GELCOAT OXODIZED

[C-RAVEN]

Does anyone know a good product to bring back an oxidized finish?<br />i have tried gel-gloss, and nu-finish( car polish)<br />neither of these worked very well.<br /><br />the hull is 14 years old and was already oxodized when i bought it a year ago.<br /><br />Thanks

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: GELCOAT OXODIZED

If just trying to "compound" or buff, I suggest Mequire's Diamond cut 2.0 rubbing compound on a high speed rotary buffer with a wool pad.<br />If it is badly oxidized, wet sanding first(by hand), starting with 600 grit, then 1000 gritt, then 1500, then compound and buff. And finally wax.<br />It is a-lot of work and must be done carefully, but when done the boat will look like new.<br />I have to stress the carefully part. If you buff too long in an area or sand too far, you will go through the gellcoat to the fiberglass. Be VERY careful around any edges.

 

[C-RAVEN]

Re: GELCOAT OXODIZED

Thanks guys, will try these procedures<br />i'm still getting used to the forum, and will remember the search function next time!

 

[Mark42]

Re: GELCOAT OXODIZED

waterone1 has given good advice and there are lots of posts on gel coat restoration in this forum. Use the search button.<br /><br />BTW, here is an article I wrote on how I did it to my old boat:<br /><br /> http://www.mfgboats.com/restoring_glossgelcoat.htm

 

[jimmythekid]

Re: GELCOAT OXODIZED

very informative article mark42 thanks i will put it to good use in a bout a month when im readdy to do it

 

[Mark42]

Re: GELCOAT OXODIZED

Hi Jimmy,<br /><br />Was checking out your photos. Looking good. You do nice work. Besides the floor, does the rest of the boat need much work? It's hard to tell the condition of some things from pictures.<br /><br />Mark

 

[jimmythekid]

Re: GELCOAT OXODIZED

yes I am completely rebuilding the interior,including the cuddy space the mechanicals are great, the engine runs very well, but I too am getting chalk when i rub down the outside of the hull. the boat is dated, I want to get rid of all the teak and go with starboard on all the trim, also I am going to get rid of the sundeck over the engine and full width seat. I want to have more room in the cockpit and towards the rear was thinking maybe two seats in both rear corners and a small engine cover that i can stand on, kinda a dual purpose boat for fun and fishing and fishing is fun!! That maybe down the road, though. Also havent decided to put carpet back in yet, this is the first time i have tried anything like this and i am going to try to get the floor surface really smooth to be painted or gel coated. But if it dont turn out good probly get some carpet for it. will have more pics begining next week hopefully have the floor down this weekend. Once the floor is done, its mostly all the little stuff that needs updating. Basically its a POS. I will never buy another sea ray, but the guy that gets this one after im done with it will swear buy them. someday I will have an old Bertram or Silverton to fix up.

 

[jimmythekid]

Re: GELCOAT OXODIZED

PS i had a bunch mor pics, but windows crashed and i had to reformat my Disk im just thankfull i posted some to the net as that is all i have now. I fixed my computer by installing Linux, much better now.

 

[cc lancer]

Re: GELCOAT OXODIZED

Always wear a mask when buffing, you don't need to be inhaling the compound.

 

[mkast]

Re: GELCOAT OXODIZED

The first summer I had the boat I decided to compound and wax the boat, gelcoat was dudded out. After two 12 hour days of work (23footer) with two different buffers, the boat looked very good, it lasted about three weeks. This past spring I used a product called Vertiglass. It will not cover any scratches or surface blemishes. It is a clear coat product. It took me about eight hours to finish the job. Boat looked alot better than the first year, it lasted all year with just washing. First link is for the product web page, if you look around you can pick it up for $50. <br /><br /> http://www.lovettmarine.com/files/vertglas.asp <br /><br />This link is for pictures of the boat before, during and after.<br /><br /> http://rc-web12.adobe.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=eheazo3.7bvqf6b&x=0&y=8g870o

 

[Mark42]

Re: GELCOAT OXODIZED

Hey mkast,<br /><br />Why did your polishing only last 3 weeks? Are you sure you got all the oxidized gelcoat off first? My polish job involved removing the bad gelcoat before polishing and it lasted all season, and it still looks as good as the day I polished it. Infact, it shows no indication of resorting to its old dull finish, and that gelcoat is 40 years old!<br /><br />I know that if you attack it with a buffer alone you are wasting your time, because there is still oxidized gelcoat left behind. After the wax washes off, you see the bad gelcoat. <br /><br />The same is true with a lot of "puts a shine on it" products. They just soak into the surface but don't last because they are anchored in a bad layer of gelcoat. You can get the exact same results with a $5.00 bottle of vinyl floor wax.<br /><br />When using the vertglas, did you use their scrubber and oxidizer remover and scrub the whole boat over as per the instructions, or just apply the sealer to the surface as you left it from the first polishing?<br /><br />I'm not knocking your abilities, I am just interested in knowing why your polish job failed so we can avoid making the same mistake. <br /><br />Thanks, your boat looks nice in the photos, and your input is very valuable. <br /><br />Mark.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: GELCOAT OXODIZED

The Vertiglass product looks nice but I have a few questions...<br /><br />1. Says in instructions to use their boatwash...do you have to? Is is "required" or just trying to get more sales.<br /><br />2. Says apply 2 coats per year and that you need their product to remove it if you accidently cover dirt etc. Should you strip it before applying the 2 coats or are you going to get a build up?<br /><br />3. Any yellowing/cloudiness after say..5 years at 2 coats per....?<br /><br />4. Did you use there oxidation remover also?<br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[mkast]

Re: GELCOAT OXODIZED

I used the heavy cut compound, the stuff that will level orange peeled paint, yes the gelcoat was clean before I applied carnauba wax.<br /><br />Says in instructions to use their boatwash...do you have to? Is is "required" or just trying to get more sales.<br /><br />It's included with the package.<br /><br />Says apply 2 coats per year and that you need their product to remove it if you accidently cover dirt etc. Should you strip it before applying the 2 coats or are you going to get a build up?<br /><br />This is to renew the shine, just wash the hull, let it dry, apply. The remover is included.<br /><br />Any yellowing/cloudiness after say..5 years at 2 coats per....?<br /><br />First year I've used this product, if there is, I'll use the remover and reapply.<br /><br />Did you use there oxidation remover also?<br /><br />Yes, instructions stated, "Use a small amount" I did, used too much elbow grease instead of the oxidation remover, had half a bottle left, pad was worn down to the handle. <br /><br />Two friends of mine that also own boats took one look at mine and did their boats.