Re: Gelcoat Finish Problem
when you get to a point with the clear gel oxidation, the only way to really get that shiny look back is to shoot it with good automotive clearcoat...
If you scratched it all up with scotchbright, then you'll need to wetsand to get it smooth and shiny again.
FGrom the pics, it looks like you got the oxidation off in some areas (the dark ones) still have quite a bit in others (the grey cloudy / chalky looking ones), and even went through the color in a few places as well (the light brown-ish colored patch.
What makes it appear cloudy is the small voides in the gelcoat, when it's wet, the voids are filled with water (has a much closer refractive index to gel than air) it looks clear again.
you might try wetsanding by hand with something like 600 grit, focusing on the cloudy areas until they're either gone or it is clear that you're going to hit flake, etc... before you get the cloudiness out), then do the whole thing (gently!) with 1000 grit, them 1200 or 1500 followed by buffing it out with aqquabuff-2000, or 3m superduty rubbing compound, and finally 3m finesse it 2 will put a great shine on it. Note that the gel is relatively susciptable to further attack once damaged to this extent, so it's important to keep some wak or something on it once you take the time and effort to clean it up nice.
If you're unable to get through the cloudy stuff without hitting flakes and going through the color, the best thing to do is after thorooughly degre3asing and cleaning, scuff it up with 220 or 320 and have someone shoot it with good automotive clear coat...
imho and based on my experience
