faded gelcoat

[baja29c]

[ghart]

If you're going to spend money to have someone do it, have the boat painted instead!

If you have it wet sanded and buffed, before you know it you'll be back where you are now.

[Pantera28]

Originally posted by ghart
If you're going to spend money to have someone do it, have the boat painted instead!

If you have it wet sanded and buffed, before you know it you'll be back where you are now.

Yep, A fresh coat of Awlgrip will last a lifetime.

__________________
Your boat must be really fast, cause you were hauling AZZ when I PASSED YOU.

[jb]

Originally posted by baja29c
need to talk to someone who is a professional. no amateurs. any ideas?

you answered your own questiopn if you want to speak with a professional

[baja29c]

so what is awlgrip?

[Jayl13]

Type of paint

[GSE Anthony]

Question... (partially playing devil's advocate, mostly cause I just don't know cause I am too new to boats)

So I had some oxidation on my boat when I bought it. This spring I bought an oxidation remover and gel coat polish (products from Leverage), a variable speed buffer/polisher, terry clothe towels, etc. Probably spent $150 on everything.
It took about 5-6 hours to use the oxidation remover, and about 1-2 to apply the polish. The results were honestly pretty damn good, especially for someone that has never done this type of detailing before.

Also I wasn't considering paying for this, but I had seen some ads locally for people that do this work for about $10 - $12 a foot. So my boat would have cost me about $200 - $250 to get done.

What does it really cost to paint a boat my size if I wanted to? What's the cost difference between what I did over a couple evenings and the cost of a full bore paint job?

And it's not that I was even considering this for this boat, more that I am curious for future boats I may be interested in.

Thanks guys.

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Last edited by GSE Anthony; 07-14-2009 at 10:06 PM.

[Nova 210]

You'll think this is crazy, but if you want a quick, cheap tip to get you guy use Vaseline.

Did it on my Nova's 31 year old blue gel coat, and while it was terrible to start with, it looks fantastic. Cost me $2.00.

[baja29c]

VASELINE? SERIOUSLY? anyone try it? what are thr consequences? how long did/does it last

[Kidnova]

Sounds like a waste of good Vaseline to me

[aquaforce]

Petroleum on gel

[ghart]

Couple three boats ago, I had an old Galaxy Shooting Star. The red gel on this boat was pink when I got it.

I buffed this boat, wet sanded it then buffed and waxed it. Every time I did the boat was pink in a few weeks. Once the gel is dead, it's dead!

Here's what the boat looked like at the end of the 2002 season. The red gel was bright and glossy. It had been that way for severe months without any need to do anything with it to stay that way.

Here's the boat and the next post will tell how I did it!

Attached Images

87 galaxy.jpg (24.0 KB, 256 views)

[ghart]

Now, go get some of this product at your local boat store! It works without a bunch of effort!

This is what the manufacturer claims!

Star Brite Instant Glass Cote

16 oz.

Acrylic Urethane formula bonds to the surface of fiberglass instantly restoring dull/faded fiberglass. Coating lasts up to 18 months and can then be re-applied. Applying multiple thin coats of Glass Cote will restore color and shine. No buffing required.

Attached Images

252721_d.jpg (16.8 KB, 253 views)

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Last edited by ghart; 07-21-2009 at 05:21 AM.

[ENGREPS]

Wet sanded the top deck with 1000 and then buffed with Leverage Oxidization remover and then polished with Leverage polish.


It looks better than new. I have had several people ask what I have done and how great it looks. I would highly recommend sanding and polishing using the leverage products.

Yes I bought them from the Speedwake Store.

[satman]

Are you near Belleville?

[GRH]

Some good information in here....

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/f...ing-101-a.html

[texasbaja]

I had a old Baja that was red, the only treatment that would work was WD40, All other sanding and waxing never lasted. the only problem was the guy who bought it said he had it repainted and the painter complained about the WD40 that was acually absorbed in the gel coat that the paint would bubble no matter how he cleaned it.

[Nova 210]

Originally posted by baja29c
VASELINE? SERIOUSLY? anyone try it? what are thr consequences? how long did/does it last

I've only had it on my boat for 5 weeks, so far so good. Many other guys on other boards have done it for much longer periods.

One guy broke it down chemically and it is very close to carnuba, except it spreads much easier.

It is also nearly the same as cosmoline, and the petroleum and solvent aspects are taken out of it when it is made.

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Last edited by Nova 210; 07-21-2009 at 06:57 PM.

[n2ostroker]

I wet sanded and buffed then used a good marine wax and mine has stayed looking new for the past 3 months. When I wash it I just use a terry cloth and water unless I have a real bad scum line.
Used 800 till the chalk was gone and I only had color. Then moved to 1000 and 1500. Bufed it with a wool pad and 3m perfect it 3000. Then used a cheap Turtle wax polishing compound and a good wax. Has looked good for 3-4 months now. Just wash it with a terry cloth and water. I try not use soap unless the scum line looks bad. Check it out.

[sprblkxx]

Vertglass worked for me real well.