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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Gelcoat restoration

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joshuaheard
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/03/2002 : 21:15:21

My blue gelcoat was polished by the boat yard when I bought the boat six months ago, but is still faded. I could paint the gelcoat in a year or so, but was thinking about a fiberglass restorer first.

I have heard of two products, Island Girl (http://www.islandgirlproducts.com/) and Poli Glow (http://www.poliglowproducts.com/) that have both been recommended.

Which product is better for restoring and protecting the color and shine of my blue gelcoat hull? Anyone's tips, insights, experiences are greatly appreciated.

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 06/03/2002 : 21:47:39

More like Mop and Glow in my honest oppinion. Try 3M fiberglass restorer/polish thats what most of the yards use detailers use here.

Doug&Ruth
Wind Lass
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/03/2002 : 22:16:41

I agree that Poli Glow is not what you want (at least for now). It puts a great shine on whatever color you're looking at--it has no color restoration properties. The 3M products (there are several to choose from based on the condition of the gelcoat) take the faded surface off and expose something that's closer to the original color--and leave a wax on it that lasts pretty well. Poli Glow is better for a white hull--they even caution that before using their product on colors, you should do what you can to restore the color--with rubbing compound or whatever. PG will probably exagerate any streakiness in the color, just as varnish brings out the grain in wood.

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette "Passage" in SW CT

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2002 : 10:34:06

Josh,
I'm pretty finicky about appearance of my boat. I've experimented with various products and equipment and have settled on the following combination.
You are going to always be fighting a little steeper uphill battle with the blue hull. With that in mind, I would at least consider an electric polisher. I returned three polishers before I settled on an 11 amp Milwaukee. This has saved me hours of work while giving me very professional results.
In year one I used No. 7 rubbing compound followed by No. 7 polishing compound. Collinite has a liquid wax called "Fleetwax" (don't use the paste wax unless you have unlimited time) that has out performed anything else I've tried. In years two and three I used just the polishing compound and wax, then just the wax the last two seasons. I have a lot of people ask me how I achieve the high shine <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle> . It looks as good at the end of the season as on launch day.
I've been a reader of this forum for a few years now and I think anything other than elbow grease will give short lived results.
Easy come, easy go . . . <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Good luck.

Steve Madsen
#2428
OJ(Ode to Joy)

[url="http://catalina25-250.org/photo0.htm/"]<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/photo/ode075.jpg" border=0>[/url]

Edited by - OJ on 06/04/2002 10:35:08

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LOREN SOUERS
Navigator

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USA
100 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2002 : 16:26:06

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Josh,
I'm pretty finicky about appearance of my boat. I've experimented with various products and equipment and have settled on the following combination.
You are going to always be fighting a little steeper uphill battle with the blue hull. With that in mind, I would at least consider an electric polisher. I returned three polishers before I settled on an 11 amp Milwaukee. This has saved me hours of work while giving me very professional results.
In year one I used No. 7 rubbing compound followed by No. 7 polishing compound. Collinite has a liquid wax called "Fleetwax" (don't use the paste wax unless you have unlimited time) that has out performed anything else I've tried. In years two and three I used just the polishing compound and wax, then just the wax the last two seasons. I have a lot of people ask me how I achieve the high shine <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle> . It looks as good at the end of the season as on launch day.
I've been a reader of this forum for a few years now and I think anything other than elbow grease will give short lived results.
Easy come, easy go . . . <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Good luck.

Steve Madsen
#2428
OJ(Ode to Joy)

[url="http://catalina25-250.org/photo0.htm/"]<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/photo/ode075.jpg" border=0>[/url]

Edited by - OJ on 06/04/2002 10:35:08
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Steve,
I looked again at the picture of your boat, and your comment about how finicky you are. The boat looks great! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
By the way, what are you using for bottom paint? Is that copper? And from Pittsburgh, what waters are you sailing on?

Loren, aboard
Nimue,
The Lady of the Lake
Atwood Lake, Ohio

Edited by - on

frich
Captain

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USA
418 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2002 : 16:57:25

Josh

I used Vertglas a similar product to Poliglow on a previous boat. Looks great for (1) seaon but then turned chalky and developed something similar to dandruff flaking.

Come to find out that the heat developed by shrink wrapping the boat caused this. On my 84 C25 I too used 3M compound and elbow grease and am pleased with the results. I did follow this with 3 coats of a good canuba paste wax.

Good luck and welcome aboard!

Frank Rich
84 C25 SK

Edited by - on

Steve Raffel
Captain

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262 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2002 : 22:17:09

I too have been using Collinite products with great success. I use their cleaner and paste wax. They both are easy to use and last a long time. My one experience with Poli Glo was not a good one. I don't think I did enough prep.

Steve Raffel
C 250 WK #408

Edited by - on

Mike Vaccaro
1st Mate

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77 Posts

Response Posted - 06/05/2002 : 17:23:06

There are all kinds of products on the market, but no substitue for elbow grease. The best option is mechanical--i.e., rubbing compound and an electric or pnuematic buffer. There are numerous rubbing compounds available. You can obtain them at an automotive paint shop or a marine supply store. Just be aware that they come in "grits," just like sand paper. The equivalent of 2000 grit should be sufficient to remove oxidation and polish gel coat. The key to life is a good buffer! After removing oxidation, regular wax application will prevent future oxidation.

The topsides are tougher to polish than the hull. In addition to a standard rotary buffer, we've had good success using a Black and Decker "Mouse" with the appropriate polishing pads to get in the nooks and crannies.

After you spend all of the time sprucing up the gel coat--start a wax regime that will allow you to keep up with maintainance, this is the key to avoiding future buffing!

If you wish to pursue a chemical solution, take a look at the Island Girl web site. It's accessable via Catalina.Owners.com. You may want to take a look at the Gelcoat forum on that site as well--there is a lot of good information there.

Best of Luck,

Mike Vaccaro on the "Swoose"
84TR/SK #4707

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2002 : 13:14:00

Josh,
Just a brief follow-up to what Mike had to say about various compounds. I tried at least three different brands of compounds with a polisher and got the best results the fastest with the No. 7 brand.
Are you taking all this in Josh? Are you glad you asked this question? Have we done a good job of spending your money <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> ?

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