Bringing back the "SHINE"

[truthbetold]

O.K., I'm sure plenty of our members have their own remedies for bringing back the shine to the gel coat. I have tried a few methods with limited results. Lets hear some "tried and true" methods that will get that boat gleaming like new again. I'm sure many members would love to know the best method out there! Thanks!:cheers:

 

[Rampage]

I took and wet sanded mine (2000 grit), then got some boat cleaner wax on a orbital buffer, and it almost looks like new again.

 

[parrothd]

X2 on the orbital buffer...

Rubbing compound, finishing compound and wax....

 

[truthbetold]

I was always afraid the rubbing compound with a buffer was a little too harsh for the gel coat. And the wet sanding seems a little scary too.

 

[RFoster130]

Gel cote can take quite a bit. I used rubbing compound and an orbital buffer. On the tough spots, I also wet sanded. Came out looking like a new boat.

 

[JPX]

I recently bought a dual action (orbital) polisher - the illustrious Porter Cable 7424xp. The polisher kit I picked up came with an array of velcro-backed foam pads for about $165.

Someday I might actually spend more money on the pro-detailer chemicals like sealers and polishes on the cars.

But in the meantime, a bottle of Meguires #2 (a straight and light polish) has produced incredible results with the polisher on the 96 GSX I've been cleaning up. I followed the polish job with a round of NuFinish (yep, the orange bottle) to wax it.

The polisher also worked great for cleaning up a stainless steel tray for our dish drying rack. I'm looking at using it for my Subaru's hood and trunk next.

 

[Rampage]

I was always afraid the rubbing compound with a buffer was a little too harsh for the gel coat. And the wet sanding seems a little scary too.

Yeah I was scared to wet sand the first time. But that Gel Coat is way thicker and durable then you think. When I started my ski was brown and very chalky... Now it almost looks wet I have it so glossy. 2000 grit wet sanding with a little hand held sander, then I just used some boat polish on my buffer.

 

[truthbetold]

Yeah I was scared to wet sand the first time. But that Gel Coat is way thicker and durable then you think. When I started my ski was brown and very chalky... Now it almost looks wet I have it so glossy. 2000 grit wet sanding with a little hand held sander, then I just used some boat polish on my buffer.

My boat's gel coat is not as bad as your description. Mine has a shine but not as near as the parts that were covered (like the area beneath the rear hatch). I will first try a marine polish/wax with a buffer and see what that looks like. If I don't like it I can always go stronger. Needless to say the boat is covered for the winter and this won't happen till the Spring anyway

 

[Rampage]

Post up some pics of before and after when your done. I will try and get some up of mine

 

[Dr Honda]

Gell-coat... unlike automotive paint... is about 1/16" thick, and hard as a rock. You can sand, and buff the living piss out of it.

Don't even bother with a random orbital polisher. It can't put enough work into the surface to do real polishing. It was meant to apply wax and other non-abrasive polishes. You will need a rotary polisher.

Get some 600 and 1000 grit wet/dry sand paper for bad stains, (keep it wet, and work in small circles) and then use 3m Super Duty compound on a foam pad to bring back a "New" shine to gel that looks as bad as chalk.

FYI... you can buy a rotary polisher from Harbor Freight for $20. (I picked up one for $14 on a super sale)


Here's a couple examples.


Before...

After...

Before...

After...

 

[BMANN06]

Gell-coat... unlike automotive paint... is about 1/16" thick, and hard as a rock. You can sand, and buff the living piss out of it

:rofl: Nice! and good to know!

 

[truthbetold]

So I went to Pep Boys today and picked up a wet sanding kit which included a bunch of 2000 grit wet sanding paper. Soon as I unwrap the boat in the Spring I'll wet sand it by hand and use a polishing compound with the 7" polisher (bought at Harbor Freight). One question....When I use the polishing compound, should I use a wool furry pad, terry cloth pad or a sponge pad?
Thanks!!

 

[Chester]

With gel coat, you can even sand out deep scratches and gouges as long as they aren't all the way through. With scratches, you can start with 120 - 200 grit and progress gradually to 2000 grit. It's very easy to make it look like new, just time consuming.

Chester

 

[Dr Honda]

One question....When I use the polishing compound, should I use a wool furry pad, terry cloth pad or a sponge pad?
Thanks!!

You can use whatever you like... but I find going right on the foam to work the best.

With gel coat, you can even sand out deep scratches and gouges as long as they aren't all the way through. With scratches, you can start with 120 - 200 grit and progress gradually to 2000 grit. It's very easy to make it look like new, just time consuming.

Chester

Yup... what he said.

 

[truthbetold]

Question.....If I'm using a polish with a buffer, do I have to avoid the decals? Will passing over the decals, even quickly, ruin them? Otherwise, how do you buff the boat (with the electric buffer) near all the decals, of which there are many?

 

[Rampage]

I went over mine very quick and not alot of pressure and they where fine.

 

[RFoster130]

Very light pressure on the decals shouldnt hurt them. I did the area around most of the decals by hand. For the large side decals, I just replaced them and it made it nice to buff out the whole sides.

If you are spending the time and money to buff it out good, why not make it look new. You can get some decent aftermarket decals made fairly cheap and they make the boat look brand new.

 

[truthbetold]

I went over mine very quick and not alot of pressure and they where fine.

Thanks Rampage for the quick response. My decals still look new and I would hate to have to replace them. By the way, what kind of buffer pad did you use?