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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Gel coat's an amazing thing

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/09/2010 : 17:30:05

I just got done scrubbing down the hull of SL. The weather wasn't the nasty rain they'd predicted, so I took advantage of the nice-ish weather. There was lots of grime, scum, etc, that's built up over time, as well as some scrapes where I've gotten a bit closer to my dock, dock box, etc. than I wanted to. I figured the close calls with the dock boxes would be pretty easy to get out, but was surprised at some of the other stuff that came out. One spot in particular on my port side was the result of the first time into our new slip (we were used to starboard-side-to), and I heard a crunch and figured I'd have a repair to do. There was a definite mark there, but as I scrubbed at it today, gone, with no apparent damage. I found a couple of little chips, one on the bow, and another on the stern, but both of them would fit under a dime with lots of room to spare, other than that, my gel coat looks great. There are other things up on the deck that'll need some attention, and I haven't washed it down yet, but I'm optimistic about the prospects.

The sun's going down, my shoulder's complaining, so wax will have to wait, but overall, I'm pleased with the results, especially now that I don't have that one repair I thought I needed to do.

David
C-250 Mainsheet Editor

Sirius Lepak
1997 C-250 WK TR #271 --Seattle area Port Captain --

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2010 : 18:43:46

David, you've worked hard enough.

Skip waxing. Use this stuff instead:

[url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/5186/377%20710/0/premium%20marine%20polish/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=premium%20marine%20polish&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=premium%20marine%20polish&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=163&subdeptNum=549&classNum=549"]Premium Marine Polish with PTEF[/url] is a wonder product. I used to use paste wax. No more. This stuff wipes on and then wipes off. It's incredible.

60 minutes from start to finish.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2010 : 19:27:27

I think I actually picked up some of that last time I was at Fisheries. I'll give it a try, my shoulder isn't looking forward to waxing the boat.

I have to say I'm quite pleased with how the boat looks, and I haven't really worked all that hard at it.

However, the bottom still needs to be soda blasted. I'm trying to find somewhere to do that now. I found someone on CL who claimed to do it, but when I wrote for a quote, I never got a response.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2010 : 20:00:54

Randy
I will be removing the Polyglow this March and I'd planned to recoat it with Polyglow once again. If I can get as good performance using the Marine Polish instead, I would appreciate that greatly.
Any thoughts on that? How frequently would I need to retreat the hull to kep it looking nice?

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 01/10/2010 : 06:22:04

Irecently cleaned of the yellow build up on the hull (we used an oxalic acid gelatinous liquid marine product, too dang cold to go look in the boat for the bottle) But it clearly states it will remove the wax. We had some of that PTFE, did an ok job, but not as good as either the NuFinish (Walmart $6) or the Marine boat wax cleaner. The latter was suprisingly good at getting off a lot of the marks on the topsides and it's basically a wipe on (rub a bit to get rid of marks) and buff off. We have a 6" orbital buffer and a bunch of pads from Harbor Freight.

Right now it's blowing outside and we have not had the chance to put the tarps on, at least the boat isn't getting a high dose of UV.

(This is sunny south florida, the temp is down to 35F and the wind is probably over 15kts in my back yard!)

Paul

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 01/10/2010 : 08:52:58

I use Starbrite twice a year. It is doing quite well in the Practical Sailor long term test (initial gloss slightly below the top performers, but has retained it for 3 months and is now a leader). None of these products will compete with Nufinish or Polyglow in durability, but you don't have the removal labor. Starbrite is a wash, wipe on, wipe off process. Pick your poison - all three of them do what they were designed to do quite well.

Edited by - Dave5041 on 01/10/2010 08:56:02

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 01/10/2010 : 12:47:15

Bruce, we used PoliGlo on our 1986 C22 In my opinion it is an exceptional product for older gelcoat. I am not certain how the Starbrite Premium Polish with PTEF will work on older gelcoat but it sounds like it is working for Dave.

You could try it and see. If it doesn't work as well as PoliGlo then simply use PoliGlo the next time you do this work. The Premium Polish doesn't need any special removal technique. Just wash and PoliGlo over it.

My goal is a good look with minimal effort.

I get that with all the Starbrite products.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 01/10/2010 12:51:48

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 01/10/2010 : 12:57:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 
My goal is a good look with minimal effort.

I get that with all the Starbrite products.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I get it with a brush and a comb!

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 01/10/2010 : 13:58:04

Paul,
It sounds like you were using FSR, which is sort of a gooey baby blue color that works fantastically for removing stains along the water line. I've read about people using ketchup to do the same thing, maybe citric acid works as well as oxalic.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2010 : 19:19:15

This fall as I was prepping Passage for winter on the hard, one of my yard mates took a paint roller and roller pan and filled it with this red stuff. He started rolling it out all over the hull above waterline below the gunwales. I began to smell that very distinctive smell of 'fast food'

I asked one of the other guys standing nearby "what the heck is he smearing all over his boat?" and he said Ketchup!

