Once the gelcoat is "shot" you can compound all you want and 3 months later it'll look dull. Been there done that -- looked just as nice as yours (also before the wax) in June but looked dull by August. Paint is the final solution.
Restoring faded colored gelcoat; best fast option
- Thread starter Jackdaw
- Start date
Yep the way to go for sure, I just did the compound phase of 1/2 our 41 today in about 3.5 hrs, that Presta Gel Coat Compound is very effective, will likely do (weather permitting) the rest of compound and polish tomorrow.
One thing I learned from Maine Sail's buff wax article is that you need to use progressively finer abrasion to get good shine. Wet sand off oxidized, then compound, then finer compound, then maybe polish with foam pad. This is because any scratches left in the gelcoat will catch and scatter UV, causing quicker breakdown of the shine. Although the boat might look shiny after compound, it still needs at least another polish with finer compound like the Presta Ultra Cutting Creme or 3M Finesse-it, to take out those fine scratches left by the compound.
I have obtained excellent results using 3M 3000grid Trizact wet sanding pad attached to orbital polisher + sprayer with some soapy water. It took just over an hour to do my entire hull and the "wet deep gloss" effect was achieved. Applying some marine wax once every 1.5mo keeps gelcoat shiny and greatly stops re-occuring oxidation. The 3M pad is very flexible and can be used to obtain same results on the topside. I found this method much faster than using any creames/cutting pastes I tried in the past.
PS: Yes, you do need new boat name decals ;-) That alone is worth at least 0.0003kt top speed ;-)
PS: Yes, you do need new boat name decals ;-) That alone is worth at least 0.0003kt top speed ;-)
Funny you should say that, I've gotten several swear-bys for Buff MagicMy Friend SWEARS by Shurhold products and Buffer, he just upgraded to the BIGGER,BETTER buffer
But I like GUNNIs Idea... may try that next year!!!!!!!!
http://shurhold.com/buff-magic/
I'm really more interested in COLOR than SHINE.
But Gunni's boat looks great. We might end up doing this on Saturday. Thanks for all the tips!
I think if you get some oxidation off, and get some shine, you'll find you like the color. Gelcoat does change color, but shine will make the color you have look better.
So it comes in several sizes. What do you estimate is the smallest container one would need to do a 26' boat
I've gone full-on MainseSail on three boats. Current boat is a 1996 Catalina 28, and the topsides look new. Those who say that the shine achieved with compounding and polishing doesn't last, have most likely not done the job properly.
If I was going to do an abbreviated job on your boat, I'd use the type of grinder/polisher MS recommends, and give it a thorough compounding with Presta Ultra Cutting Compound. Followed by a coat or two of Collinite Fleet Wax. There's no need to use power tools to apply the Collinite. Just wipe it on and hand polish with microfiber cloths. Oh, and prior to compounding, a very thorough cleaning with something like Dawn dish soap. A really proper cleaning would include putting on a bunny suit and cleaning the topsides with MaryKate On Off, but that may be more than you want to do.
If I was going to do your boat correctly, I'd probably start with 800 grit hand wet sanding and work my way through the grits per MaineSail. If you fail to properly evaluate how aggressive your initial grit should be, no matter how well you compound and polish, you'll never get full shine. Nobody wants to start with 1000 grit wet sand and go through full compound and polish only to realize they have to start over with 800 and go through the entire process again.
Doing less than a full-on MS treatment will give you diminished results with reduced longevity. It's a boat....when were you ever able to substitute a "quick and easy" method for the proper method?
You might find the abbreviated method is adequate to achieve the better color and reasonable shine that you're after. That's a legitimate way to go about it and get it done in one day with two workers. My estimate for two guys to do the full-on MS treatment would be 3 days. More like 2 days on their second boat.
This all assumes you're not firing any deep scratches in the gelcoat. Of course, sanding out deeper scratches is not a solution, as it destroys the hull's fairness. Scratches need filling and proper finishing prior to the rest of the process. One solution, regardless of whether you go "abbreviated" or "full-on" is to ignore the scratches and gouges, and just go for the color and shine. The boat will look MUCH better when you're done, and there's no reason you can go back and deal with the scratches whenever you want.
If I was going to do an abbreviated job on your boat, I'd use the type of grinder/polisher MS recommends, and give it a thorough compounding with Presta Ultra Cutting Compound. Followed by a coat or two of Collinite Fleet Wax. There's no need to use power tools to apply the Collinite. Just wipe it on and hand polish with microfiber cloths. Oh, and prior to compounding, a very thorough cleaning with something like Dawn dish soap. A really proper cleaning would include putting on a bunny suit and cleaning the topsides with MaryKate On Off, but that may be more than you want to do.
