Black rubber on swim deck leaving marks?

I have an 02 X-star (which is new to me) with the fiberglass swim platform. I was cleaning the boat up the other day and was wiping just the fiberglass part off with some 303. My white towel rubbed across the rubber on the swim deck and left some black streaks on the rag and then also on the white fiber glass portion of the deck it touched. Am I going to have to worry about this black stuff rubbing off on my boardshorts when the deck gets wet, or is there some chemical in the 303 that just caused it to streak like that? Is there something to clean or seal that rubber with?

Sounds like the plastic on the platform is breaking down. I have the same problem on my boat but haven't fixed it yet with new stuff.

I think there have been a lot of threads on here about this. I thought it was mostly supra's and moomba's. Search the old boards, I believe there were lots of suggestions on how to fix it.

Rob is right, there are a few threads that talk about this subject. It is a chemical that makes the rubber do that. I have the same problem with my 06 LSV. There's a certain way to clean the rubber without making it do that!

Here is one that seems lengthy and full of info.

http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/402250.html

sounds like the permanent solution is to replace it. Bummer.

Give it a good scrubbing with a brush and soap and water and it will bleed less. I have the same issue on my 05 nautique 211 composite platform. I just clean it good a couple times a year and it gets the excess black whatever off.

I also had this problem. I suppose it is just the UV rays breaking down the rubber. When people would step in the boat after their set it would be all over. It easily wipes off but is quite annoying.

Just run enough ballast to keep the swim deck under water.

^^^^^Great Idea^^^^^More ballast!

No amount of scrubbing will fix it. Mine did the same thing until I just replaced it with something else.

Eric, what product did you use to solve this problem?

I can't remember where I ordered it from, but it was the stuff for jet skis. I was going to go with gator grip but thought it may be too soft (sorry wakejunky). I still have the factory replacement padding with adhesive if anyone wants to keep it original.



(Message edited by cinder1995 on April 19, 2007)

So does anyone know if boatmatz stick to textured surfaces. I'm thinking of adding it to my platform but it has built in traction (not good enough, I still slip on it). boatmatz.com

Eric, that was a nice job. If you by chance know where you got it, PM me but I will also look around. Again, nice job....

Wow...that looks great. It looks like Hydro-Turf to me......I'm dealing with the same issue now on my 2002 Sunsport V....

http://www.hydroturf.com

My '04 X-2 did that also. Drove me nuts! had to replace it.

KC, I just ordered some swatches (sp?). I think that is what I need.... Thanks.

David, I think this is where I ordered it from.

http://hydroturf.com/products.php?cat=Sheets%20of%20Hydro-Turf

I ordered it without adhesive, but if I had to do it again I would've waited the extra day or two for them to apply it.

Thanks Eric. Have you had the same problems with the rubber degenerating? How long have you had the stuff on the deck????

I've had it on there for about 9-10 months now and it still looks/feels the same as it did when I put it on. It actually feels better than most of the stock platforms i've stood on. But like I said, make sure you get it with the 3M adhesive backing. It will be easier to set and will save you about 2 hours.

Thanks, I like the price of this stuff too. Looks like I can get a normal platform done for less than $100. Is this about what it cost you to do it?????

My 04 VLX did it also.

Woody, what did you do to fix it????

Sold it. LOL Nothing seemed to help, it was so frustrating. My next boat will have teak.

Yeah it was about $100 for the material & glue.