Gel coat chalking

[Stephenbe]

Hi;
      I just bought a CP 19 it was built in 1982 hull # 34.
The boat is in solid condition but the anti skid in the cockpit and on deck has quite a lot of chalking on the gel coat. I have sailed for many years in older boats but i have never seen a good answer for this can anyone help?

[Johann]

Hello there.

The best thing I found for chalking Gel-coat (which is not showing any cracks in it) would be a product called Vertglas. You could do a Google search to discover your own favorite vendor. A co-worker used it on his 1986 speedboat this summer and it worked pretty well.

As usual, no affiliation, results may vary, etc...

Johann.

[B.Hart]

hi stephen, my methods are labor intense but have showen good results. I compound the boat with a large buffer {nonskid and all} then wax every thing but the nonskid. the buffing will remove the chalk. This method brought back the finish on my 30 year old beauty.

[spaul]

Hi Stephen,
The folks that sell Poly-Glow (similar product to Vertglass) also sell a fiberglass cleaner that is second to none. I've got Polyglow on my boat now and the prep is to clean with the polyglow cleaner. I'm a chemist and have never seen anything quite like this. It is concentrated so a dilution makes a bunch of liquid, more than enough to clean your boat. This stuff removes all the chalk in record time with very little elblow grease. It also takes off stains and bug crap and black marks. Then you can buff the boat more easily without having to work through the chalking. If buffing doesn't clean up the gel coat surface, then put Poly glow or Vertglass on, it's an easy application and only requires touch up each year.
Vertglass and PolyGlow are an acrylic emulsion exactly like acrylic floor wax except they have a UV inhibitor to extend their life under the Sun. I recommend them for older boats, they made mine look 10 years younger.

Good luck and enjoy your new boat.
Steve Paul
Nashville, IN

[Stephenbe]

Thanks for the replies I will check on these products next time I get a chance.