Does it need rewaxed or what?

[slag]

My 89 regal has a white hazy coating on the hull. Thinking it needed to be buffed out, I went over it last year with a light cutting compound and then waxed it with some mother's wax. It didn't do squat. When in the water, the boat looks great if its wet. When out of the water, the white haze on it looks horrible. What can I put on it to give it that wet look all the time so it looks decent or what do I need to do to make it look nice? I think the paint is fairly thin, so I hesitate on buffing it hard any more. I used a random orbital buffer when I did the boat, the same I've used on my automobiles.

 

[Scott Danforth]

do some digging in the repair forums on removing oxidation. do you have gel or paint. if you have paint, you may be forced to repaint. if your gel is thin, you may need to either paint or re-gel. orbital buffers do not do much. you need a good variable speed polisher. Harbor Freight sells them with digital RPM controls for about $50

if the boat sits in the sun and elements, it will oxidize.

 

[slag]

Either way, its not worth the time or cost to do either on this old of a boat. I was hoping for a product I could apply to the gel coat that would give it a wet look. I guess the miracle wax doesn't exist.

 

[MikDee]

No Title

Good old Vaseline! It will penetrate, clean, restore, and preserve the old finish, & color back to like new. Just apply (I use my bare hand), let DRY (in the heat, or sun), then wipe off the excess, with the dirt, & grime. It may take a few coats, & some time, but you'll be amazed! No rubbing, no polishing needed. Once fully restored, & Dry, you can just leave it, (it lasts a few yrs), or wax, or polish over it with whatever you want to preserve it even further!

 

[midcarolina]

Vaseline did nothing for my boat. found on the net where owners of fiberglass RV's are using Zep wet look floor wax to bring back the shine!

I figured what the heck and tried it........ after a couple applications the boat looks like new! and has stayed that way for months.

 

[java230]

How slippery does the Zep wax or Vaseline get with wet feet?

 

[MikDee]

How slippery does the Zep wax or Vaseline get with wet feet?

Vaseline absorbs completely into the boat when it is Dry, & all excess is removed! No greasy mess afterward. That's why I said you could wax or polish it afterward

 

[oldjeep]

Buff it out, wax it and then each time you use the boat wipe it down using something like Eagle One Marine wax as you dry.

 

[midcarolina]

How slippery does the Zep wax or Vaseline get with wet feet?

I don't think it is any more slippier than a good gel coat it's really just an acrylic coating.........I know it sounds crazy but it works just do a search on google for zep wet look on rv

 

[vans]

did you buff/polish with wool pad? if so you should have seen a lot of color-gel coat on pads, that's telling you your removing oxidation. Might try a polisher, I have both, random orbit just doesn't have enough power to cut/polish

 

[MikDee]

Vaseline gets off all the chalk, cleans, & polishes at the same time. It penetrates into the fiberglass, rather then having to clean, & abrade the finish first, then slopping multi layers of floor wax over the hull leaving a shiny mottled, or streaked finish. It even does wonders for the brightwork, cleats, fittings, & vinyl upholstery! Plus, you're free to use any wax, or polish over it once it's done it's job. It's the best least abrasive way to restore your finish back to the original look. Yes, it takes time, be patient, but do give it that before you condemn it.

 

[Fastatv]

did you buff/polish with wool pad? if so you should have seen a lot of color-gel coat on pads, that's telling you your removing oxidation. Might try a polisher, I have both, random orbit just doesn't have enough power to cut/polish

What he says^^^^^^^^^and several others as well. Use a wool pad, and a higher speed buffer, and polishing compound. Just did my 1989 model, it now blings again.....about three hours to do the entire boat.

 

[slag]

Yes, I used a wool pad. The pad was blue when I was done, but I felt I was going too deep in the paint. I'm going to try the vaseline and/or ZEP to see which works. I was incorrect, mine is not a random orbital but a decent buffer. This is what I used. http://www.harborfreight.com/7-in-variable-speed-polishersander-60626.html

 

[greenbush future]

Does the Vaseline idea work on painted surfaces as well as gel coat? I have a 95 Spectrum Tim painted boat that could use some shine, the paint is not in bad condition, just dull IMO. Heck if I can learn a new trick to save time and $, this is good.

 

[bruceb58]

Vaseline gets off all the chalk, cleans, & polishes at the same time.

Actually, it just masks the problem. Once the Vaseline goes away, you still have your oxidation.

 

[MikDee]

Actually, it just masks the problem. Once the Vaseline goes away, you still have your oxidation.

Not really, if you wax, or polish afterward to preserve the restored finish afterwards. It still takes a ton of work away from the usual restoration!

 

[moosehead]

^Not sure the vaseline actually removes oxidation and acts as a cleaning agent per se, as much as it provides a penetrating "moisturizing" agent to the gelcoat making it appear shiny/clean/less oxidized?

+1 to first trying a circular polisher, wool pad, and light to medium polisher. I've had great luck with the 3M line of polishers and waxes. Try Finesse-It or their Marine Color/Gloss Restorer for medium oxidation. Sounds like you've already done a similar effort here, if so then maybe give the Vaseline a go - it's easy and cheap.

 

[SDSeville]

Yes, I used a wool pad. The pad was blue when I was done, but I felt I was going too deep in the paint. I'm going to try the vaseline and/or ZEP to see which works. I was incorrect, mine is not a random orbital but a decent buffer. This is what I used. http://www.harborfreight.com/7-in-variable-speed-polishersander-60626.html

That is the same polisher I used and mine came out great. ...and I didn't use any of the expensive cutting and polishing compounds -- just $7 turtle wax for cutting and $8 Meguires for polishing. Although, I did have to wet sand 1st.

 

[Fastatv]

Yes, I used a wool pad. The pad was blue when I was done, but I felt I was going too deep in the paint. I'm going to try the vaseline and/or ZEP to see which works. I was incorrect, mine is not a random orbital but a decent buffer. This is what I used. http://www.harborfreight.com/7-in-variable-speed-polishersander-60626.html

That is similar to what I used. I had to do it twice. Its been years since I buffed anything...LOL..The second time I buffed, I used a slower speed, and worked the compound for a longer period of time...thats what made the difference I think. I have read good things about the vaseline treatment, but I thought if I keep the boat, and decide to paint it....there could be a serious "fish-eye" issue.

 

[slag]

So.. how much vaseline will the average 18-20 foot boat take? Should I place an order for a 50 gallon drum, or will one or two large containers do the trick? I already know I'm going to get a lot of raised eyebrows when I walk into Walgreens and ask for a case of vaseline "for my boat".