I need to identify an unknown gelcoat treatment. I assume it's a product like Island Girl or something similar. My boat (new to me this year) obviously has a product on it (I can see it's wearing off). I'd like to remove it and restore the gelcoat to a gloss next spring with some good old fashion elbow grease and a good wax. I'm wondering what's currently on the boat so I know what I'll need to use to remove it. Acetone will smear it somewhat, but doesn't really do that good of the job of removing it. Any experiences, ideas, suggestions? The previous owner doesn't know. He only had the boat for a season before me and he didn't apply it. I haven't been able to track down the owner before him. Thanks, Dave
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Describe what you are seeing. What are the symptoms of it coming off? I'd guess it's Polyglow, Mop N Glow or some other easy coating. If that's what it is you can get it off with the remover that comes with it, or wash the boat with a solution of oxalic acid, dish soap and water once out of the water.
Describe what you are seeing. What are the symptoms of it coming off? I'd guess it's Polyglow, Mop N Glow or some other easy coating. If that's what it is you can get it off with the remover that comes with it, or wash the boat with a solution of oxalic acid, dish soap and water once out of the water.
I doubt that someone would use floor wax...
Dave: I assume that this is a fairly new boat. If it is I doubt that someone would use Polyglow (basically good ol' floor wax) on a new boat. I do not think you would see this type of a reaction with Island Girl either. You may be dealing with the release wax that was on the gelcoat when it was in the mold. I would try something like straight ammonia. Just try a small area. If this removes it easily you are probably dealing with the mold release wax. You can then finish up removing it and use something like the IG wax, Collinite or any other product that you like.
Dave: I assume that this is a fairly new boat. If it is I doubt that someone would use Polyglow (basically good ol' floor wax) on a new boat. I do not think you would see this type of a reaction with Island Girl either. You may be dealing with the release wax that was on the gelcoat when it was in the mold. I would try something like straight ammonia. Just try a small area. If this removes it easily you are probably dealing with the mold release wax. You can then finish up removing it and use something like the IG wax, Collinite or any other product that you like.
More info...
Sorry, I should have provided more info. The boat is a 1987 Hunter 28.5. The "symptom" I'm seeing is mainly on the hull sides. There are large areas where you can see the dull gelcoat coming through where the glossy "coating" has worn/faded/washed/whatever away. There's a very distinct difference between where the coating is and where the bare gelcoat is. I tried some different cleaners and de-waxers on the glossy stuff and it seems pretty stubborn. It will come off with acetone, but it would take a lot of it and I don't want to soften the gelcoat with such a heavy acetone bath. I know there are a couple of products our there like Island Girl and another that I can't remember the name. I believe one of the products is acrylic based, but I'm not sure exactly. Steve, If I knew who the manufacture was, I'd definately call them to get the correct "stripper" for this stuff. However, I don't know what this stuff is. I was hoping someone would chime in that has had some experience with these different types of gelcoat treatments and could recommend a "safe" stripper so I can remove it.
Sorry, I should have provided more info. The boat is a 1987 Hunter 28.5. The "symptom" I'm seeing is mainly on the hull sides. There are large areas where you can see the dull gelcoat coming through where the glossy "coating" has worn/faded/washed/whatever away. There's a very distinct difference between where the coating is and where the bare gelcoat is. I tried some different cleaners and de-waxers on the glossy stuff and it seems pretty stubborn. It will come off with acetone, but it would take a lot of it and I don't want to soften the gelcoat with such a heavy acetone bath. I know there are a couple of products our there like Island Girl and another that I can't remember the name. I believe one of the products is acrylic based, but I'm not sure exactly. Steve, If I knew who the manufacture was, I'd definately call them to get the correct "stripper" for this stuff. However, I don't know what this stuff is. I was hoping someone would chime in that has had some experience with these different types of gelcoat treatments and could recommend a "safe" stripper so I can remove it.
Re: Ammonia
Steve, I have not tried ammonia yet. I'll take some up to the boat this weekend and try a small spot. That would be great if it works. Thanks for suggestions. I'll let you know how it works.
Steve, I have not tried ammonia yet. I'll take some up to the boat this weekend and try a small spot. That would be great if it works. Thanks for suggestions. I'll let you know how it works.
I'm guessing that it's either New Glass or
Vertglas. The only thing I know of that will remove NewGlass is Ace Hardware brand acrylic floor finish remover...I tried everything else, including ammonia, compounding, acetone and I can't even remember what else. All these hull finish products are similar...so if the Ace Hardware stuff will remove New Glass, it SHOULD also remove any of the others. It won't hurt gelcoat, so it's worth a try. Don't expect it to be easy, though. Getting New Glass off, even with the Ace Hardware remover, turned out to be so labor intensive that I finally had to give up and call a detailer...who told me afterward that if I put "that stuff" back on my boat, I could call another detailer when it had to come off. I went back to wax.
Vertglas. The only thing I know of that will remove NewGlass is Ace Hardware brand acrylic floor finish remover...I tried everything else, including ammonia, compounding, acetone and I can't even remember what else. All these hull finish products are similar...so if the Ace Hardware stuff will remove New Glass, it SHOULD also remove any of the others. It won't hurt gelcoat, so it's worth a try. Don't expect it to be easy, though. Getting New Glass off, even with the Ace Hardware remover, turned out to be so labor intensive that I finally had to give up and call a detailer...who told me afterward that if I put "that stuff" back on my boat, I could call another detailer when it had to come off. I went back to wax.
Try FSR
Give FSR a try. It will remove most stains on the gelcoat. Unless you've already tried it.
Give FSR a try. It will remove most stains on the gelcoat. Unless you've already tried it.
This stuff will take off anything
Dave, Contact Poly Glow and look at their Poly Prep. It is the blue liquid. It is made to remove old stains and take the surface down to its virgin state. I use the stuff to clean rub rails and it is very good. You only need to be careful where you put it because it is very concentrated. Needs to be diluted 2 : 1. Once done, then you can go ahead and do with it what you wish. John Richard s/v Jack's Place
Dave, Contact Poly Glow and look at their Poly Prep. It is the blue liquid. It is made to remove old stains and take the surface down to its virgin state. I use the stuff to clean rub rails and it is very good. You only need to be careful where you put it because it is very concentrated. Needs to be diluted 2 : 1. Once done, then you can go ahead and do with it what you wish. John Richard s/v Jack's Place
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