Red 1 USA" that is a one-part product, but I've not had the chance/need to try it yet.
If it was mine to clean, I'd go with #1 first. Test in an obscure spot, then proceed carefully with one seat.
I'm pretty sure this is some type of mold. I've seen it before on late model boats with really cheap vinyl. Usually the vinyl is only about 6 months old before this develops.
What kind of vinyl did you use?
I'd try a magic eraser and diluted bleach.
I also have seen this and the common experience is it has had a lot of sun and might have had dirt on the surface for the color to represent bacteria?
I once had experience this on vinyl that had glue on the back side, but in this case it isn't expected?
Any who! I suggest replacing and get it done with because cleaning has never worked for me, especially if the symptom has prevailed a while.
Doyle
Yes, Doyle, you're right. It is bacteria, and it's probably on the foam, causing the growth on the vinyl. I'd do them over too if it were me. And I'd spray the foam with something that kills bacteria before I put the new skins on.
Very good point Chris, I didn't think about the foam issue. That dirt and moisture in the foam could be a hot bed of bacteria.
Thanks for adding that, I suppose one would fix the job and then start considering ventilation? That one might warp a small mind like mine.
Doyle
Ah, the dreaded pink mold. It's a fungus for sure. Tough part with new vinyl is getting an anti-fungal to the fungus since it's imbedded. I've heard of success with black spot anti-fungal liquids they sell at the garden shop for roses and tomatoes. I'd choose a brand with the highest concentration of active ingredients, saturate a thin white towel or t-shirt and lay it on the seat and leave it at least overnight. I've heard this works, but haven't encountered the problem for several years so don't know if it really works. Bleach applied in the same manner is also supposed to work, but bleach will weaken the thread. After treating it may take a few days for the pink to disappear.
June
The vinyl I used was Spradling Soft Side with their new permagard treatment. It's supposed to make the vinyl easier to clean, but evidently doesn't prevent things like the pink spots from happening. I'll try the cures given, saving the complete re-do for the last resort. Thanks.
Danny D.
June is your sebsite still up i was voing to refer a guy who needs a cover your way and couldnt find it.
Was tye old fosm used danny perhaps
It came through.
I use seabrook and on my one. Coaming pad new board new foam and. Inyl i have had a pink spot occor but the pad is in the weather all the time. With tons of rain.
Mike, I almost never use new foam; I just beef up the old foam. My customers don't want to pay for it. I've done hundreds of cushions and have never had the pink spot thing, so I'm lucky I guess. But whenever I see it, it's usually on newer boats with the vinyl that has a real slick shiny feel to it, and it always has the fuzzy flannel backing too.
I'm thinking the cheap vinyl they use doesn't have the anti microbial coating on it?
Jojo ive ise seabrook on many of my boats and never seen it it is a good. Vinyl and ive slso never had a complaint from a customer. Pehaps just on mine its that i do t want to cover the whole boat and thebpad gets soaked here in the summer
I passed this on to our resident vinyl expert - MiamiMike.
Maybe he has something to add to this topic. I have seen this on boats before and I can remember we had a discussion on this topic quite a while ago here on the forum.
It seems this Pink Spot problem rears its ugly head every now and then.
Chris
Quote from: MikeM8560 on July 28, 2012, 09:05:56 am
June is your sebsite still up i was voing to refer a guy who needs a cover your way and couldnt find it.
Still there, Mike - harborcushions.com
Danny, Spradling is great vinyl. I'm surprised it went pink so fast. I remember when you posted how you do the double welt for those seats and it wasn't that long ago (BTW, thanks for the how-to on that). When I use old foam, I typically scrape off the green slime, wash with degreaser (Oil Eater is WONDERFUL stuff - don't get me started on this product :-X), rinse with fresh water, dry thoroughly, then spritz with bleach and water - a 1-4 mix in a spray bottle. Let it dry again, then recover. Only time I recover dirty, wet foam is when I'm trying to meet a shipping schedule for out of the country.
June
Good point, June. Don't cover wet foam! I always take the staples out, and take the foam off of the board and let it dry for at least a whole day.
Btw, Danny, there are a few guys on this board who often see pink spots and pink elephants, but that's usually the booze talkin. :D
Bump...
So did anything work?
June
So far, the Marine Spray 9 was tried with no results to speak of. The fungicide hasn't been tried, but that may be next. The cushions that are affected had additional foam padding added to increase the size and comfort. I wouldn't think that would cause any problems, but I could be wrong, been there before.
Danny D.
Hi Danny,
suggest that you buy a hundred buck steamer and then thouroughly steam all of your foam cushions, that is, before actually recovering them. Trust that the mould / fungus hasn't spread through your shop! :o
Actually the steam will pop out all of the old wrinkles and indentations etc from the old foam and will bring it up like almost new. Check it out! Can then do a dacron wrap if you're feeling particular (obviously use s/s staples). :-X
One can also use teatree oil or euculyptus oil in the water / steam solution - however as June has succinctly stated it's bleach (1 : 4) is the only thing that effectively kills off mould. :-*
Painters generally paint a ten percent bleach solution in their wet areas (shower ceilings etc) prior to undercoating / painting. Anyway, as Pink Floyd says, welcome to the machine ... ::)
Pink gin, anyone?