After he rolled it on the entire boat, he let it sit for about a half an hour, then he took the hose and wetted the gunk down. Afterward he took a bucket, filled it with water and squirted in a little liquid soap, and with a car-washing brush connected to the hose, he washed the whole thing down.

The hull went from dingy yellow to bright white right before my eyes, and I assume what he was doing was "environmentally safe" unless you happen to be a french fry!

The results were dramatic.

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1778 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2010 : 19:38:28

When my son was learning to sail in Opti's he taught me the ketchup trick. I never thought about the roller then wash method, but it does do a great job cleaning -- just don't let it sit/dry-out too long. I have used "Fleetwax" from Collignite with great success over the years. I can get the hull to look pretty good pre-season (great using the 20 foot rule) but it's mid season that I still am wrestling with. Mooring a boat has many advantages over trailering, but the one draw back is the hull does get the brownish scum build up.

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2010 : 08:16:59

So my boat gets hauled out for a bottom job today, and one of the other services they offer is to buff out the sides. They charge $200 for this. My hull is old and dingy looking. What do you guys think?

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2010 : 08:52:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 ...My hull is old and dingy looking. What do you guys think?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Poli Glow is specifically for "old, dingy" gelcoat. Vertglas and I guess NuFinish are similar--my only experience is with Poli Glow. It gives a "nice", if not blinding, shine that lasts more than a year--an annual dress-coat is recommended. Preparation involves scrubbing off old wax and any marks--just enough to have a uniform surface. Application is with an artificial chamois on a special mop-head, 4-5 coats to start. (The first looks like nothing happened--the last gives you an even shine.) The whole job took me half a day. A dress-coat takes maybe 45 minutes. If you click the photo in my signature, you can see the reflections of the fenders--a decent shine for a 30+year-old hull.

On the flip-side, I would never use the stuff on new or relatively new gelcoat. I've been using Colonite and Starbrite on my new boat--haven't decided which is best.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 01/13/2010 10:12:52

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2010 : 14:48:34

I think $200 is a very reasonable price for a professional buffing of the entire hull. That would need to be followed up immediately with one of the finishing products

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2010 : 15:46:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave5041
 I think $200 is a very reasonable price for a professional buffing of the entire hull. That would need to be followed up immediately with one of the finishing products
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thank you, I told them to go ahead. For comparison here's how she looked yesterday. Hull is pretty dingy.When it's done I'll take another picture...

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2010 : 19:06:50

Hey Peter,

Where did you get that trailer? That is a really nice setup!

Who's doing the bottom job and buffing?

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2010 : 19:28:02

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 ...Where did you get that trailer? That is a really nice setup!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Except that it's only a yard trailer--not to be taken on the road. There's no bow chock to keep the boat from moving forward, or winch line to keep it from moving aft.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2010 : 20:30:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 ...Where did you get that trailer? That is a really nice setup!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Except that it's only a yard trailer--not to be taken on the road. There's no bow chock to keep the boat from moving forward, or winch line to keep it from moving aft.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You are correct! In another post Peter mentioned this trailer belonged to the guy doing the bottom job. Still a nice looking trailer.

Edited by - GaryB on 01/14/2010 20:31:29

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 01/15/2010 : 14:19:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 Hey Peter,

Where did you get that trailer? That is a really nice setup!

Who's doing the bottom job and buffing?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Robert from Cummings Marine, referred to me by Inland Sailing. The trailer belongs to them.

Edited by - PCP777 on 01/20/2010 10:26:23

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2010 : 08:43:38

OK so now that the hull is buffed what is the good stuff to put on there? Do I use the Premium Marine Polish with PTEF ?

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2010 : 09:33:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 OK so now that the hull is buffed what is the good stuff to put on there? Do I use the Premium Marine Polish with PTEF ?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">That or Collinite Fleetwax, if the surface is semi-glossy. Both are easy rub-on, wipe-off processes. I've used both and lean toward the PTEF--it seems to last longer, although it might not be quite as shiny initially.

If the surface is uniformly dull, Poli Glow.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2010 : 13:49:03

Starbrite Polish with PTFE is a front-runner in the P/S long term test - slightly less initial gloss but holds it longer. I really like it. I did Pearl in the spring and water was still beading when I washed this morning in preparation for another coat before launching her in Destin, Fl this friday. It's raining now and T-storms tomorrow, so I can't put it on until friday a.m. when the forecast is sunny and 70º.

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2010 : 15:10:37

I have discovered (here in the NE) that Fleetwax had less lake matter on the waterline at end of season than other waxes. I use the liquid version . . . the paste is too much work to rub off.

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