dull gell coat

[dave_376]

I probably have the same questions asked by hundreds before me but I will ask it anyway hoping to get more information. I have a 1988 JASON bass boat that I’ve been working on. The gel coat, blue fleck in color; is dull and appears to be oxidized off. There are no spider cracks or bubbles; it is just dull and rough. I tried using rubbing compound on it but it didn’t seem to do anything. I took the bow light off, under it was nice and smooth with lots of shine. <br /><br />Is it possible for the gel coat to have oxidizes off like that?<br /><br />It there an easy way to get my boat to shine again?<br /><br />Do I have to repaint it? If so is their a paint that I can add fleck to?

 

[tonyscj5]

Re: dull gell coat

yes it is possible, you just need to find a way to get through the dull gel coat and into the shiny part, most often done by buffing or sanding. Search many have asked this in the past. Try a power disc sander with a foam buffing wheel, w/ some rubbing compound made for fiberglass, then follow with a finer finishing compound, finally polish w/ a random orbital polisher w/ sheep skin bonnet and wax.<br /><br />good luck, search.<br />TF

 

[ondarvr]

Re: dull gell coat

Use extreme care when sanding or buffing on a metal flake finish, if you sand or buff into the flake it will be much more difficult to make it look right. Start with a very small area and try a couple of different sanding and buffing combinations to see what works best, sometimes nothing works well. It may be better to spray over the clear gel coat with a 2 part, clear coat. This may be more work than you planned on, but will give good results. Don't use clear gel coat if you plan on doing a large area, it's good for small repairs but is very labor intensive when doing an entire deck.

 

[dave_376]

Re: dull gell coat

thanks for the advice... How thick is the gell coat? I think that there might not be much if any left. When I run my hand over it, it is fairly rough and it almost seems that im rubbing the metal flake. Can i spray the 2 part clear coat on the gel coat or does it all have to be removed???<br />thanks for any help

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: dull gell coat

FYI - I came across these last night<br /><br />

These are the pads<br />used at the factory!<br /><br /> These wool compounding pads are designed specifically to restore gloss to dull, gel coat surfaces and polish large metal areas. They are the result of over 20 years of in-the-field research and development. These are the actual, oem pads used by major aircraft, marine and RV manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe. They are not available to the general public. We learned of their existence from a gel coat manufacturer and worked very hard to be able to offer them to our customers

http://www.properautocare.com/gelcocopa.html

 

[blacktip18]

Re: dull gell coat

I have a similar problem. No flake but dull sun beaten white gel coat. I've tried waxes and such, but nothing seems to last. I saw a product on ShipShip TV. I think it was called poli-pro. It is a gel coat restore product. Two parts - a cleaner and coater. Looked pretty easy and impressive on TV. I think I might give it a try. $55

 

[blacktip18]

Re: dull gell coat

Sorry, it's called Poli Glow. But still seems easier on the elbows.<br />www.poliglowproducts.com

 

[ondarvr]

Re: dull gell coat

You don't need to remove the clear gel coat to apply a clear coat over it, but it does need to be sanded to stick well. If the flake is exposed it becomes more difficult to make it look good. There are different types, sizes and color of flake and more or less flake can be added to change the look, so matching is difficult.<br />If all or most of the clear gel coat is gone, I normally recommend to primer an paint over the old finish, it won't be metal flake, but it will be much faster.

 

[Mark42]

Re: dull gell coat

Do a search on poliglow here before buying it. It is basic acrylic floor wax with some UV filtering and a scotch brite pad on a handle with some cleaner. See what others say about it before spending $55 for what $10.00 will buy at Shop Rite. Car wax with UV inhibitor will top it off nicley. <br /><br />I checked it out for myself and the Future brand acrylic floor wax is used on boats and other products too. It is rather tough stuff, and washes off with Amonia (like polyglow) when you want to re-coat. If you can't find Future in your store, you can order it online.<br /><br />I decided my gel was too fuzzy for this and cleaned my boat up using a simple method that I documented here: <br />How To section at mfgboats.com <br /><br />There are lots of ways to skin a cat. This is one of them.

 

[pfistey1]

Re: dull gell coat

Mark42, I like the way you moved the boat from one trailer to the other. I plan on doing just that this weekend.

 

[Mark42]

Re: dull gell coat

Phistey1,<br /><br />Thanks, that did work really well. I was afraid that at one point the boat would roll over because it was not supported by bunks, but it didn't happen. Lube up the bunks good with WD40 or soapy water to make it easier. Have the 2x4 ready to help lift the boat up on to the rollers, and a few fiends to push doesn't hurt either. I can't take credit for the idea, it came right here from folks on these forums. People can tell you how to do it all day long, but one picture and you see the light!

 

[pwerwagn]

Re: dull gell coat

I know this is an old link, but Mark, I cant seem to get your link to work to mfg boats. is it wrong??<br />thanks,<br />Jeff

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: dull gell coat

The MFG link works fine for me...

 

[tomatolord]

Re: dull gell coat

Mark - you mean there is nothing I can just spray on to fix the problem!!<br /><br />This going to be my winter project for my boat - I tried doing the waxing compounds but they did not work and I understand why now.<br /><br />It is odd how most of the solutions in life simply require hard work.<br /><br />Tomatolord