Made 2 major decisions on my 1985 26' this week

[Windtherapy]

Well where do I start. Bought the boat 2 years ago and hardly had any time to work on it last summer but did get the complete head system out and rewired the entire boat adding a new gang box and a second one because I added more stuff and went LED everywhere. I also repaired the depth finder, cleaned up the entire interior including headliner and replaced all water lines and flushed out the tank. I also was able to wash the deck and it looks so much better. I had Rudy cut me two new tinted hatch boards and I put some stainless steel handles on each one. A ton of other stuff was done but had the hull and the head system left for this summer and a mast raising system.

Having a lot of time to read, I have decided on two things now.....first is I purchased a new Jabsco and all new hoses but now have decided not to do use them. I am going to put in a C- Head composting unit. I think it will be sweet and the only downfall I see is my 5 foot wife will have to use a stool (as long as she isn't tipsy from wine I think it will be fine). So with that said, I will be selling a brand new Jabsco and top of the line hoses for half price or even less.

The second thing is I have decided to wet sand the boat with 800 and 1000 and then move to Poliglow. I know a lot of people will say no don't do it but several will say do it. I am not going to pay anybody 600-800 bucks to buff & polish my boat and I threw my rotator cuff last summer due to an old hockey injury so trust me, I cannot work the new Makita I bought to do a complete buff and polish job. I am going to wash and wax the deck minus the anti-slip areas and just use Poliglow on the hull. I purchased a pneumatic orbital sander and just tonight I did half the boat with 800 in about 2 hours. I will then move to 1000, clean up the entire thing with Poliprep and then 5 coats of Poliglow. I HAVE to get out and sail next year damn it.

So now lets hear the comments about PoliGlow and a C-Head!

 

[T_Cat]

I'm happy with the results using Poliglow on my 87 C-22.

Before

After

After

 

[Windtherapy]

I think yours looked pretty damn good in the before photo.

 

[HMT2]

Sir, with all due respect....go sailing! Your sailing season is a short window, take her out for a sail.

 

[Brian S]

So now lets hear the comments about PoliGlow

Let's start the argument of PoliGlow vs. New Glass 2

 

[Brian S]

Oh, and also, I have never used either PoliGlow or New Glass 2.

I swung the Makita again this year. And every year I'm unhappy with the results on the cabin sides and in the cockpit. I think I need to get one of those smaller buffers. But the topsides look great.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

. I am going to put in a C- Head composting unit.

You HAVE read enough of their literature to know that they tell you it only holds about 10-12 flushes, typically requiring it to be emptied every week or two? Seems to me that an 5-6 gallon MSD portapotty ("MSD" designation means it's designed to be permanently installed and is fitted for pumpout) that holds 50-60 flushes, doesn't require separating urine from solids or need to add any drying material, and costs less than half as much would be a lot better choice for a 26' boat. Before you lay out over $600 for the C-Head, check out the Thetford 550P MSD and the SeaLand 965 MSD...both available from the sbo.com online store.

 

[T_Cat]

Let's start the argument of PoliGlow vs. New Glass 2

View attachment 125781

Please NO!!!!! I've heard it all.....

 

[Windtherapy]

You HAVE read enough of their literature to know that they tell you it only holds about 10-12 flushes, typically requiring it to be emptied every week or two? Seems to me that an 5-6 gallon MSD portapotty ("MSD" designation means it's designed to be permanently installed and is fitted for pumpout) that holds 50-60 flushes, doesn't require separating urine from solids or need to add any drying material, and costs less than half as much would be a lot better choice for a 26' boat. Before you lay out over $600 for the C-Head, check out the Thetford 550P MSD and the SeaLand 965 MSD...both available from the sbo.com online store.

Last year I looked at those and it just seems like there is just too much odor on those cheap head designs. Several bad reviews will steer me away from most products. My wife and I will 99% of the time sail for the day and return to our slip that night. IF we anchored somewhere and spent the night it would be a max of 4 days. Your reply though has brought me back to wonder what is best.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

MSD portapotties are actually very sturdy these days...some even have built in TP holders. And because, unlike the portable models, they're vented...so they can be maintained aerobically--and therefore odor-free--like any other holding tank. They don't stink if the right tank product (I'd go with Odorlos) is used. The only people who have odor from 'em are those who cause the problem themselves.

Or how 'bout this? It's only $69!

You could bolt it to a bulkhead in the head or attach to the transom. bumper dumper

 

[Justin_NSA]

Sure you don't know some able bodied kids who would buff it for a fraction of that? Afterwards, waxing would be the same as maintaining Poliglow. maybe even less work. I've used it and never was satisfied. It traps grit while it dries. It peels. It doesn't last long. You have to strip is before reapplying. The Poly prep streaks and even removes bottom paint. And so on...

