My boat's deck is very very chalky and has only been cleaned with lake water and softscrub for the past year or so. I'm looking to restore it to the best condition possible. I'd really love to have that shiny brand new look again, but I won't hold my breath. What products/processes/steps/etc do y'all reccomend to A.) Get my boat's deck spick-and-span clean and B.) Restore the shiny smooth non-chalky finish that she originally came with. Any reccomendations and links to how-to's would be exponentially helpful to me right now. If the right solution is incredibly labor-intensive that's fine. Thanks y'all!
Detailing/Reconditioning Processes/Reccomendations
- Thread starter Euclid
- Start date
- Status
Depends on what you want
If you want the original look of new gelcoat, try Island Girl: http://shop.odayowners.com/category.htm?fno=60&cat=1101 If you simply want a glossy hull try NewGlass II: http://shop.odayowners.com/detail.htm?fno=60&group=102
If you want the original look of new gelcoat, try Island Girl: http://shop.odayowners.com/category.htm?fno=60&cat=1101 If you simply want a glossy hull try NewGlass II: http://shop.odayowners.com/detail.htm?fno=60&group=102
Thanks guys!
I'm kind of leary of the powerwash idea because I'm not sure she'd hold up to that much water... I'd be bailing her out for hours afterwards. How do those products compare to the 3M stuff that I'd find at WM? I've often heard of a wash//abrasive rubbing compound/buff/wax process and these products look like a wipe-on wipe-off kind of deal... will I lose any integrity with the easy-to-apply products?
I'm kind of leary of the powerwash idea because I'm not sure she'd hold up to that much water... I'd be bailing her out for hours afterwards. How do those products compare to the 3M stuff that I'd find at WM? I've often heard of a wash//abrasive rubbing compound/buff/wax process and these products look like a wipe-on wipe-off kind of deal... will I lose any integrity with the easy-to-apply products?
Island Girl & their non-skid sealant
Euclid: You may want to try Island Girl Pink and a stiff brush to clean the non-skid. This is probably not going to shine, 'cause it wasn't suppose to shine. It will help remove the oxidation. Their non-skid sealer will help keep it from getting dirt and chalky. I would NOT recommend any of the acrylic finishes for the non-skid (Polyglow, Newglass). If you ever want to remove them from non-skid it could be a real problem. There are some other products like the Aurora products to use on the non-skid too.
Euclid: You may want to try Island Girl Pink and a stiff brush to clean the non-skid. This is probably not going to shine, 'cause it wasn't suppose to shine. It will help remove the oxidation. Their non-skid sealer will help keep it from getting dirt and chalky. I would NOT recommend any of the acrylic finishes for the non-skid (Polyglow, Newglass). If you ever want to remove them from non-skid it could be a real problem. There are some other products like the Aurora products to use on the non-skid too.
Non-Skid?
My boat is a Hunter 23. Is the entire top deck Non-skid? Non-Skid is any fiberglass surface that's textured, right?
My boat is a Hunter 23. Is the entire top deck Non-skid? Non-Skid is any fiberglass surface that's textured, right?
For stains
a friend of mine recommended marine Spray Nine. Spray on, wipe off with a damp cloth, it did a wonderful job on my boat taking out stains and what not from the topsides regular boat soaps did not. On the H23, about 90% of the deck area seems to be non-skid, you are correct. As far as getting some shine back to it Island Girl seems to be the general consensus
a friend of mine recommended marine Spray Nine. Spray on, wipe off with a damp cloth, it did a wonderful job on my boat taking out stains and what not from the topsides regular boat soaps did not. On the H23, about 90% of the deck area seems to be non-skid, you are correct. As far as getting some shine back to it Island Girl seems to be the general consensus
Oxidation
There are several oxidation removers at wm . I use meguiars . Before you can do much you need to remove the oxidation .I am not saying not to use island girl but I found their products were not for me . I use a power washer directly on the non skid of our 23 being carful where I aim it and how I aim it . You might have to use the oxidation remover more than one time . For me the trick is to keep changing rags becauses your removing something and not just rubbing it around from one spot to another . I follow the areas that are not non skid with meguiras polish and then wax. Good luck , Mike
There are several oxidation removers at wm . I use meguiars . Before you can do much you need to remove the oxidation .I am not saying not to use island girl but I found their products were not for me . I use a power washer directly on the non skid of our 23 being carful where I aim it and how I aim it . You might have to use the oxidation remover more than one time . For me the trick is to keep changing rags becauses your removing something and not just rubbing it around from one spot to another . I follow the areas that are not non skid with meguiras polish and then wax. Good luck , Mike
Boat Care
Scrub with Simple Green -- takes the wax off (and other crap, now put it away till next year. Compound with 3M Micro compound using a buffer Wax with Colonite (sp) Fleetwax. Should last a year or more. In between, wash with mild dish soap
Scrub with Simple Green -- takes the wax off (and other crap, now put it away till next year. Compound with 3M Micro compound using a buffer Wax with Colonite (sp) Fleetwax. Should last a year or more. In between, wash with mild dish soap
- Status