Tools for making gelcoat shine (Continued)
Rubbing a boat out by hand is a real work out, so to save time and ease the pain we also suggest you use an
orbital or low speed circular electric buffer with a set of quality compounding bonnets. If you plan on polishing
the boat while it is in the water, we suggest the buffer be of the non-corded rechargeable
type, or the GFCI-
protected Shurhold 3100 (Model 11034675), as water and electricity are a dangerous combination!
Clean and inspect the surface
Start the restoration process with a complete wash down using an aggressive cleaner-degreaser such as
Pure Oceans Heavy-Duty Boat Soap
. After rinsing, dry with a chamois and inspect for rust or mineral stains.
To remove obvious staining or to brighten the topsides as a whole, try using Pure Oceans Fiberglass Stain
Remover. Now is the time to inspect for scratches, dings, cracking and crazing and to fix these flaws before
rubbing out the gelcoat and restoring its shine. Note: A good reference on fiberglass repairs is “The Illustrated
Sailboat Maintenance Manual”, by Don Casey, (Model 7732357) and the WEST SYSTEM “How-To” DVD
(Model 9138439).
Power buffing
Depending on the level of oxidation, polishing/compounding and waxing can be a one- or two-step process.
Either can be done by hand or electric buffer, the latter being what we recommend. When using a power
buffer, apply gentle pressure and always keep the machine moving. Pressing too hard or allowing the ma-
chine to remain on one spot for too long will result in “burn through” and possible gelcoat damage. Work small
areas in a systematic manner and don’t move on until each area is done. Molded-in non-skid should not be
polished, compounded or waxed. Instead, it should be simply washed/degreased and brightened per the
stain removal procedure described above.
Abrasives
Before making a product selection, it is important to understand that polishes and rubbing compounds use
abrasives to smooth the pitted surface of porous gelcoat and restore the shine. Each time these products are
used, some of the gelcoat is removed. Care should be taken to use the least aggressive product that will get
the job done. Frequently, where little or no oxidation exists, all that may be needed is to apply a protective
coating of wax, such as 3M Ultra Performance Wax (Model 306540).
Cleaners, restorers and waxes
Whenever possible, we like to recommend liquid one-step products that combine a polish or compound with a
wax-after all, why spend all day on a project when you can finish the job in half the time! Outstanding one-
step products include NanoTec Fiberglass Cleaner Wax
and 3M Restorer & Wax (Model 149395). These
products remove oxidation, and protect the gelcoat in one easy step, so you can get on to better things like
having fun on your boat!
4-14 4-14
Maintaining Your Boat’s Gelcoat Finish (Continued)
Storage And Commissioning
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