SAILFISH 276 DC | GEL COAT
Your Boat’s Gel Coat Finish
Congratulations! You are the proud
owner of a new Sailfish. You are also
the owner of a new gel coat finish on
the hull and/or topside, and we would
like you to be as proud of it as we are.
That beautiful, shiny new color you love
is the result of many years of gel coat
research, testing and development.
But as proud as we are of the gel
coat, no finish is totally impervious to
chemicals and weathering. Imagine
what a brand new car could look like if
allowed to sit at a marina for years with
no cover and no washing or waxing.
With the same minimum maintenance
you would ordinarily give your new
automobile’s finish, your boat’s gel coat
finish will retain its depth of color and
gloss for years.
Overall Maintenance
Normal maintenance of your gel
coated fiberglass boat is similar to the
care you would give your automobile.
Overall, automotive cleaners and waxes
work fine, as well as the marine clean-
ers and waxes.
Note: Do not use caustic or highly
alkaline (high pH) cleaners or those
containing ammonia. These type of
cleaners may darken white or off-
white weathered gel coat surfaces. A
chemical reaction producing staining
occurs if these type of cleaners are
used on weathered gel coat. However,
the stain may be removed with a
rubbing compound or by lightly sanding
with 400 grit sandpaper followed by an
application of rubbing compound and a
thorough waxing.
Cleaning
We recommend general washing to
avoid soil build-up and staining. The soil
to your gel coat is the result of regular
use and environmental pollutants such
as soot and smog. Periodic cleaning
with a mild detergent is necessary to
remove normal deposits of soil.
Waxing
From constant exposure over time to
our natural environment and undesired
pollutants, the gel coat begins to lose
its gloss. To restore your finish to the
original gloss and color requires your
special attention. After washing with a
mild soap or detergent, give the surface
a good polishing with a self-cleaning
marine or automotive wax. Waxing in
the fall and spring is generally recom-
mended to maintain and restore most
of the original gloss. If the surface has
not been maintained and has weath-
ered badly, and if cleaning and waxing
does not restore the finish satisfactori-
ly, compounding will be required.
Compounding
Please see your marine dealer for
advice. Polishing and compound (fine
abrasive) or rubbing compound (coars-
er abrasive) is recommended for use on
fiberglass boats to remove scratches,
stains, or a severely weathered surface.
Polishing or rubbing compound can be
applied by hand or by pneumatic buffer.
After the scratched, stained or weath-
ered surface has been moved, it should
be waxed to enhance the gloss and
color while providing a seal to retard
staining or new soil accumulation.
Discoloration Removal
Your marine dealer is best equipped
and trained to do this work. If regular
washing and waxing has been neglect-
ed, discoloration of the gel coated
fiberglass surface may occur.
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