need help with Gel coat

[Blue Streaker]

My boats has a terrible finish from oxidation.
Id like to refinish it but dont no alot about gel coat.

Can I spray it on or roll it and what type of finish will it give me ? Id like to have a good shine will I have to buff it afterwards ?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: need help with Gel coat

Try this first...
Comet cleanser and a green scouring pad and scrub scrub scrub Just try a portion that has heavy oxidation and then let us know.

 

[KYHunter2]

Re: need help with Gel coat

I just did the comet , scratch pad procedure.

I tried wet sanding with just 400 wet/ dry paper . It was slow , and hard to get the oxidation off.

I remembered Mark42's , post about comet and scratch pad.

I was amazed at the results.

I found that changing directions as you sand , (scratch). Helps alot in getting the white oxidation off.

I kept a bucket of clean water close, to dip pad in, and wash it out as well. Change the water, as it gets dirty.

I saw another post, about using a kids foam noodle for a sanding block.

Being I couldn't find my block . I used a cut off piece of a noodle.( As I have a bunch , they work great for jug fishing too. ) Also very good to use as a block . They get into and form to the contours of the hull . Much better then the hard flat blocks.

To get in tight places , I split a section down the middle.

KYHunter

 

[Blue Streaker]

Re: need help with Gel coat

well its nice and cool out there today I was going to get some 1500 paper and sand it to death but ill give the comet a try

thanks ill let ya no how it turns out

 

[GabeNalley]

Re: need help with Gel coat

well its nice and cool out there today I was going to get some 1500 paper and sand it to death but ill give the comet a try

thanks ill let ya no how it turns out

I used 800-1000-1500 step down on my. It's the only thing I could find to move it. I also found that the first swipes over the oxidation withthe paper gummed it up with all the wax from the prev. owner. I didn't try it but use a degreaser on it 1st like Simple Green to knock down the wax and then sand it.

Another way is a good rubbing compound. Step that down too.(Course-Medium-Fine, then wax) It is a time consuming job but you can use a buffer instead of the old rubbing by hand. THat shoulder will let you know how hard it is the next day.

 

[KYHunter2]

Re: need help with Gel coat

Save the 1500 for the end sanding. Unless your finish is almost free of oxidation . You'll need a boat load of 1500 and a loooong time to do it.

Good-Luck,

KYHunter

 

[shanklejo]

Re: need help with Gel coat

Log on to marinestore.com. They have a gelcoat restoration system that works well. It's a bit labor intensive, but not hard. Their product is called Vertglas. I used it on my boat and it was oxidized pretty bad. Made it look brand new and it lasted for 2 years. They give you enough to cover 3 16' bass boats. I highly recommend it.

 

[uscboy]

Re: need help with Gel coat

I've got a fair bit of what I guess is oxidation on my boat too... it's a dark blue paint (gel coat?) with a whilte haze on it so it really shows up.

I've only done two things in the last... rubbing compound which worked great, and trying to use boat wax, which didn't work too well.

So, after reading this thread, I realize it's most likely oxidation. My question though is about using comet or sandpaper or rubbing compound... is this really a good idea? After all, you're taking off something, right?

How many years can you just shine it up with rubbing compound before you start running into a problem? And at that point do you have to start applying a new gelcoat?

 

[Mark42]

Re: need help with Gel coat

Once you clean off the layer of oxydized gel and expose fresh, it can be polished again and with regular waxings, will keep the shine for many years.

The gel coat is many times thicker than paint and generally can handle being polished out a few times.

This is how I did it....

Polishing Old Gelcoat

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: need help with Gel coat

Yesterday i polished out a boat that had not been polished out for 4 years. The gel coat although not damaged was as flat as i ever seen gel.

I started out using 3m heavy duty compound (auto) and a old buffing bonnett.After just ten minutes the bonnet blew and its a trip to napa, (frustrating)

I must have looked for 10 minutes trying to find a plain old cloth bonnett and finally gave up going up to the parts counter asking why no bonnetts. The guy just smiled and took me to a rack of nicley displayed maguires product, now at first i was a little annoyed but i had to get this done so i followed his suggestions and picked up a foam pad maybe only 3/4" think and of course the head which cost as much.

All i can say is this, if someone does this to you just buy it, i have seen and used many types of buffing materails and so on and so on but this new foam head is unreal.

Dont know how it works but there is hardly any splatter, there is no binding and the finish it leaves is uttlerly perfection. I did not loose any of the faom it did not break up once and perhaps what really impressed me i just rinsed it out thourghly put it back on spun out the water and presto instant wax head.

If your gonna buff a boat and need a head do not over look this foam buffing head.......(maguires) By the way i buffed in a wax using the same head ............no loss of material.........and the finish was glass............ Lol think im exicted?