If I was going to do your boat correctly, I'd probably start with 800 grit hand wet sanding and work my way through the grits per MaineSail. If you fail to properly evaluate how aggressive your initial grit should be, no matter how well you compound and polish, you'll never get full shine. Nobody wants to start with 1000 grit wet sand and go through full compound and polish only to realize they have to start over with 800 and go through the entire process again.
Doing less than a full-on MS treatment will give you diminished results with reduced longevity. It's a boat....when were you ever able to substitute a "quick and easy" method for the proper method?
You might find the abbreviated method is adequate to achieve the better color and reasonable shine that you're after. That's a legitimate way to go about it and get it done in one day with two workers. My estimate for two guys to do the full-on MS treatment would be 3 days. More like 2 days on their second boat.
This all assumes you're not firing any deep scratches in the gelcoat. Of course, sanding out deeper scratches is not a solution, as it destroys the hull's fairness. Scratches need filling and proper finishing prior to the rest of the process. One solution, regardless of whether you go "abbreviated" or "full-on" is to ignore the scratches and gouges, and just go for the color and shine. The boat will look MUCH better when you're done, and there's no reason you can go back and deal with the scratches whenever you want.
Fastest: wet sand with 1200 grit. Rinse, dry. Coat with Proforce High Gloss Floor Finish available at Sam's club in gallon and 5 gallon quantities for a fraction of the price of Polyglow. Wipe on super thin. 3 - 4 coats, and it will shine deeply. Takes minutes to apply 3 - 4 coats.
My Oday 272 has had it on for 3 seasons with great results.
The right way: compound it out the way Mainsail says!
My Oday 272 has had it on for 3 seasons with great results.
The right way: compound it out the way Mainsail says!
From the pics, it looks like Blue J still has a pretty good shine on the gelcoat and not much in the way of chalking (if any). I would skip the wet sanding for now, and buff with Presta Cutting cream rather than the harsher gel coat compound. If it doesn't go fairly quickly, I would wet sand first, but start with 1200 and switch to 1500 before buffing again. After the cutting cream, go over it again with Presta Chroma for a finish that will frighten your competition. Presta makes matching buffer pads for their products, so make sure you're using the right pad for the right product (a too aggressive pad with a fine finishing product comes out ugly).
For wax, I've found that the Starbrite polish with PTEF lasts longer than anything else I've found. They make a cleaner / polish, and a straight polish. You want the polish (no need for the cleaning abrasives) after buffing. Hit is with a couple of coats. If you're really anal, you can put a coat of Collinite paste wax over the starbrite. It will deepen the shine a little more. If only using one, my preference is the Starbrite, as it seems to offer more in the way of UV protection (that's been my experience with the dark blue gelcoat stripe near the rub rail, on my boat).
For wax, I've found that the Starbrite polish with PTEF lasts longer than anything else I've found. They make a cleaner / polish, and a straight polish. You want the polish (no need for the cleaning abrasives) after buffing. Hit is with a couple of coats. If you're really anal, you can put a coat of Collinite paste wax over the starbrite. It will deepen the shine a little more. If only using one, my preference is the Starbrite, as it seems to offer more in the way of UV protection (that's been my experience with the dark blue gelcoat stripe near the rub rail, on my boat).
I do not want to hijack the thread re: using acrylic, but I will answer a few questions.
Yes. I apply a light coat every season because there is always some slight stain from runoff from the toe rails or an occasional marred spot from rubbing on the dock.
I wet sand, rinse, dry, wipe down with a damp rag. Let it dry. Make sure there are no drips coming from your rub rail.
Then I apply with a sponge that is just damp. Squeeze all excess acrylic from the sponge. It has to be wiped on super thin. The first coat looks crappy, streaky. The second is better. The third is good. The fourth is amazing. Each coat is super thin. You wipe it on, and as fast as you can get around the boat, it dries, so you keep wiping. 20-30 minutes, and you are done.
It looks the same coming out of the water at the end of the season as when it went in, minus the runoff and the scratches I manage to put in it every year, no matter how carefully I tie it off! ...sigh.
Anyway, I took a risk doing this, but I have not been disappointed. This boat is 30 years old, and it shines! I have not managed to leave a coat on for multiple seasons because I have always managed to mar it at the dock. Not badly, just enough to burnish or scratch it. Well, I did lose a fender once, and my boat found a nail in the dock and proceeded to remove some gelcoat!
No, I do not seal the decks or cockpit with it. I think you could, but I just wet sand with 1500 grit and leave it.