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What's on my gelcoat? ...

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Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1775 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/09/2002 : 10:07:42

Hi everyone,

I am planning to clean up the sides of my boat above the waterline using 3M Fiberglass Restorer and some Collinite that Steve Madsen told us about. Some of the surface is flaking off ... it looks like a PO painted over the gelcoat.

Do you think it is paint that was poorly applied? Can I get this stuff OFF the gelcoat and just polish the gelcoat? Are you there Steve/OJ? Help! Should I use #7 polishing compound? (Where do you get that stuff anyway?)

Thanks for the help!

Buzz Maring, C-25 SK/SR #68, "Freya"

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2002 : 18:28:38

Gee Buzz, too bad we live so far apart. If you've got flaking, I don't really know what else it could be other than paint.
If you want to take the paint off (and it sounds like you do) I'd find a paint remover that's safe for gel coat and a pliable plastic scraper. Then I would sand with 800 to 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper, followed No.7 Rubbing Compound, then No. White Polishing Compound.
If not, it couldn't hurt to just go over - what appears to be paint - with the polishing compound - I purchased it at WalMart.
BTW, the only reason I use the No. 7 brand products is because they work so well with a commercial grade (11 amps) polisher (1,750 rpms.) I would recommend that you buy or rent a polisher to restore the hull finish if you do decide to remove all the paint - it will make a big difference in the results.
Lastly, IMHO, elbow grease is the best way to eliminate chalking -followed by Collinite Liquid Wax.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1775 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2002 : 19:39:34

Thanks Steve!

I'm glad you concur that the flaking is probably paint ... I didn't think gelcoat would flake, so it made sense that a PO put paint on it. BTW, the guy must have loved painting stuff ... he even put black lacquer over the outside teak ... 'thought I'd never get it off.

Anyway, I think I'm going to try a little sanding first. If that doesn't start to take it off, I'll go with polishing compound and see what that does. I did put some 3M Fiberglass Restorer on the starboard side a few months ago, and I was really disappointed with the results ... I guess all I was doing was trying to polish a coat of paint.

I have a buffer, but it's nothing like your commercial polisher ... that thing sounds like a beast! If I can't make any progress with what I've got, I'll have to rent a polisher similar to yours.

Thanks for the help ... I really appreciate it.

Buzz Maring, C-25 SK/SR #68, "Freya"

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2002 : 21:20:26

Buzz... Sanding could do as much damage to the gelcoat as to the paint on top of it. OJ's recommendation for a remover is a good one. It should remove most of the paint without doing any significant damage to the gelcoat. Just get the remover at a marine place--not a hardware store--to insure that it's safe on fiberglass gelcoat.

BTW, you were probably disappointed with 3M FG Restorer because you weren't restoring fiberglass gelcoat--you were restoring paint. They're very different.

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

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 11/09/2002 21:22:55

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Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1775 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2002 : 21:28:29

Thanks Dave ... 'good advice ... and the remover would probably be easier than sanding anyway.

I agree with you on "polishing" the paint not working ... in hindsight, I'm sure that's what was going on.

Thanks again!

Buzz Maring, C-25 SK/SR #68, "Freya"

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2002 : 22:18:56

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I have a buffer, but it's nothing like your commercial polisher ... that thing sounds like a beast!
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

If it turns out that your hull was indeed painted - this is a perfect example of why I always advise against painting gel coat <img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle> .

Buzz, if you do rent a polisher, make sure it's a polisher (~1,750 prm) and not a grinder that you can attach a polishing pad to - else you might burn the gel coat. I returned three different polishers before settling on the Milwaukee. I can polish one side of the hull in 30 minutes. MORE POWER <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle> !

Sometimes I'm reluctant to share some methods/techniques because they are ususally well above and beyond what the average person is willing to do. But, as I've said in prior posts, it's always as good as new or better when I've finished working on it <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle> . Hear the patting on my back <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> ?

Your anal retentive forum member.

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 - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1775 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2002 : 23:23:06

Sometimes I'm reluctant to share some methods/techniques because they are ususally well above and beyond what the average person is willing to do. But, as I've said in prior posts, it's always as good as new or better when I've finished working on it <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle> . Hear the patting on my back <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> ?

Your anal retentive forum member.

Steve Madsen
#2428
OJ (Ode to Joy)

Well Steve, no one can argue with your results ... what a great looking boat!

Thanks again.

Buzz Maring, C-25 SK/SR #68, "Freya"

Edited by - on

Phredde
Navigator

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125 Posts

Response Posted - 11/11/2002 : 19:40:30

Related question. I've got some scratch marks on the hull. No, not from my many escapades, but a broken dock line during a storm and the hull met the dock box several times over.

What's the consensus on getting these out? The 3m fiberglass restorer or the #7 rubbing compound? I don't yet have an electric polisher, but could invest in one if its the only way to go. Also, the boat is in the water.

What do you think?

Phredde
Catalina 25
San Francisco

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/11/2002 : 22:27:05

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I've got some scratch marks on the hull.... What's the consensus on getting these out? The 3m fiberglass restorer or the #7 rubbing compound? ...Also, the boat is in the water.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
Phredde... Of course, that depends on what you mean by "scratches." The 3M won't do much except make them stand out more on the shiny surface--not abrasive enough. A light rubbing compound could help, but if the scratches are very deep, you might take off too much gelcoat around them before they're gone. Consider doing some "touch-up" with a gelcoat repair kit, followed by some very light sanding to flatten it, then compounding.

As for being in the water, a doggie leash around one ankle and tied to the mast... <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

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

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 11/11/2002 : 22:46:51

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I've got some scratch marks on the hull.
I think all of us have some scratches - if you didn't scratch through the gel coat into the fibreglass, the most practical thing to do is camouflage them as best you can.

What's the consensus on getting these out? The 3m fiberglass restorer or the #7 rubbing compound?
Dave's recommendation about filling/sanding the deeper scratches with a patch kit is right on. I've never used the 3M product but I'd be willing to bet that it's not as agressive as rubbing compound - probably more like polishing compound. I'd use the rubbing compound first then step down to the polishing compound, then wax.

I don't yet have an electric polisher, but could invest in one if its the only way to go.
An electric polisher isn't an absolute necessity - but the average person is bound to run out of ambition and steam by the time they get half way down one side of the hull. A commercial polisher will give you the most consistent results in the shortest amount of time because it doesn't get tired.

Also, the boat is in the water.
That will be a losing battle. You need to apply a fair amount of pressure when you're rubbing the hull with the above products. The boat and/or your dink is going to keep moving away.

What do you think?
I think when you're done rubbing the areas that have scratches, the rest of the hull won't look so good and you'll want to polish the rest - having created more work than you anticipated <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Good luck!
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Edited by - OJ on 11/11/2002 22:51:37

Edited by - OJ on 11/11/2002 22:55:37

Edited by - OJ on 11/12/2002 12:28:45

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/11/2002 : 23:17:06

Time for a strategically placed snazzy decal! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
Catalina

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