If you have a canoe, surf-ski, paddleboard or any watercraft for that matter, chances are you have come to realize taking care of the craft is important. Not only to pro-long its life, but also for your psyche as you realize on race day that every advantage is needed to be your best. Recently we gave a dirty sadly neglected a make-over, a John Martin OC2 from the 90s that paddles great, but had been left in the rafters for far too long. It was in sad shape and hosing it down with water just didn't seem to help restore its sheen anymore. We have a race coming up in a couple weeks with it...what oh what is a paddler to do? So we thought we would try out some Blue Goo from OnIt Pro and share our results. Enjoy!
This past year I had a chance to meet the folks an OnIt Pro who came to a paddling retreat, (CP Retreat). They talked about how their products were environmentally friendly, won't take layers off of your paint job, preserve the lifespan of your craft, and yes, make it shine like nothing else. Based on speed boat racing technology where speed is king, and also found in the surf industry, OnIt Pro has been a big supporter of the paddling community as they photograph racers, set up a vendor booth at events with tune-up stations, and oh yah, are really friendly too. We got to see their products in use there, and learn how they are better than magic erasers and household chemicals for cleaning your board, canoe or kayak.
Sometimes a photo is better than any article we can write, So here are a series of photos from the canoe before we applied Blue Goo.Keep in mind this is after we rinsed the canoe with water and hand scrubbed to get the top layer of dirt off. This is also hours after paddling the canoe, so you can be sure this grime and dirt was not simply going to come off without some serious miracle.
"The Wet Okole" - Before
So as you can see, the outrigger canoe seriously needed some TLC. Dirt, rust stains, residue from race number stickers, this canoe had seen some battles.
During
Dirt and Grime...
Scratches and abrasions...
Rust and stains...
As we were going over part of the canoe, we had a rag that was damp, and would sprinkle some of the Blue Goo on the surface then watch in amazement as the canoe came to life and looked brand new, inch by inch. Every paddle scuff from hitting the sides would look better. Every salt water or rust stain seemed to disappear. It did take a few passes at times and some elbow grease here and there for the tougher ones, but honestly, the magic was pretty astonishing.
Finish product
When all was said and done we felt like we had finally given this canoe the love and TLC it deserved. It look practically new again. See for yourself...
Final thoughts about the product
One of the things that really calmed my fears is that the product is environmentally friendly and biodegradable. I had plants in my yard that I didn't have to worry about. The fact that I might use this near the water's edge before a paddle is ok knowing that it won't harm the environment like other chemicals would. It also won't take layers of the finish and paint off like magic erasers tend to do.
Cost: The cost is $19.95 for an 8oz bottle. My entire 25 foot canoe and ama used about 60% of the bottle but was 4 years between baths. My sup and prone and oc1 have each gotten cleaned during one afternoon, and were not as dirty. All three of them used about half a bottle. So figure you will get some good life from your purchase.
See you on the water!- Visit OnItPro.com to purchase or learn more.
- Pick-up a bottle at your local paddle shop.
Team Writer Clarke Graves - If there is water, he will paddle it (regardless of craft). Clarke is a surfer turned paddler who grew up in San Diego but has traveled every corner of California enjoying its beauty and appeal. He has had the privilege of racing SUP, OC6, OC2, OC1, Prone and can't wait to hop into a dragon boat and surf-ski for an extended length of time.
One of Clarke's goals is to paddle as much shoreline in California as he can, with as many paddling friends who are willing to join him. If you have an idea for Clarke to write about or any questions, send it our way and we will pass it along!
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