Shop Rags & Petroleum Sorbent Pads

Shop Rags and Petroleum Sorbent Pads for Outboard Maintenance - Resources & Information

Petroleum sorbent pads and rugs are used to absorb oil and other petroleum-based substances that may spill or leak onto a boat. These products are designed to be highly absorbent, so they can quickly and effectively soak up spills and prevent them from spreading. They are often used in marine environments, such as on boats, docks, and in marinas, to help prevent oil spills from contaminating the water and harming marine life. Petroleum sorbent pads and rugs can be used to clean up a variety of spills, including oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, and other hydrocarbons. 

When it comes to performing maintenance on your boat and outboard engine, PartsVu offers a complete selection of Shop Rags and Petroleum Sorbent Pads from OEM manufacturers and trusted aftermarket suppliers. Whether you need oil mats, oil absorbent pads for boats, multipack rags, and more, PartsVu has what you need to get the job done. 

Need help servicing your outboard engine and boat? PartsVu regularly publishes helpful how-to guides and other valuable maintenance information to help boaters service their outboard engines and boating equipment. Browse the PartsVu Xchange outboard maintenance blog for a wide range of relevant topics and see the FAQ section below, covering everything you need to know about maintaining your boat in confidence.

Shop Rags & Petroleum Sorbent Pads FAQ

What absorbs motor oil?

There are several materials that can be used to absorb motor oil, including:

1. Oil absorbent pads, absorbent mats for oil, and rolls: Oil absorbant pads are made from materials like polypropylene or cellulose, which are highly absorbent and can quickly soak up oil spills.
2. Clay-based absorbents: These are made from bentonite clay, which is highly absorbent and can effectively soak up oil spills.
3. Oil-only absorbents: These are made from materials that are specifically designed to absorb oil and other petroleum-based substances, but not water. They are often used in marine environments to prevent oil spills from contaminating the water.
4. Boom barriers: These are floating barriers that are used to contain and absorb oil spills in bodies of water. They are made from materials like polypropylene or polyurethane, which are highly absorbent and can effectively soak up oil.
5. Sorbent socks: These are long, tube-shaped absorbents that can be placed around oil spills to contain and absorb them. They are made from materials like polypropylene or cellulose, which are highly absorbent and can quickly soak up oil.

It's important to use the right type of absorbent material for the specific type of spill you are dealing with. For example, oil only absorbent pads may not be effective for certain types of spills that other sorbents are designed for.

Can I reuse oil spill pads?

It is generally not recommended to reuse oil spill pads, gasoline absorbent pads, or other absorbent materials that have been used to clean up oil spills. Once an absorbent material has been used to clean up an oil spill, it is likely to be contaminated with the oil and other substances that it has absorbed. Reusing the absorbent material could potentially cause the spilled oil to be re-released, potentially causing further contamination or damage.

If you need to reuse an absorbent material after cleaning up an oil spill, it is important to properly dispose of the absorbed oil first. This can typically be done by using a specially designed oil recovery device or by storing the absorbent material in a container until the absorbed oil can be properly disposed of. It is also important to follow all local regulations and guidelines for the proper disposal of oil and other hazardous materials.

How does a boat cleaner or boat soap help to protect your boat?

Buildup of salt and dirt interferes with a metal’s ability to resist corrosion. Gelcoat and marine vinyl are porous surfaces, meaning they have the ability to absorb water, dirt, and grime from their surroundings. Unprotected vinyl seats are more likely to develop mold and more likely to fade and crack with frequent sun exposure. Lastly, fiberglass that is uncared for will stain and discolor more easily over time, notwithstanding simply degrade through oxidation and literally chalk away.

These are all reasons why cleaning your boat’s many surfaces is the single most important step in protecting them. It’s important to understand that there are different types of cleaning solutions for different parts of your boat. It’s a dangerous belief that household bleaches and cleaners are OK to use on your boat; they might appear to do the trick at first, but in the long run they could end up causing unwanted deterioration.

To make protecting your boat a lot easier, PartsVu has assembled a list of recommended boat cleaner products from leading brands like StarBrite, 303 Products, 3M, Meguiar’s, and more.

How do I polish and wax my fiberglass boat? 

1. Secure Boat Out of the Water

Boats should be polished and/or waxed when they are out of the water, so you’ll likely be conducting the job when your boat in on a trailer or storage pad. Additionally, make sure you can freely move around all sides of the boat.

