I picked up a great deal on a 1989 VIP Vindicator 1900. There is not much information around on the 25th Anniversary boats, so I figured I would chronicle my restoration process. I'll post up information I learn and show what I'm doing as time and money allow.
For overall condition, the hull is very heavily oxidized, most of the vinyl interior is sun damaged to the point of falling apart, the engine and outdrive appear to recently rebuilt with very low hours.
I'm starting with trying to bring back the sun damaged hull without having to resort to painting. Having never wet sanded on gelcoat, I took some time to figure exactly what I was going to need to do to try and get the hull looking better. I have never seen oxidation this bad. It was questionable whether it was restorable or just needed to be painted.
Here are some poor pictures of what I started with, but you can get the idea. It was really ugly. It has sat on the trailer so long the reflection from the diamond place step pads on the fenders of the trailer had bleached the hull completely white.
I did a few test spots to see what it was going to take to get through the oxidation. I found that 1000 grit paper did a great job of knocking off the oxidation, but realized the gelcoat underneath was discolored to an ugly pink/ orange color. Stepping down grit by grit, I ended up at 400 grit to cut through the discolored gelcoat. With paper that rough it meant I was in for a LOT of sanding!
Here is a pic after the first cut with 400 grit. The boat is completely wetted down and you can see the original color is coming back.
In this picture you can see where I got the bow half and the side of the hull sanded with 400 grit and the rest is still oxidized.
Another sanded down with 400 grit and ready to start working my way back up.
Once it was completely sanded down to 400 grit, I started stepping back up. Carefully wet sanding with 600, 800 and 1000 grit paper. Then buffing with a commercial buffer with heavy cut polishing compound.
My first attempt, once I buffed the hull I realized I hadn't spent near enough time working with the finer grit papers to get all the sanding scratch marks out. The red gelcoat shows everything! So, back to 400 grit, then taking LOTS more time working my way through the finer grits.
Here are the results-
There a couple of inconspicuous spots that still have some sanding scratches, but the bulk came out very, very nice!
Next is to cut it one more time with the heavy cut compound, then buff with swirl mark remover, I'll hand rub it with a red tinted filler wax, then top it with a couple coats of carnuba wax.
I'll post some more pics as I get it complete.
For overall condition, the hull is very heavily oxidized, most of the vinyl interior is sun damaged to the point of falling apart, the engine and outdrive appear to recently rebuilt with very low hours.
I'm starting with trying to bring back the sun damaged hull without having to resort to painting. Having never wet sanded on gelcoat, I took some time to figure exactly what I was going to need to do to try and get the hull looking better. I have never seen oxidation this bad. It was questionable whether it was restorable or just needed to be painted.
Here are some poor pictures of what I started with, but you can get the idea. It was really ugly. It has sat on the trailer so long the reflection from the diamond place step pads on the fenders of the trailer had bleached the hull completely white.
I did a few test spots to see what it was going to take to get through the oxidation. I found that 1000 grit paper did a great job of knocking off the oxidation, but realized the gelcoat underneath was discolored to an ugly pink/ orange color. Stepping down grit by grit, I ended up at 400 grit to cut through the discolored gelcoat. With paper that rough it meant I was in for a LOT of sanding!
Here is a pic after the first cut with 400 grit. The boat is completely wetted down and you can see the original color is coming back.
In this picture you can see where I got the bow half and the side of the hull sanded with 400 grit and the rest is still oxidized.
Another sanded down with 400 grit and ready to start working my way back up.
Once it was completely sanded down to 400 grit, I started stepping back up. Carefully wet sanding with 600, 800 and 1000 grit paper. Then buffing with a commercial buffer with heavy cut polishing compound.
My first attempt, once I buffed the hull I realized I hadn't spent near enough time working with the finer grit papers to get all the sanding scratch marks out. The red gelcoat shows everything! So, back to 400 grit, then taking LOTS more time working my way through the finer grits.
Here are the results-
There a couple of inconspicuous spots that still have some sanding scratches, but the bulk came out very, very nice!
Next is to cut it one more time with the heavy cut compound, then buff with swirl mark remover, I'll hand rub it with a red tinted filler wax, then top it with a couple coats of carnuba wax.
I'll post some more pics as I get it complete.
