Paint is faded

[109jb]

Re: Paint is faded

Oh, I thought I would add the following.

1. I don't see how vaseline would actually damage the gel coat
2. Although I prefer the buffing results, others may be happy with the vaseline results.

Finally, I actually encourage you to try it, but also get some polishing compund and try polishing a spot by hand and then make up your own mind.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Paint is faded

Depending on the brand, buffing compounds, sealers and waxes may contain many types of oils, animal fat, silicone, water, etc and some work better than others. Then you have all the different brands and types of gel coat that have been used over the years, which use different resin bases, fillers, pigments, promoters, etc. There are even gel coats designed for better buffback and patching. Then there are the variables in how the gel coat is applied, the weathering difference between good application methods and poor ones is huge.

This results in people getting different outcomes when using the same or similar products and/or methods when trying to renew the color and gloss.

I don't see an issue with Vaseline, if it works for you great, its cheap and easy and I'm into cheap and easy. Safety-Kleen made a product at one time that was similar to Vaseline, it produced a great shine with almost no work, I used it for many things.

I don't know of any issues or damage it may do to gel coat and I don't think I would worry about it.

As for me, I don't do anything to the finish on my boats, well I do pressure wash the fish and crab slime out of the boat, but that's about it. I do keep them indoors when not in use though. I'm very lazy and don't like to do avoidable work on the boat, keeping them inside means they can sit for years and need little or no cleaning before use.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Paint is faded

Hello m8s..

IMHO I would not coat your gel... or paint job with anything but mild soap and water..

If its faded..then re-gel or prime and paint...

The coatings on your boat that seem fine now will cost you Many times over when you want to re-gel/prime/paint your finish..

Trust me.. you will spend Loads of money on sandpaper and solvents/rags etc when you finally realize you cannot save your finish with some kind of " magic " coat..

Now if you have a 600.00 boat just to let shine.. and dont want to put in 1500/3000 bucks for a permanent paint..then apply whatever to your boat.. You will only get what you paid for m8s...

Are you in violation of said codes/laws when your petrol coatings seeps in the water ?

YD.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Paint is faded

I would say that most here want the finish of their boats to look a little better than they currently do and most don't want to spend another $1,500 to $3,000, plus the time and effort it takes to repaint or gel. If a guy can spend $3.00 and make his boat look 5Xs better why not try it, sometimes it will work great and other times it may not, but its still only three bucks.

Yes painting over it may be an issue, it just depends on how soon after its been applied you try to paint it. The reason these types of fixes (oils) don't last that long is because the oil eventually disappears leaving the surface dry and chalky again. Other types of coatings can effect a paint job longer and can be more difficult to remove though.

As for contaminating the water.........

 

[oops!]

Re: Paint is faded

thanks for that ondarvr.

there are other house hold cleaners that do well with gellcoat comet for example is a mild abrasive and can do a good cleaning job on your hull.....especially with black roller marks that seemingly nothing will touch.

there is no long term miracle cure for faded or oxidized gellcoat...other than a sand or buff
, as mentioned, these are most likely a temporary cure.

the best IMHO is do it right once and then just maintain the shine.

the pros use different methods, as everyone was taught different.
at my shop. the clean is done with industrial toilet bowl cleaner. i find that it is better than muriatic acid because it also removes the hard water stains, and is not as harsh to work with.

after the cleaning...you can even do a dry polish
as this is equal to sanding at 1700 grit.
there are several compounds that are made for gellcoat. tho i only use one type, im sure most have their merits.

the compounds will fill small surface scratches, and give the boat the shiny look back again, but it still needs a protection. so a good waxing will stop the oxidization trom re appearing.

if the hull has bad oxidization, a re-surface may be in order.
starting with an 6-800 grit dry sand......do the hull (after its washed) then step up the grit to the next level all the way to 1500 then buff and wax.
wet sanding takes longer, and if you dont know what you are doing, you may not be able to get the sand paper scratches out.

the re-surfacing may seem like a lot of work....but it will transform your boat back to new in just a matter of hours. total cost on the sand paper is under 10 dollars and the wax around 15.

as far as re gellcoating the boat.....well....btdt,
id rather lay in a ditch and stick pins in my eyes than re gell a boat,,,especially if it is just oxidized.

paint.?...only if you dont like the color.

i have seen a Vaseline shine, however as stated above, it does not compare to a job being done correctly.

so it all boils down to the old boat trade off......what kind of shine are you happy with vs amount of time labor you want to put in.

hope that helps someone.
cheers
oops

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Paint is faded

I would say that most here want the finish of their boats to look a little better than they currently do and most don't want to spend another $1,500 to $3,000, plus the time and effort it takes to repaint or gel. If a guy can spend $3.00 and make his boat look 5Xs better why not try it, sometimes it will work great and other times it may not, but its still only three bucks.

