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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

gelcoat finish on side of vessel

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gmcdent
1st Mate

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USA
41 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/31/2004 : 14:23:47

I just purchased my first!!! "dad"s dream".
Problem: I removed the previous name that was "tape" ---Big letters 12 inches with one inch tape. To loosen the tape I had to use a torch to slightly heat it. Then I could peal it back with a plastic scraper. Then I used an adhesive solvent and continued to remove the adhesive. Now the area has "ivory" color letters where the old use to be. I tried to use a rubbing compound from Boat US. Still no good! Can I use VERY FINE sand paper in an orbital sander? Will it harm the gelcoat. I manually sanded a couple of inches and it seemed to help.
There must be a way to fix this. People buy and change boat names every day without a new (expensive) gelcoat.
Also prior to doing other areas of the boat, the sides they were chalky white. I used 3M cleaner and wax combo and now it is shiny but has some blochy off white dicoloration. Do I compound this and then wax or is it just dicoloration from 20 years (1983) of UV light?

George C. on At Last

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2004 : 14:47:47

Try a little oxalic acid solution on the darker areas. Be sure to keep it off your skin and out of your eyes. Note that where you put it on will 'chalk' up the gelcoat and strip any wax... so you'll have to re-rub and wax there.

I think you'll be amazed at the difference it makes.

There's more info on oxalic acid cleaning under some old threads re: 'stain removal' (I think)

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2004 : 17:11:04

George,

The "ivory" colored gelcoat you found under the letters may be the hull's original color and the rest of the hull has faded to a chalky white. If this is the case, then no amount of sanding will change the color to match the rest of the hull, unless you sand the entire hull to match the letters. I have read about others who thought they had a white hull only to find out that after rubbing and polishing, the hull turned out to be a different color. Hopefully, this isn't the case with your boat, but you can contact Catalina Yachts and they can tell you exactly what color your hull was when it was made.

When I removed my old Catalina 25 logo, not only was the gelcoat beneath it a somewhat different color, but the lettering outline was also raised from the surface as if the rest of the gelcoat had withered away from around it.

Good luck.

Edited by - dlucier on 05/31/2004 17:24:19

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2004 : 19:39:48

George,

I've been down this path a couple of times. I would use 800 grit sandpaper lightly where the lettering was, then No.7 Rubbing Compound followed by No.7 Polishing Compound (I have a commerical grade polisher) on the entire hull, then wax (Collinite's No. 870 Fleetwax for marina and aeronautical finishes.)

The Poliglow fan club must all be out sailing today - I'm sure they'll chime in here shortly

!

Good luck!

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2004 : 20:19:32

You are right about the poly-glow gang out sailing..... IMHO poly-glow=more sailing time . If you want to spend as little time and money as possible then give the poly-glow a go. As for the off color spots, a little softscrub with bleach might do the trick. I finally tried poly-glow because it leaves the precious gelcoat alone and only seals and coats it. I also spent more time buffing out my transom using traditional methods than it took to do the whole boat with poly-glow. Boats were meant to be enjoyed, not waxed!

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John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 06/01/2004 : 18:20:00

One warning with the "Poliglow" (I actually used VertGlas, which I'd guess is virtually identical to Poliglow), it will not change the varying colors on the hull to one homogenous color. It will just make everything very shiny - stains, discolorations and all, so make it look how you want it before applying the Poliglow.

I would do the 800-1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper routine first and see how well that evens things out.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/01/2004 : 21:09:57

I agree with most of the above, but I'd be reluctant to use any grade of sandpaper on a power sander. Rubbing compound with an electric polisher, yes--with caution.

What about the new name? If you put it on over the ghost of the old, nobody but you will notice the ghost. (You will, and you'll probably feel compelled to point it out to everyone who will look.

)

I have my doubts about oxalic acid--your problem is probably not a stain, but just the difference between faded and near-original colors. Acid probably won't equalize that, and sanding/rubbing may just reveal more of the color that's under the letters (as opposed to making it go away).

As John said, Poliglow is not an answer here--I love it, but it just puts a shine and even accentuates everything on the hull. Mine is goint into its third season without an overcoat. I'll probably take it off and do it over next year, to eliminate the marks that have accumulated.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 06/01/2004 21:13:44

deastburn
Captain

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USA
334 Posts

Response Posted - 06/01/2004 : 23:17:10

I agree with Don that what you are seeing is likely the hull's original color--an off-white ivory (it has an almost beige tint to it). I faced this in a much smaller way when I changed the registration on the boat. I used acetone to take off the old lettering, and it revealed the same ivory color you are dealing with. The rest of the gelcoat had faded to white.

I used a marine rubbing compound (Dupont #7 is pink, and can impregnate the gelcoat with its color, and it also is formulated for automotive finishes, not gelcoat, so I avoid it). Fleetwax is the hardest to apply and buff, but that is the reason it lasts as long as it does.

Advice? Well, first off, you have bumped squarely into the reason most sailors don't change the name on their boat! Consider re-applying lettering to make up a similar (or, for that matter, identical name). Short of that, you are condemned to live with a two-tone boat, OR (Horrors!) paint the topsides.

I have the same problem with my old swim trunks. No amount of bleach will get the back to fade to the same color as the front.

Edited by - on

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