2. Wash Your Boat

Before you do anything to your boat’s exterior, you need to first clean it. We recommend using lots of fresh water and a soap intended for marine use. If you are in a saltwater environment, you will want to be sure that all salt is removed as it can interfere and break down boat wax and boat polish products.

Also, be aware that salt is good at hiding in any cracks and crevices as well as overhangs such as T-Tops and/or hardtops. 

3, Rinse Your Boat

After a good lathering, make sure to give a thorough rinse using clean fresh water and a reasonable amount of water pressure. After you’ve finished cleaning off the salt and surface dirt, you can begin the compounding and waxing process.

4. Remove Fittings

If your boat has any removable fittings, remove them. Removing fittings will help to prevent your buffer from getting caught. It can also be pretty tedious trying to hand wax around fittings. Of course, when you remove fitting make sure that you organize your hardware effectively so that reassembly is easy.

5. Polish Your Boat

It is not necessary to polish your boat every time you wax it, but you will want to polish it anytime the finish looks dull, faded, pitted, or scratched. When polishing your boat, start at the back and work your way towards the bow.

When polishing your boat:

• You have the option to apply the polish using a buffer or by hand
• Use circular motions to avoid streaks
• Work in 2-foot sections
• Buff until the surface looks glassy
• Before waxing, rinse the boat to remove dust

6. Wax Your Boat

Apply the wax either by hand or electric buffer using circular motions much in the same way you applied the polish. Wait until the wax is hazy, indicating that it is dry. Then buff the wax until it shines using a soft towel.

Is winterizing my outboard important?

While it’s always a bit more fun to pull out your boat than to put it away, properly winterizing your outboard engine should be mandatory for all experienced boaters. Winterizing helps avoid engine damage and will facilitate a smoother start to the beginning of next season - after all, no one wants to wait to get back on the water!

There are several important steps you should take when storing your MerCruiser outboard lower unit to ensure that it’s properly winterized.

1. Flush Your Engine - Thoroughly flush your MerCruiser engine to remove any salt buildup if you are a saltwater boater, or accumulated mud and grime if you are a freshwater boater. Failure to remove this debris from your MerCruiser lower unit leads to corrosion in the engine. And if you’re a saltwater boater, leftover salt crystals in the lower unit can act like sandpaper to your internal engine components.
2. Stabilize Your Fuel System - Fuel starts to go bad within 30 days of sitting in your fuel system. It is vital to use a fuel stabilizer when your boat will be sitting unused for more than two or three months. Adding the amount of fuel stabilizer directed on the product’s packaging to your fuel—for instance, 1 ounce of Mercury Quickstor Fuel Stabilizer for every 5 gallons of marine fuel ensures proper winterization for more than 3 months. 
3. Fog Your Engine - Fogging oil is a wax-based oil that coats the engine to prevent corrosion.
4. Change Out the Lower Unit Oil - It’s recommended by marine mechanics to change your gear lube before storage to make sure that there is no water in the lower unit’s oil. Any water in the oil could freeze, expand, and crack your lower unit. Additionally, old oil is more likely to gum up oil passages and corrode components due to changes in its chemical composition through regular use. Last, consult your owners manual for which oil is appropriate for your engine.
5. Disconnect Your Battery - Disconnect your battery and spray CRC Marine Battery Terminal Cleaner on your battery terminals.

Does PartsVu have resources for using petroleum sorbent pads, shop rags, and more?

PartsVu understands that maintaining your outboard motor and boat from bow to stern requires some basic knowledge that novice boaters may not know of. From how to winterize your outboard motor, what you need to do for a season breakout, and everything in between, start with these great boating guides from PartsVu:

• Yamaha 2-Stroke Oil Maintenance – 100-Hour Service
• Yamaha 4-Stroke Oil Change – 100-Hour Service
• Genuine Yamaha Outboard Oil Change Kits Are Critically Important
• What’s the Value of Engine Oil Analysis?
• Blackstone Oil Analysis
• Mercruiser Oil Change In 8 Easy Steps
• Mercury 2-Stroke Oil Change – 100-hour Service
• Mercury 4-Stroke Oil Change – 100-hour Service
• Guide to Mercury Marine Precision Oils & Lubricants
• 5 Reasons To Get a Yamaha Marine Gear Lube Kit