Gel coat?

[greg988]

Hi all,
I've had my CP 16 for almost three years now and it works perfectly.  I have noticed the shine of the gel coat is not as shiny as when I first got her.  And there are some scuffs from my learning to dock smoothly.  A couple questions for the more experienced compac owners: 

1.  How do I know when it's time to reapply a gel coat?

2.  How do I apply a gel coat in the areas the boat sits on the trailer?

3.  Is it worth it to have it professionally done vs DIY?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Greg

[PJ]

Sounds like simple oxidation of the gel coat.  Take a small amount of McGuire's rubbing compound and gently work a 6inch square of the gel coat for a minute or so.  Let dry to glaze and wipe off.  Did it bring back the finish?  If so, repeat on the entire area, then wax to your previous  shine from three years ago.  You may not even need the rubbing compound, sometimes a great wax application is all you need.

[Tim Gardner]

Hey Greg,

My 30+ yr old 19 had a badly oxidized gelcoat when she acquired me.  I bought a product called New Glass 2.  Followed the instructions except that I used 1000 Wet or dry sandpaper to remove scuff marks before applying.  My boat generally resides 365 d/yr on whips beside my floating dock in full Virginia sunlight.  Not FL Keys strong but much harsher than Snow Belt sun.  Every two years, I yank my boat out, Pressure wash, inspect and repaint the bottom, then re-apply the New Glass to the still (7-8 out of 10) still shiny hull above the waterline and smooth topsides.  I get complements all the time on how beautiful this sailboat is. 

Here's the link.  Read all the reviews, some people didn't have the same results as me.  BTW, a single kit is good for 2 full coatings on a 19, and scuff touchups in between coatings.  (My wife has renamed me "Scuffy"  I prefer "Capt. Bumper Boat").

https://www.amazon.com/New-Glass-Fiberglass-Compounding-Beautifier/dp/B00UQOMB1Q/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

TG

[wes]

Agree with all of the above, and would also note that you cannot really recreate the factory gel coat by applying new gel coat, since boats are made from the inside out (original gel coat is sprayed into a female mold and the layers of fiberglass are applied on top). In my experience the solution to gelcoat so damaged that none of the polishing products will work is paint, not new gelcoat. A properly applied two part polyurethane paint like Awlgrip will last a decade or more.

Wes

[greg988]

Thank you all!  I think my gel coat is still effective, looks like she's just needs a good polish!  Any suggestions on how to polish her up on the boat sections that sit on the trailer?

[Ken J]

I like 3m restorer and wax 3m ultra performance paste wax - my fiberglass guy likes Presta ultra polish - never wax below water line - it will actually make the boat go slower

[Reighnman]

Youtube has some great videos on the various levels of compounding, polishes and waxes. I've never had any luck with polishes but do love Collinite boat cleaner and 845 wax. I use a buffing machine but hand application works too. There's a ton of information on this site about compounding and waxing.  I would clean the hull with soap and water, then use a prep cleaner to remove residues. Some people use paint thinner or other solvents to get the hull bare. If simple cleaning and waxing doesn't do the trip, start with the least aggressive compound and work your way down to the more aggressive stuff like heavy duty compounds. Make sure to clean/change pad/rag as needed if you compound. Best of luck!

[jdklaser]

I like the old Texan Fred Schroth's number 2 pencil finish.  grab a No. 2 pencil.  scribble/art all over hull or area , start with 1200 wed/dri  go one way remove all pencil marks, go back to pencil repeat with 1200 sand to 90 degrees of first sand then 1400 and  1600 and repeat always at 90 degrees to last sand.  polish and and wax.