Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

[Jacalore]

Was gonna buy the 3M compound for heavily oxidized surfaces to restore my '85 Chris-Craft. Is there a better product?
Thanks.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

Check out the "Groits" website for premium cleaning, polishing, and waxing products. I have never seen better stuff, but I'm sure others will offer more choices. I use the clay bar to clean my boats and truck finishes, I'm sure they have oxidation products too. They aren't cheap so maybe others will offer up cheaper solutions. BTW-Red is the worst color to keep looking good, but when it's done right, it's hard to find a better looking color.

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[Scott Danforth]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

600 and 1200 grit wet sand paper.

you will most likely have to wet-sand first. Red is a biotch

 

[thumpar]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

I have always been told red is the worst to try to get shiny again. You can try using a gritty compound and if it doesn't work go with the sandpaper to start. A friend of mine used to be the detailer at the Cadillac dealership here and then went on to Bayliner as the finish guy. He taught me how to do a lot of stuff. It takes a while to get the job done right though.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

My boat is pink.....er.....was red. Red is a biotch to keep red. going with paint soon

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

My boat is pink.....er.....was red. Red is a biotch to keep red. going with paint soon

I am about to go with paint also....sanding and using rubbing compound ended up being a waste of my time.

 

[frantically relaxing]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

Red is worst- followed by brown- followed by any other color.

I spent many weeks on the Brown on the Sea Ray right after we bought it in '98. I wet sanded, used every rubbing compound and polish known to man, by hand, by machine, then polished and waxed to a gleaming shine. I started on bow port side and worked my way around. Spent probably an hour per square foot. It looked fantastic!




--until I got around and back to the bow. By the time I did, where I'd started was already oxidizing again.

What the muscles giveth, the sun taketh away. And soon.

I will never waste another minute of my life sanding and polishing oxidized gelcoat. What actually WILL make it shine is clearcoat. And not necessarily paint. I clearcoated our oxidized Sun Runner with Penetrol, which is mostly linseed oil. Lasted 3 years. Which was 35 months longer than polishing lasted, and WAY easier to do.

I cleaned the boat with a strong mix of Castrol super-clean (aka purple power) and water, and put the Penetrol on with a red shop rag. After a few minutes practice it went on smooth and flowed out like it was spray painted...

=============
Granted, it's a cheap-fix bandaid and not for everyone. But me, I'd rather drive the boat...

 

[thumpar]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

My sunrunner had that light blue color as the main stripe. Did you use a power buffer? I am not talking about the little crappy ones but the ones with the handle out the side and on the back. Those really help. I got it at Harbor Freight since I am only going to use it 1 time a year or less. It made quick work on my sunrunner and plan on doing the crownie this spring.

 

[Jacalore]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

You guys are scaring me! I have an electric buffer and was hoping that a more aggressive compound would make a relatively tough job easy. I tried that polycoat on a previous boat, looked good enough first season but every year after you were committed to more coats - no turning back without stripping. I'm not into spending more time refurbing the boat than using it. It's not a showroom piece. But after spending the entire season last year troubleshooting engine problems, I'm ready to get out on the water! Just want to look good out there.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

What kind of buffer do you have? The oscillating ones don't work for crap.

 

[Jacalore]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

What kind of buffer do you have? The oscillating ones don't work for crap.

That's it! If you lean on it, it stops...

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

Go to Harbor Freight. get this 7" Electronic Polisher

you will still have to polish twice a year if your boat is kept outside. Red is still a biotch.

I use a cutting compound once every year, and a cleaner wax the other 3 times a year. boat still turns pink in the sunlight.

 

[Jacalore]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

I have an orbital sander, but am hesitant to use it on the hull. Don't want more repairs than I've already got! Or am I over reacting?

 

[thumpar]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

If you are going to sand do it by hand and wet sand. This is the buffer I have Sander/Polisher 7" Variable Speed It was cheap and still works great.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

If you intend on keeping the boat for any length of time and want it to look good. Get it painted with a two part paint. Awlgrip,Imron.
I go tired of sanding/buffing/waxing and used Had it painted with Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings
Sherwin-Williams Paints, Stains, Supplies and Coating Solutions two part marine paint a couple of years ago. No more of that crazy unnecessary work. Now i just use the boat more.

 

[Jacalore]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

I might consider a paint job somewhere down the road, but at this point I want to stop spending money and start enjoying the boat. Went thru MerCruiser hell last year. Would like to find a good way to spruce up the exterior with out too much pain. Thanks for all the advice, 'preciate it!

 

[1stgenbird]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

You guys are scaring me! I have an electric buffer and was hoping that a more aggressive compound would make a relatively tough job easy. I tried that polycoat on a previous boat, looked good enough first season but every year after you were committed to more coats - no turning back without stripping. I'm not into spending more time refurbing the boat than using it. It's not a showroom piece. But after spending the entire season last year troubleshooting engine problems, I'm ready to get out on the water! Just want to look good out there.

Another option would be to hire someone to compound, buff, and wax it for you. Around here, the charge usually $10 - $15 per foot. No wondering when you will have the time to do it or needing to buy the correct buffer. Once it's done, maintaining the finish with regular wash and wax would be easy.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q







Had the same problem, wound up painting it. No amount of sanding buffing etc would keep it looking good.

 

[Jacalore]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

View attachment 226128

Had the same problem, wound up painting it. No amount of sanding buffing etc would keep it looking good.

Do it yourself?

 

[Rentaltux]

Re: Faded Red Hull Restoration Q

I am sure everyone will jump on me for this but I had my boat polished and gelcoat repaired buy a guy that was totally awesome. The boat was looking aged and sun baked. When he was done it looked like new. I asked him how often I should wax to keep it looking good and his response was "put wax on her then don't bring her back to me to polish when it needs it" "wax has no purpose on your gelcoat" He said it would last a lot longer if the gel was buffed and polished to a shine than coating it with wax... It has been 2 years now and it still looks great. It sits outside in the water from May til October. In the fall I spray down with oxalic acid, pressure wash and put her to bed. He did show me another boat he had in that was all oxidized that he said was waxed. He told me that guys was going to be charged double because of all the extra work to strip it down. Maybe he is crazy? maybe not... I just know what my experience with him so far is. Fwiw the guy has been doing fiberglass and gel his whole life. I do know my neighbour waxes every year religiously and although his boat looks great... he waxes every year. I don't... Ain't nobody got time for that!

R