so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

[MI_Boat]

I'm wondering if it will make the top surface of my new (used) 94 Rinker shine. As it stands now, the white gelcoat surfaces have a chalky look to them.

I'm asking if it will work because I was a bit eager to get start getting it cleaned up and used some auto polishes- along with a magic eraser, on a couple areas. Unfortunately I wouldn't say that these areas look much different than the un-touched part.

I'm hopeful that the gelcoat surface is just enough different from car paint that you need to use a special oxidation remover and polish.

Can someone confirm this- or are my results thus far what I should expect from the 3M product.

Thanks (my first boat so sorry for the potentially green horn questions ;-)

btw- I bought the 3M product after researching this forum.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

There are just too many variables to determine if it'll work for your specific case. I have an older boat and have needed to get more agressive with removing the oxidation. The typical polishing and buffing compounds were not removing enough of the oxidized surface to get to where the gelcoat was clear. In my case, I'd go over it with polishing compound and then wax it. A week later, the oxidation would come back - similar to what happens when you try to hide it with vaseline.

I'm now to a heavy 3M cutting compound. Once I get the complete boat done with this one, I'll switch to a regular polishing compound to fine tune the finish and then wax it.

Basically, you just need to try it to see if it works. If not, you'll need to get more agressive with the surface.

 

[shrew]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

Personally, I like the 3M line of products.

They make the same products in a cutting agent only, without the wax. I've used the Gelcoat/Color restorer on light to medium oxidation and had good results. If the gelcoat is heavily oxidized and chalky you may need to start with a more agressive cutting agent.

3M also makes some more aggressive products such as:

3M? Marine Finesse-It? II Glaze
3M? Finesse-it? Marine Paste Compound

These would need to be followed up with the marine wax.

 

[MI_Boat]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

Thanks. for the reply. I used a rubbing compound - which seemed to work on the red striped sections of the boat- but seemed ineffective on the white.

I assume the gelcoat is pretty thick- so there is some material to work with?

I'm using a 3500rpm orbital polisher- is that going to be good enough for the job? seemed like if I applied too much presure, it would nearly stop spinning.

 

[MI_Boat]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

Personally, I like the 3M line of products.

They make the same products in a cutting agent only, without the wax. I've used the Gelcoat/Color restorer on light to medium oxidation and had good results. If the gelcoat is heavily oxidized and chalky you may need to start with a more agressive cutting agent.

3M also makes some more aggressive products such as:

3M? Marine Finesse-It? II Glaze
3M? Finesse-it? Marine Paste Compound

These would need to be followed up with the marine wax.

Do you think my results with from the auto rubbing compound are representaitve of what I might expect from the 3M product I bought?

 

[Mark42]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

Check out the gel coat restore on this old boat: http://shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,27,00.html

Details here: http://www.fiberglassics.com/mfg/restoring_glossgelcoat.htm

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

As far as I am concerned ..... I like the 3M stuff however, I will admit that Mark42 ^^^^^^ is the shine restore king Check out his MFG

 

[shrew]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

I think that rubbing compound woudl be a more aggressive cutting agent that the retorer and wax. Although I couldn't comment on the product you used as I suspect it was designed for automotive paint and not gelcoat.

Gelcoat is significantly thicker than automotive paint. However, I believe that gelcoat also oxidized faster and deeper than automotive paint as well. I'm not sure if this would require a more aggressive agent to remove the oxidized material.

Gelcoat is a unique material and the one thing I've learned is, you are absolutely, positively better of ONLY using products specifically made for gelcoat. I've seen generic household products do a lot of interesting things to gelcoat. Most were not so good.

I saw a guy wash his boat with Comet. it took 20 minutes to wash the boat and 10 hours to rubbing compound the boat back to a shine again.

 

[commander315]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

I'm wondering if it will make the top surface of my new (used) 94 Rinker shine. As it stands now, the white gelcoat surfaces have a chalky look to them.

I'm asking if it will work because I was a bit eager to get start getting it cleaned up and used some auto polishes- along with a magic eraser, on a couple areas. Unfortunately I wouldn't say that these areas look much different than the un-touched part.

I'm hopeful that the gelcoat surface is just enough different from car paint that you need to use a special oxidation remover and polish.

Can someone confirm this- or are my results thus far what I should expect from the 3M product.

Thanks (my first boat so sorry for the potentially green horn questions ;-)

btw- I bought the 3M product after researching this forum.

Its an awesome product. It works for heavy oxidation or even just light dirt. Use some rubbing compound after, and then regular wax. Youur gelcoat will look like glass. <---(Actual glass, not fiber lol )

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

Used the 3m res/wax 3 years ago. Had an electric buffer and used like you do on the car. The result was nothing to write home about. Used a pneumatic buffer and got the surface temp up and wow what a difference. Did it again last year and will get to it again this year. It's a great product but you can remove the lettering without really trying. Just take your time.

 

[MI_Boat]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

hmm. so it sounds like heat is a key aspect of getting the shine - which I quess kind of makes sense. I expect my cheapo polisher is not up to the task then.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

yea, heat is the trick. Got that from a guy who owns a boat repair shop that has a crew that does nothing but clean and polish cruisers. Just do a small area several times till you get the pressure/results your happy with, then off you go.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

I've had great results with it.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

My boat looks good after I use it, which I do about every 2 years.

 

[DYLBOSS]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

I used the Meguiars kit, and it worked awesome. Definitely need to use some elbow grease though. I'm sure the 3M kit is just as good. A buffing wheel is a must. Also, I tried a bunch of different bonnets, and ended up calling Meguiars for a recommendation. They recommended using a foam bonnet for the oxidation removal. They were right.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

I used this product with some great results, however that was only after I used a fine cut product from Meguires with a high speed polisher I picked up at Harbor Freight. Then used the polisher with the 3M stuff. If you dont cut it, that product will never work. If you dont use the high speed polisher it wont work.

If your's is as bad as it sounds, then you will need to do this process I am sure. It might even take a stronger product than the fine cut. Mine was pretty oxidized too.

 

[MI_Boat]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

Thanks all.

I got the 3M product in the mail yesterday. I spent some time working on the sides of the boat last night. Very happy with the results. Much better than with the Meg's auto products I used over the weekend. I had to constantly clean the foam pad I was using as it was full of the oxidized gel coat.

I was moving pretty fast last night because the sun was going down - over the next couple days I'll refine my work - and continue working on the top sun facing surfaces.

I'm also using a much better polisher - although still orbital- just does continue spinning under load - where as the cheap one I had would just vibrate if you even pushed lightly on it. I expect that given the relative thickness of gelcoat, your best results would come from a non-orbital polisher.

 

[E_S_A_D]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

Do you have to use a buffer/ polisher? Can I do this the ole' fashioned way by hand?

 

[aspeck]

Re: so I ordered the 3M restorer & wax product - will it work?

Use the 3M a lot and like it. If the boat is too oxidized that it doesn't hold the shine long, then try Vertglass. Great product for getting a shine to last on a badly oxidized boat. But if it is just a little oxidized and faded, the 3M will work GREAT!