I've been using Meguire's oxidation remover followed by two coats of Meguire's wax on my Catalina 28 hull every spring before my boat is launched for the last 14 years. Looks great and lasts. Has anyone experienced damage to their hull which might be contributed to the oxidation remover over a period of years? Bill
hull damage from oxidation remover ?
- Thread starter Bill Greenberg
- Start date
Well.
Oxidation is (exactly) like rust. It is a conversion of the outer layer of gellcoat by UV light. The oxidation remover is just a mild abrasive that removes the oxidized outer layer, exposing fresh gel coat but making it thinner. Gelcoat is a finite thickness, and not all that thick. I can imagine that after 14 years of that routine, you might rub your way through it and into glass. If that happens you lose your hull color, and end up with bare glass color, which is typically a translucent dull yellow/gray.
Oxidation is (exactly) like rust. It is a conversion of the outer layer of gellcoat by UV light. The oxidation remover is just a mild abrasive that removes the oxidized outer layer, exposing fresh gel coat but making it thinner. Gelcoat is a finite thickness, and not all that thick. I can imagine that after 14 years of that routine, you might rub your way through it and into glass. If that happens you lose your hull color, and end up with bare glass color, which is typically a translucent dull yellow/gray.
Not sure what Meguire's product you're using but I've been using their Colour Restorer for about the last 12 years.
Oxidation is just that, and it's gotta go. Early in the game I was wondering exactly what you've voiced here. You want to remove the old oxidation but not remove any of the virgin gel coat. The test I used was to apply a piece of a discarded black terry cloth towel and go at a section of oxidided gel coat with the Colour Restorer. Came up white of course (white deck). I then repeated the process using a clean section of towel each time. The towel stayed black showing no further gel coat was being removed. Not exactly high tech but an indication that minimal virgin gel coat was being removed after the surface oxidation is removed.
The Colour Restorer is a very light duty abrasive but as long as you keep at it every year or so, it does a pretty good job of keeping the surface free of the micro pores caused by oxidation..
