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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Vert Glas - A Few Questions

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cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/15/2008 : 10:56:50

I know some of you have used Vertglas to bring back your fiberglass and I am now considering the same. I do have a few questions before I sink my money in it.

1. Does the kit that they sell for around $75.00 really provide enough to do a C25?

2. Is it as easy as they say? Especially on the removal and cleaning of the oxidation.

3. How does it hold up in hot weather?

4. Lastly, we are removing our boat from the water after this season to have the bottom redone. Would you wait until is is on solid ground before tackling the job? It seems to me it would be easier than when it is in the water.

Mike
Grand Lake, OK
N.O. Catalina 25 #4849
In my opinion 75% of the earth is water for a reason. That's why I sail.

Edited by - on

tchowes
1st Mate

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USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 02/15/2008 : 21:32:16

Mike,

I haven't used Vertglas, but I can share my experience with restoring my boat after it sitting outside for 4+ years exposed to the elements.

When I started working on my boat in the Fall, the topsides were green, if not black in areas. After several scrubbings with Greased Lightning, I compounded the hull by hand and buffer (where possible) using 3M's SuperDuty Rubbing Compound to eliminate the heavy oxidation, especially on the deck.

I followed up with Collinite's Fiberglass Boat Cleaner No. 920 , then followed with a coat of their Fiberglas Boat Wax No. 925. I've used the Collinite No. 925 and it holds up well for a summer season in the northeast.

The process was somewhat time consuming, but the results are impressive.

Maybe the Vertglas is better and easier to use.

Edited by - on

cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2008 : 08:40:25

Thanks Tim
I appreciate the information. What I am trying to do is eliminate the use of a rubbing compound. The Vertglas site sounds real positive and they have a lot of testimonials on it. However, I want to make sure I have the info from someone that can provide first hand evidence. Not that the website is only putting forth the good reviews, but I know of a couple of camera ones who tout their good customer service, when they actually suck.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3448 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2008 : 09:49:54

I have been using Poliglow which is somewhat similar to VertGlas. For both, the prep is similar in that you have to get the hull completely clean or whatever is left on (stain, discoloring, oxidation, etc) will show up even more so after the Poliglow/Vetrtglas is applied.

It is always easier to do whatever work to the hull sides on land than in the water but I keep my boat in the water all year, so Poliglow application can also be done that way....much easier than if I had to do the sides with wax while boat is in the finger slip.

Poliglow has a Poliprep liquid which gets the oxidation off. Stubborn areas, you just go over it again. But it's not the elbow grease like using a rubbing compound/oxidation cleaner requiring hand or machine intervention.

The bottle of Poliprep and the bottle of Poliglow does not look like it will do the hull sides but it lasts since you are only placing a small amount on a cloth/shamee applicator. After the initial application which is just a wipe on application of succesive coats watching that no drips form, then if maintained with 1-2 applications every 6 months, there is very little need to use the oxidation cleaner...a good boat wash usually prepares 80-90% of the surface with only certain areas needing a hard scrub or oxidation cleaner before the 2 poliglow coatings. I have been doing it this way in the water for over 2 years now - fairly easy and looks good. If I could do it on land, then I know it would come out even better. If you compare that with preparing the sides for a wax application and then the wax application - very hard and time consuming with boat in or out of the water.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2008 : 10:28:58

I too have used Poly Glow, and from what I've read, it's essentially the same product as VertGlas--a polymer finish and a petroleum-based cleaner. On a white hull, getting "all" oxidation off isn't that critical--you just need to get a uniform color and remove all marks and wax, and the cleaner does that pretty efficiently (with a Scotch pad and gloves). Colored hulls generally require more effort--I know that from experience.

As the finish goes on (four coats minimum for the first time with Poly Glow), it builds up to a shine on top of whatever you apply it to. Both cleaning and finishing can be done with an applicator on a stick--it should be almost as easy in a slip as on the hard if your dock isn't too high.

The PloyGlow kit is sufficient to put at least four coats on a 25-footer. You dilute the cleaner by amounts depending on the condition of the boat, and there's more than an ample amount of that.

I've read raves about its durability in FL (on Trailersailor.com). Around here (CT) the initial 4-5 coats can look pretty good for three years, although wash down and dress-up coat each year is best, and will keep her perpetually shiny. The cleaner is designed to take the finish off, but ordinary detergent doesn't phase it.

You might want to post your questions about Vertglas over on trailersailor--they have a huge population, and probably a number of users.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 02/16/2008 10:34:40

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2008 : 19:07:03

I'm interested - wax just doesn't quite last through even our short seasons. However, I've heard some really mixed reviews on the polymers - sort of a love-hate kind of thing. One issue was that they can yellow after a year or two and require a complete re-prep. Another was that ammonium-based cleaners, e.g. black streak remover, readily removes the polymer, and that touching up the finish just doesn't hide the affected area. Any of you who have used either of the polymers for a few years have any similar experiences? I'm particularly wary as black-streaking is a particular problem for us.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2008 : 21:02:24

Check Practical Sailor last year or the year before. PS compared waxes, finishes, and polymer dressings. Not at home to check, but I think they preferred one of the two (Vertglas or Polyglo) over the other for some reason but were very impressed with of them.

Edited by - on

cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2008 : 09:40:48

Thanks for the input, I will use one or the other to bring back the shine on my 85....the cost will probably make my decision. I assume that doing the decking is a no-no due to it becoming slippery when it is wet, so the hull will be my focus. I may try doing it in the slip, but will have a better chance when we take her out of the water for a new bottom job this Fall..

Edited by - cat1951 on 02/17/2008 09:41:40

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2008 : 11:02:51

Gerry & Leslie: Yup--it's sorta like Cetol vs. oil vs. gray... a religious thing. But "a year or two" definitely wasn't my experience. Friends of mine found some yellowing after about 10 years (having added a coat each year), so they did a complete removal and started over. But they stuck with Poly Glow, so they must not have been disappointed.

Yes, some cleaners will remove polymer finishes--let's hope so! I touched up some areas--particularly where fenders had worn through the finish--and then put a coat on the whole boat for an even shine. That single coat takes maybe half an hour.

I think I read a Practical Sailor review years ago before using PG... Don't remember what they said, but I can imagine they found the polymers not to give as high a gloss, which is true. Their advantages are ease of application and duration of the finish. A recent thread showed Frank Hopper's boat on the trailer, with a clear reflection of his Explorer or whatever on the side. I believe he uses PG. If I'm right, the picture speaks for itself. While not as dramatic, you can see the reflection of the fenders below--this was in August after a top-coat in April--she probably looked about the same the following spring...

Edited by - on

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