Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

[pcmpete]

I have started to wetsand and buff my gelcoat. The color has come back from what it used to be, but where the old decals where the gelcoat is a brighter yellow. No matter how much I buff I cannot get to the original shade (under the decals). I don't want to rub all the way through the gelcoat. As you can see, the white came back good.

Any advice?

 

[captain zac]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

I have not had that problem before not sure what the fix is
but did you try wiping it down with aceatone and then buff
There has been a few times that I have buffed and a wax build up
gave me a spotty look
got all the wax off and rebuffed and it fixed the problem
Just a thought that there might be some glue left behind
Just a thought
the aceatone will not hurt anything


Harry

 

[Bondo]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

Ayuh,... Odds are, That's the original color that was protected by the stickers, so it didn't oxidize...

Puttin' the New stickers/ letters in the same spots is the Easy fix...

 

[pcmpete]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

Ayuh,... Odds are, That's the original color that was protected by the stickers, so it didn't oxidize...

Puttin' the New stickers/ letters in the same spots is the Easy fix...

I bought the boat in California, but now I am in Arizona, so they will issue a different reg. number.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

Hello Pete..

Yup..thats the OEM yellow color under those decals..

You can try to wetsand and buff / blend but you might make the spot even more noticeable overall ( without sanding the whole boat ).

1. apply the new AZ numbers/tags and dont worry about it.. or

2. try 400/600/1200 spot sand/blend/buff and apply new AZs' ( Im sure its not only a different color but kinda lethographiced (raise) spots ) .. or

3. sand and buff the whole boat down to origional yellow.

There is no other way ( acetone wash wont do anything aside from getting you hi ) .

YD.

 

[Last Mohican]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

You might be surprised at how much less noticeable those shadows are after the new number are on. Both of my boats have shadows from old CA numbers. I buffed the boat and put the new custom vinyl TX numbers on in the same location. The shadows are hardy noticeable at all. If you don't point it out no one will notice.

 

[pcmpete]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

With this being a restore project I would like to do it right.
With the boat only being 17ft and the yellow is only on the sides and transom I think I will wet sand all the yellow, I will start with 600 grit. The thought of using 400 grit on old gel coat doesn't sit well with me.
Thanks for your input.

 

[wingmastr23]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

With this being a restore project I would like to do it right.
With the boat only being 17ft and the yellow is only on the sides and transom I think I will wet sand all the yellow, I will start with 600 grit. The thought of using 400 grit on old gel coat doesn't sit well with me.
Thanks for your input.

I used 600 grit and could NEVER get the lines out...(I did have a little luck in making them less noticable)...Save yourself a huge hassle and headache.....it isn't gonna come back. I just wish I would have listened to the professional who told me that it would never come out....I am hard headed I guess...

 

[rickryder]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

How about getting a piece of white sticker material big enough to cover the old numbers and putting black numbers in the white field?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

You can order a complete sticker that covers the entire area, not much money, easy and quick.

 

[pcmpete]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

It is the same where the boat's name used to be. I could get stickers to cover them also, I will try the wet sanding first. Plan B would be paint over it with 'perfection'

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

It is the same where the boat's name used to be. I could get stickers to cover them also, I will try the wet sanding first. Plan B would be paint over it with 'perfection'

Painting would be a Very Bad choice....

YD.

PS. Did I mention that Paint would be a BAD choice ?

 

[pcmpete]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

Painting would be a Very Bad choice....

YD.

PS. Did I mention that Paint would be a BAD choice ?

Please explain.
I like to learn

 

[Bondo]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

Please explain.
I like to learn

Ayuh,... Unless you paint the Whole hull,... There's be hard paint lines...

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

Please explain.
I like to learn

I would allmost guarantee that you would rather have a few ghosts then the outcome of perfection.

If the gel is in good shape then you will be able to get those ghosts outa there ( I have done it Many times ).

I use a DA power sander with 400-600-1200 then buff. The outcome after that is a Mirror with No orange peel !.

YD.

 

[pcmpete]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

The gelcoat is 'only' 33 years old. I will try my best to restore the gelcoat, but if I have to paint I will paint the whole sides and transom (only place the yellow is).
I started with 400 grit and it is coming back slightly, but may be very thin. I just need to take my time and get the best results as possible.
I will post photos as I go.

 

[oops!]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

couple of things that no one has told you that i have seen......but the stickers are your best option.

the day gellcoat leaves the factory it starts to fade....you have faded gellcoat....you cannot sand, to bring out the, color......it is now....what it is...

the only way to properly fix it is to re gellcoat the colored part of the hull......(not just the area)
but if you want to drop the 5k it will cost.....go for it.....other words....buy a sticker.

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

I have a 35 year old yellow Thunderbird boat. After all the buffing and sanding and buffing and polishing that I could stand it STILL shows issues like yours under stickers and stripes. I agree with oops: Your (and mine) gelcoat has faded and that's that.

I aggressively sanded one little section on the transom that had a vinyl stripe on there for 35 years...and could never get it to look exactly like the surrounding area.

I don't doubt that a professional could have done better than me; but after all the work that I put into it...I would not be surprised if his outcome would be essentially the same.

It would be nice if it was perfect...but I also agree with YachtDR,,,don't paint over gelcoat that looks as good as yours.....

Chuck

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Buffing Gelcoat advice needed.

Sanding on the areas under the sticker is not going to help, that is the original color, the rest of the hull is what needs to be sanded down to remove the faded surface, will it work...maybe...will you sand through the gel coat...maybe....will you find porosity...maybe....can these be fixed easily...no. Some colors can be difficult to bring back by sanding, can they be improved ..yes.

The custom sticker route is quick and simple and you will be the only person tortured with the thought that it is hiding the ghost of an old letter or number.

The sticker doesn?t need to be some boring generic set of numbers, it can a complete theme about as large and intricate as you like if you want it to be original.