 

[Windtherapy]

MSD portapotties are actually very sturdy these days...some even have built in TP holders. And because, unlike the portable models, they're vented...so they can be maintained aerobically--and therefore odor-free--like any other holding tank. They don't stink if the right tank product (I'd go with Odorlos) is used. The only people who have odor from 'em are those who cause the problem themselves.

Or how 'bout this? It's only $69!
View attachment 125790
You could bolt it to a bulkhead in the head or attach to the transom. bumper dumper

Hey now, I like that bumper dumper! I think (I am still thinking) you won Peggy. I might go with the Thetford MSD with the 5 gallon tank. Since our marina is private and all slips are owned, we have our own pump out machine and pump outs are free and with my wife and I only going out 90% of the time for daily sails or 2 to 3 days max, a 5 gallon tank should be OK. I have the winter to decide now.

 

[Ward H]

Wind,
I understand your reasoning for trying the polyglow but would suggest stepping up to 1200, then 1500 or 1600 grit on the sander. Only 20 or 30 seconds per 2 x 2 foot area and plenty of water. Dry you can eat through that gelcoat in less time than that.
Finishing with 1500/1600 will set you up for success whether you wax or polyglow. You may find that from there a easy one step product will suffice.
I only really appreciate the shine I get from buffing and waxing when I can get up close on the hard. In the water it looks good as I walk up to the slip but I don't see it again until I finish sailing and am leaving the dock.
I like to think that people who go by and shout "Looks good!" are talking about my sail trim, not the wax job.

 

[Pat]

If you polyglow, just be careful what type of product you use to clean / wash your topsides as most things will remove the
polyglow as they head down your sides....don't use anything with chlorine bleach or similiar products to clean the hull or topsides as you immediately take of the polyglow in steaks.....I know from experience....otherwise it looks great...one suggestion too, our prop. manager set up a scaffolding around the boat so I didn't have to climb up & down to apply the polyglow....saved a ton of time and wear and tear on our bodies....(bodies refers to two people....)....Wichita just recorded an
84 mph wind gust at the airport....not a good morning to sail......semi's blown over on interstate ..

 

[Justin_NSA]

Pat, our weather station at NSA captured a 59 mph gust at around 7:45 this AM. That was the last update. It may be worse.

Patrick loaned me his scaffolding and step ladders as well this Spring when I polished and waxed my hull. It's the ONLY way to go for us old-timers. Climbing up and down a ladder to work small areas is a PITA !

 

[Windtherapy]

If you polyglow, just be careful what type of product you use to clean / wash your topsides as most things will remove the
polyglow as they head down your sides....don't use anything with chlorine bleach or similiar products to clean the hull or topsides as you immediately take of the polyglow in steaks.....I know from experience....otherwise it looks great...one suggestion too, our prop. manager set up a scaffolding around the boat so I didn't have to climb up & down to apply the polyglow....saved a ton of time and wear and tear on our bodies....(bodies refers to two people....)....Wichita just recorded an
84 mph wind gust at the airport....not a good morning to sail......semi's blown over on interstate ..

Funny you mention this because I was just thinking about this last night and thought I should apply PoliGlow the very last thing I do before launch. However, I am going to move to 1200 and then 1500 and the try compounding a sections again and see what I get now that I have wet sanded.

 

[Windtherapy]

Recent hull picture after 800 wet and orbital sander (I moved fast and soaked it when I used the orbital sander). Moving to 1200 and then 1500 and ordering some Presta Gel Coat Compound, Presta Ultra Cutting Creme and Collinite #885 Fleet Wax Paste Version and 3M Yellow Wool # 05713 and we'll see what happens after I compound and wash it with FSR and go through the rest of the steps. I bought the Makita 9227C and a 3M super compounding pad. I'll hang onto the PoliGlow for now and only apply it if my compound and all steps still looks like crap.

 

[Ward H]

Well, now I think your moving in the right direction. By going up to 1500 grit you'll have less compounding to do.
One last tip. I believe it was in Maine Sail's buff and wax article where I read the fleet wax was a bit harder to put on and remove than the 3M Marine Wax. While your resting your arms, might want to read through that again.
Take it slow and don't take on too much in one day and I will think you will be pleased with the results. That hull pic shows you got a good first round.

 

[Justin_NSA]

She looks sweet. I followed the article and I'm pleased with the results. The hard part is the small areas on the deck where the buffer can't go.

 

[Brian S]

I believe it was in Maine Sail's buff and wax article where I read the fleet wax was a bit harder to put on and remove than the 3M Marine Wax.

Biggest tip on waxing from Maine Sail was to mist with a spray bottle while applying the Collinite Fleet Wax. That makes all the difference to me.