***Gel coat deck and topside absorbs dirt and grease What to do?***

[Lukelona]

Hello, my Sportcraft 205 walk around is constantly getting dirty. Lately been doing mechanical repairs and my dirty hand prints stick to hull like glue. Even with non skid cleaner and deck brush is a pain to get it clean.
Also missy footprints etc just soak right in kinda.Makes it very hard to clean.
I've debated on painting top side over the gel, or rolling on fresh gelcoat, and possibly waxing it to help with any porous surfaces.

What do y'all think? Paint, gel, or wax? Or something else? Any help appreciated as always thanks

 

[JimS123]

Grease on properly waxed gel coat should wipe off with hardly any effort. If your deck is that porous from weathering, then a lot of work is going to be needed.

Any coating is going to be prone to scratching. IMHO, paint is for wooden boats (except bottom paint of course). Sounds like the best approach would be to buff out the existing gel coat and then polish it to a shine. Then wax, wax and wax and don't ever let it get weathered again.

 

[Woodonglass]

Uhmmm, I don't think I'd want to put down a Lot of wax on my boats deck!!! They're slippery enough without making them an Ice Arena!!!!:faint2: Gelcoat is naturally porous and will absorb dirt, oil, blood etc... Keeping it clean on a regular basis with a TSP bath (TriSodiumPhosphate) is one of the best things you can do. Then use a Gelcoat sealer..something like this...http://www.autopia-carcare.com/gel-...3gds2xptQo39_2mPIMgqIaAp3f8P8HAQ#.Vjd6NberSUk

But..I'm just an Old Dumb Okie sooo...you might take this into consideration when making your decision!!!

 

[gm280]

If you are not into carpet, how about truck bed liner coatings? They do make bed liner coatings in all types of colors and that would be easy to clean and non-slippery as well. :noidea: JMHO!

 

[Lukelona]

Grease on properly waxed gel coat should wipe off with hardly any effort. If your deck is that porous from weathering, then a lot of work is going to be needed.

Any coating is going to be prone to scratching. IMHO, paint is for wooden boats (except bottom paint of course). Sounds like the best approach would be to buff out the existing gel coat and then polish it to a shine. Then wax, wax and wax and don't ever let it get weathered again.

what's the best way to bring back the shine? Is it possible to be beyond where you can buff it shiny?

 

[Lukelona]

Uhmmm, I don't think I'd want to put down a Lot of wax on my boats deck!!! They're slippery enough without making them an Ice Arena!!!!:faint2: Gelcoat is naturally porous and will absorb dirt, oil, blood etc... Keeping it clean on a regular basis with a TSP bath (TriSodiumPhosphate) is one of the best things you can do. Then use a Gelcoat sealer..something like this...http://www.autopia-carcare.com/gel-...3gds2xptQo39_2mPIMgqIaAp3f8P8HAQ#.Vjd6NberSUk

But..I'm just an Old Dumb Okie sooo...you might take this into consideration when making your decision!!!

Haha ok so does this sealer seal it from being porous? That sounds like what I need.
I don't wanna slip around either, but my main problem areas are the top of gunwhales and top of stern etc, which all have non skid in the gel coat.

 

[Woodonglass]

Once you get her clean with the TSP, the sealer will Help it from getting Deep stains again IF you do regular washing immediately after it gets dirty. It's all about Care and Maintenance. If you let the Blood and Guts and Dirt and Grime linger for long periods of time then nothing will help.

 

[Lukelona]

O I clean it all the time. But the boat is new to me and previous owner let it sit for couple years with just a cockpit cover on, so the rest just baked in the sun and tree sap.
You just get Tsp at Lowe's or something? Apply with a deck brush?

 

[JimS123]

what's the best way to bring back the shine? Is it possible to be beyond where you can buff it shiny?

Depends on how thick the gel coat is. Start with a real fine grit. If its that bad you probably can't hurt it any more.

Pick up a copy of Nov/Dec BOATING Magazine. Page 66 would be of interest to you.

 

[Lukelona]

What's the best wax to use to make it shine?

 

[Woodonglass]

Didn't you say it has antiskid in it?? Those areas typically are not shiny??

 

[Lukelona]

Didn't you say it has antiskid in it?? Those areas typically are not shiny??

Yes, sorry for the confusion... top of gunwhales are non-skid, sides are not nor is the deck (which is strange)
What I meant was how do I revive the existing gel coat? I've tried some decent automotive wax I had laying around with poor results.
I've heard wet-sanding the trouble areas and buffing but I'm not positive on this.

 

[JimS123]

What's the best wax to use to make it shine?

Anything made by McGuires.

 

[Lukelona]

Ok I'll try that tomorrow probably. Compound then wax?

 

[dingbat]

You need to compound the heck out of it. Then go over it with a Fiberglas cleaner then 2 coats of wax. I use Collinite 920 fiberglass cleaner followed up with a coat of 885 paste wax, wait a week and apply a second coat of wax. Will last a year with proper care. I.e soap, no detergent, and rinse only

For non-skid, nothing beats the ease of application of Woodie wax. Liberal use of the wash down hose thru out the day will keep your decks stain free.

 

[Lukelona]

Thanks! Perfect write-up! I will try this asap