There was an article in marine fabricator on pink mold a couple years ago. If you are a member you might find it there. Know i threw out the mag so not much help on the date. I think iosso had some treatment for this too.
You don't have to be a member to get the mag I do and this is available online past editions also but I don't know how far back.
http://marinefabricatormag.com/
I hope this helps you all.
http://www.omnova.com/products/marineUpholstery/documents/Nautolex_PinkStaining_TechBulletin_2012.pdf
Top stuff, Champ, searched the fabricater mag and couldn't nail anything down..
Pink gin flowing at my joint ..
I have the pink spots too. I initially thought it was bleed through from a sharpie but June told me about the fungus and after further research that's what it is. Funny to hear the comments on here, especially about the cheap vinyl, since the stuff I removed was thin with the fuzzy back and it had no pink, but as soon as I put some new Port o' Call vinyl on there I get the spots everywhere.
I will tell you this, the Ortho rose anti-fungus did not help in any concentration, and when applied straight it melted the vinyl. I don't reccommend it. I'm just going to face the music and recover the seats again, this time paying special attention to cleaning the foam. I think I will wet it and freeze it after I clean it, just to make sure nothing survives; I don't want to have to do them again-again!
It really does not matter what marine grade vinyl you use, but some have better properties than others. This pink stuff can hit any vinyl. Just have to watch out for the 4 things from my last post. I would recomend new foam or wrap the old with a foam plastic wrap. I know it's hard to up sell all your customers on new foam, but I would think if you all show them what can happen if you use the old foam. I bet you will get the new foam and a better piece of mind. Also by showing them these pictures and they do not want to buy the new foam, you should not have to worry if for some reason they get pink. But I know you would still work with your customers.
My last few thoughts on this.
Mike
Quote from: slow96z on August 13, 2012, 03:01:26 pm
I put some new Port o' Call vinyl on there I get the spots everywhere.
Who makes that? Never heard of Port 'o Call. Spradling? Morbern?
Quote from: slow96z on August 13, 2012, 03:01:26 pm
I will tell you this, the Ortho rose anti-fungus did not help in any concentration, and when applied straight it melted the vinyl.
YIKES! I've used fungicide and never had that happen.
Problem with Omnova's advice is that bleach will rot the thread unless you've used a PTEF. I've known a few boat owners who simply let it be and after a year or so the pink disappeared. Replacement is probably the only known quick fix I guess. Too bad vinyl mfgrs can't figure out a way to combat this.
And MiamiMike's right - it happens to all qualities of vinyl from what I've seen.
June
I've seen the pink spot problem on vinyl but never on Nautolux
and we also get it here on PVC , When trolling the web I found a
sail and canvas cleaning company on the UK south coast who claim
to be able to clean the pink staining ?? I haven't contacted them
to see if I can get some info, perhaps I should.
Rich
I found a product that gets rid the pink mold stains. It's called pink away. The spots on my boat are exactly like the ones first shown in this forum's thread. It's available on www.pink-away.com
I signed up for a testing and got a free sample. It was enough to remove the 10 or so spots I had on my 2004 Maxum's white vinyl seats.
Nothing else worked for me.
SeattleDude
When I reuse old foam that has been wet or is a bit green, I always steam it & give it a long dry out in full sun. Not had any pink issues with it so far.
Suzi
hey guys
I'm currently in talks with the guy who is developing a specific chemical for the Pink Spot,
he tells me it works well and I am waiting on some samples when i get the forms back to him
Quote from: Danny D. on July 28, 2012, 08:44:51 am
The vinyl I used was Spradling Soft Side with their new permagard treatment. It's supposed to make the vinyl easier to clean, but evidently doesn't prevent things like the pink spots from happening. I'll try the cures given, saving the complete re-do for the last resort. Thanks.
Danny D.
This spring co-worker made cushions for her own boat out of that vinyl and its covered in pink spots. Never seen pink spots on Soft Side before now.
I've given scott the link to this discussion so you may see him here soon to tell us about pink away.
rich
I got a job Friday cover on a hurricane deckboat brandy new ,the owner has pink spots and though he must have spilled some wine till I told him it wasn't that
do you want his email Mike ? talk to him and he might be able to arrange a sample
for a small fee..
scott@farreachfarm.com
is it pink away rich?
yes i believe so ,
Just got a callback due to the dreaded pink spots. I used new "marine quality" foam and Keyston brothers in house marine vinyl.
will have to check into the pink away. i dont think the boats even been used, when I was shown the seats they were being stored in an old semi trailer. What a drag, time to start trying the fixes.
This wasnt the water taxi?
This is a 20 something powerboat that had been sunk in Tampa bay. All white vinyl, the pink spots werent there when these photos were taken
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