Hopefully the boat will be delivered on Saturday so I have some time to grab supplies.
Also, after researching and looking for an O’Day 192 this was the only one I saw that had an original gray hull. Anyone know of any others?
It is indeed gelcoat from O’Day.Before you do anything, verify whether it is gelcoat or paint. The difference is crucial in determining how to bring it back.
That’s an awesome guide. Definitely just going to follow that the first time.Follow these directions from Mainesail -
https://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-maintenance/52772-tips-compound-polish-wax.html
The alternative is try all the other possibilities, then eventually follow these directions from Mainesail.
I spent the last 2 months looking at 192’s all over the place and this was the only gray one I saw. Doesn’t seem to be a common color.Nice looking boat. I didn’t know they made that model with the grey gelcoat. My last boat, O 240 had the grey gelcoat. I miss the color it was a head turner.
Thanks, very excited to hopefully have it delivered on a Saturday so I can get to work.First, @GSBNY - great looking boat and congratulations! I wish you many happy sails.
Second, the @Maine Sail approach is the way to go for a quality look. It's a pain in the beginning (literally, it hurts to hold that buffer up for the full 10 minutes per little square) but in the end, it is worth it. I did this once a few years ago, and now I just paste wax and launch. It'll save time in the long run, and make you proud!
The grey hulls were built very late in the production run. Most were cream and blue. I prefer my cream and blue, but I'd be just fine moving up to a 240, which is also the grey color scheme. Actually, I'm not ok moving up to a 240, because then I'd have to start all over again fixing up a boat. Besides, I like my 192, and it's great for our lake. You'll get good results using Maine Sail's proper buff and wax tutorial. I started out mine with wet sanding, and then the Presta products, but I now prefer annual polish touch ups using 3M Finesse-it with the yellow wool pad. I just launched yesterday (FINALLY!)I spent the last 2 months looking at 192’s all over the place and this was the only gray one I saw. Doesn’t seem to be a common color.
Congrats on the launch.The grey hulls were built very late in the production run. Most were cream and blue. I prefer my cream and blue, but I'd be just fine moving up to a 240, which is also the grey color scheme. Actually, I'm not ok moving up to a 240, because then I'd have to start all over again fixing up a boat. Besides, I like my 192, and it's great for our lake. You'll get good results using Maine Sail's proper buff and wax tutorial. I started out mine with wet sanding, and then the Presta products, but I now prefer annual polish touch ups using 3M Finesse-it with the yellow wool pad. I just launched yesterday (FINALLY!)
View attachment 165714
GSBNY, it is a 2011 Forester. I do tow with that, mostly 15 miles back and forth to the lake, and slowly. I'm super paranoid I'm gonna mess up the transmission somehow, even though I don't have to go up hills that require much downshifting. Depending on where you look up the tow specs, the Foz can do either 2,000 or 2,400 pounds, and the boat and trailer are most likely over that limit, because what production boat was ever at the listed displacement spec? Especially with a bunch of stuff in it like put in my boat! I've been doing it for 5 years now, and the trans isn't dead yet... Like I said, I don't really exceed 50mph, and I'm mostly towing on back roads.Congrats on the launch.
My goal is to bring it to that level of shine. We’ll see if I need to wet sand or not (though it’s looking pretty likely at this point).
Couldn’t help but notice that Forester in the background. Do you use that to tow the 192? I have the same Forester and it would be nice it tow with it for short trips around town.
I got the boat today and I think it is poliglow unfortunately. Time to see how hard this stuff is to remove. Then after that it’ll be time to wet sand, compound, polish, and wax.Definitely the first order of business is to get rid of the PoliGlow (if that’s what was on there).
Beyond that, oxidation on my 240 was troublesome and is something that I have to stay on top of every year.
My approach is consistent with what Mainesail and others advocate—a combination of rubbing compounds and wax.
I used 3M originally but now prefer Meguiar’s products—cutting cream is excellent as a rubbing compound and their fiberglass wax also has a little bit of grit to get that last bit of oxidation off.
I did use a buffer the first time… I bought one of the cheapo units at Harbor Freight, which is really all I need.
Once the grey hull is shined up it does look nice