Yes painting over it may be an issue, it just depends on how soon after its been applied you try to paint it. The reason these types of fixes (oils) don't last that long is because the oil eventually disappears leaving the surface dry and chalky again. Other types of coatings can effect a paint job longer and can be more difficult to remove though.

As for contaminating the water.........

I am in dissaray then.. I did not realize that " most here " of the forum was in such a position to only accept the cheezy way out of things..

There is the right way..then there are alternative ways of patch fixing..

I only try to speak on behalf of the correct way ( allthough might be more labor/cost inefective ).. but still one path to the correct way..

I Still hold firm that there is no magic coating you can put on your surface that will not only be detrimental .. but out and out bad.. Short term or long term.. Perioid..

Or perhaps I forgot to mention just spray your boat with Silicone spray and it will Look golden.... but thats just another quick way ..

I do respect you Ond ..

YD.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Paint is faded

I don't think anyone is looking for miracle cure, just a way to make the boat look better without spending a great deal of money. If they're happy with the results great, if not they can choose another option. Some products claim to be a miracle cure for faded gel coat and some do sort of work, but they are typically short term and pricey. Vaseline makes no claims, is cheap and easy to apply and if you don?t like the results it will eventually go away.

Boats are different things to different people. To me my boats are just tools to get where the fish are, function and reliability comes first, I'm not as concerned about it being beautiful.

Other people want their boats to look perfect, and spend a great deal time keeping them looking that way. They love to walk past it and see the reflection on the side.

If cost is no object then the best way to make your boat look new........is to buy a new boat.

 

[trdexpert]

Re: Paint is faded

I don't think anyone is looking for miracle cure, just a way to make the boat look better without spending a great deal of money. If they're happy with the results great, if not they can choose another option. Some products claim to be a miracle cure for faded gel coat and some do sort of work, but they are typically short term and pricey. Vaseline makes no claims, is cheap and easy to apply and if you don?t like the results it will eventually go away.

Boats are different things to different people. To me my boats are just tools to get where the fish are, function and reliability comes first, I'm not as concerned about it being beautiful.

Other people want their boats to look perfect, and spend a great deal time keeping them looking that way. They love to walk past it and see the reflection on the side.

If cost is no object then the best way to make your boat look new........is to buy a new boat.

I totally agree with you, Right now I rather fix my engine as far as maintanance to make reliable for my family and I..

Im just going to with a temporary wax that some people recommended and later when it fades away again I will sand it down and buff it out.

 

[6meter]

Re: Paint is faded

Ok, went the wet 600/800/1000/1200 grit. Looks alot better but there is still the greyish oxadation in the surface. Did it two more times. Better but not right. Started on the sides and after the 600 step dried, you can see the fiberglass "checkerboard" in the paint. Will it sand out or is the gel cost to thin? And will the buffer take out the remaining "grey" in the gel coat. BTW the color I'm working on is a deep burgandy, so the oxidation shows prominantly.

 

[109jb]

Re: Paint is faded

Ok, went the wet 600/800/1000/1200 grit. Looks alot better but there is still the greyish oxadation in the surface. Did it two more times. Better but not right. Started on the sides and after the 600 step dried, you can see the fiberglass "checkerboard" in the paint. Will it sand out or is the gel cost to thin? And will the buffer take out the remaining "grey" in the gel coat. BTW the color I'm working on is a deep burgandy, so the oxidation shows prominantly.

Now that you have sanded, I would do some compounding/polishing on an area and see what you have. If the burgandy color is indeed gel-coat it should be pretty thick. Without actually seeing it though it is hard to say whether it will need more sanding, or if it too thin to sand more. If when sanding you are not getting a red color sludge residue it is possible that there is some sort of clear coat over the burgandy. Maybe a picture or 2 would help us to help you.

 

[Incorrigible]

Re: Paint is faded

West Marine's website has a write up on this under their how to quick tips links. Worth a read.

 

[6meter]

Re: Paint is faded

Plan on the compounding, just wondering if I should be sanding more. Understand about the pics 109. Got most tools that I will ever need but no camera, not even on the cell phone. My kids yell at me all the time trying to send me pics. But they're very happy when I fix their car, wire a new outlet or hang new sheetrock.

 

[bob1010]

Re: Paint is faded

I think it depends on where u in humidity and temp...the v method does NOT work in colorado...I"ve seen it...don't try. In more humid climates it might work? never tried ?!