Shines Like Glass

[Parkerman]

When I bought my boat last year the previous owner had compounded and waxed the hull from the rub rail down. I always thought it looked OK but the night before last I got looking at the yellowish orange marks on the hull and decided to get to work. I borrowed an old Porter Cable D6 orbital buffer a while back but hadn't used it yet. I also had some Meguires 49 Oxidation remover and 45 Polish that I had intended to use top side but never got to it. Cranked up the tunes and off I went. When I tell you that this boat shined after 30 minutes on the transome I mean it. Unbelievable how the gel coat came up on this 19 year old boat. Two hours on Tuesday night and two hours on Wednesday night and one side is ready for wax. Friday and Saturday I will hit the other side and call it done. I was very impressed. I doubt this boat has looked this good since the day it came off the line. The previouse owner either didnt use the right products or didnt use a machine or something. Even the ghost lines from the old name are gone. A very satisfying project in about 12 hours. 8)

 

[jeffnick]

There are some of us on the other side of that fence. If it doesn't shine, it doesn't have to.

I'm quite content with the 'satin' gloss afforded by a 15 minute hull treatment with wipe on Ice on my oxidized gelcoat...all I'm concerned with is easy cleaning.

 

[grouperjim]

if you want it to be as "flat" as glass, use a sanding block and wet sand with 600/1000 then buff out. that will remove the dimpling left by the underlying cloth. then not only will you have reduced the porousity of the gelcoat but it will be flat and shine like a mirror. finish with some marine grade teflon polish and you are all set. i do that to all my boats. it makes cleaning easier. often just rinse and dry......no need for soap and scrubbing. 8)

 

[Keith FDNY]

Well GrouperJim i can say your boat def. looks like Glass for sure awesome job you bo on that i am going to do it at the end of the season for sure,and more then likely i am going to use your method!!!!Boats Lokks awesome,nice work!!!

 

[Porkchunker]

I always scrub down well with Bar Keepers Friend before polishing with a Cable-Porter buffer. The BKF gets the grime and the red oxide stains off, so that I don't have to buff so much.

Dave

aka