A couple months ago I acquired a '77 Cat-22 that was negelected for years and is plagued with heavy oxidation both on the hull and the deck. I used Meguire's heavy oxidation remover compound on the hull with fairly good results, however I am running into some difficulity with the textured deck. Recently, someone proposed a method for removing oxidation - a mixture of ammonia and corn starch. Has anyone heard of/attempted using this concoction? Furthermore, what were the results?
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Wesleys Bleach White
When i got my 22 it was fairly dirty. On the deck and cockpit i used wesleys bleach white, the stuff used for tires, and a heavy bruch. Had the white looking like new. Try a small area before you do the whole thing though just to be sure.
When i got my 22 it was fairly dirty. On the deck and cockpit i used wesleys bleach white, the stuff used for tires, and a heavy bruch. Had the white looking like new. Try a small area before you do the whole thing though just to be sure.
Never heard of it
You might want to check out the Gel Coat & Plastics Forum on this site. Although I don't have personal experience with their products, Island Girl boat care stuff is supposed to be fantastic. They might also have heard about your magic formula. LaDonna
You might want to check out the Gel Coat & Plastics Forum on this site. Although I don't have personal experience with their products, Island Girl boat care stuff is supposed to be fantastic. They might also have heard about your magic formula. LaDonna
Island girl
Hi There, Just wanted to say after reading your note that Island Girl Products I have used in the past and have just purchased more for my New Cat 22' MarkII. You won't find a better product on the market for removing oxidation while preserving the gelcoat bringing back that showroom floor look and protection. Westleys White for rubber tires may work at removing the oxidation but I question what it does to the integrity of the gelcoat itself. Afterall it is made specifically for rubber not polyester fiberglass. Island Girl takes far less of your sailing time away from you while giving lasting protection. No I don't work for Island Girl or nor do I get a kickback LOL, but I do know what works and what takes less time to achieve it. Happy Sailing
Dave LaPere
Hi There, Just wanted to say after reading your note that Island Girl Products I have used in the past and have just purchased more for my New Cat 22' MarkII. You won't find a better product on the market for removing oxidation while preserving the gelcoat bringing back that showroom floor look and protection. Westleys White for rubber tires may work at removing the oxidation but I question what it does to the integrity of the gelcoat itself. Afterall it is made specifically for rubber not polyester fiberglass. Island Girl takes far less of your sailing time away from you while giving lasting protection. No I don't work for Island Girl or nor do I get a kickback LOL, but I do know what works and what takes less time to achieve it. Happy Sailing
Dave LaPereHere's a tip I received from my fiberglass guy which I tried on my '78 Cat 27. the results were fantastic. It's a bit of work, but I've learned that nothing good comes easy. Since most polishing or even rubbing compounds are equivalent to 2500 grit sand paper, all your really doing is polishing the oxidation. So you'll need something a bit stronger. To do this take the following steps. Before you start, take a solution of Mr. Clean and scrub the entire boat down to remove dirt and waxes. Next take 800 then 1000 grit wet & dry sandpaper and wet sand the smooth surfaces. Remember to keep it very wet. You want to sand away the oxidation not the gelcoat. When you feel the sand paper stick a little, stop and move onto another area. This means you have removed the oxidation in that area. If you continue you will be sanding the gelcoat. Hose down the boat and let it dry. Next you need to use a mild rubbing compound and a electric polisher (not the cheap automotive orbital types) but rather a Makita or Dewalt etc. because you need a higher RPM to get the best results. I pour the compound into a small bucket and apply it to a small area with a paint brush. Use the polisher on it until you remove the compound. The final step is to take a good wax (Tree Wax Boat Wax is by far the best) and apply it with a sponge or applicator to a small area. After it dries, use the polisher (with a clean pad) to polish it to a shine. It's a bit of work but the results will amaze you. As for the none skid, you can do the same (minus the wet sanding) and get good results but it will tear up the pad on your polisher quite a bit. Good luck!
Use Poliglow
I actually got my dull 1978 hull, cabin top and cockpit to shine somewhat with Poliglow. Go to www.poliglowproducts.com. The stuff is not cheap, but it works and doesn't take a lot of elbow grease. The only place where it is not satisfactory is in locations with foot wear, e.g., below the cockpit seats where you plant your feet. It tended to collect dirty marks there. However, it is easy to clean with the prep cleaner that comes in the kit, and reapply. It takes 6-8 coats to get the shine, but each coat wipes on and dries very quickly so you can basically work your way continuously around the boat. Good luck.
I actually got my dull 1978 hull, cabin top and cockpit to shine somewhat with Poliglow. Go to www.poliglowproducts.com. The stuff is not cheap, but it works and doesn't take a lot of elbow grease. The only place where it is not satisfactory is in locations with foot wear, e.g., below the cockpit seats where you plant your feet. It tended to collect dirty marks there. However, it is easy to clean with the prep cleaner that comes in the kit, and reapply. It takes 6-8 coats to get the shine, but each coat wipes on and dries very quickly so you can basically work your way continuously around the boat. Good luck.
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