SoCal Jet Boats
Tech Talk => Gelcoat / Paint / Fireberglass Repair => Topic started by: bcarson on July 24, 2011, 01:55:22 PM
-
I've got a '78 cvx-20 I've been working on, and planned on refinishing the entire boat. This weekend I worked on it a bit and found out I was able to save almost all of the gelcoat below the bumper. It shines like a new boat, and I want to keep it that way for as long as possible. Does anyone have any tips on a product (wax/polish) that might protect it well. Any help is greatly appreciated as I only know of automotive products. Thanks.
-
Same principles apply to boat care. You get a polished finish and then need to cover it with a wax. Most of the "one product" polishes contain a little wax to protect it from sun and the elements. Most sprays for removing water spots have the same.
Go pick up some carnuba and apply it. Then once hazed rub it off. Then from time to time reapply it to protect it.
Pretty much it. I use Mother's Carnuba wax, worked outstanding on Pickle after wet sanding it down and hitting it with rubbing compound. In that state though, we hit it with 3 coats and used a buffer. Hazed up a bit after the BR trip, and felt gritty, so I've hit it again 2 more times. I dunno of the freshly cut gel is absorbing the stuff or what. :screwy:
Ray
-
Thank you for the advice, that sounds simple enough. And you're right, the waxes and polishes that are applied and removed "easily" typically aren't worth a damn. I started on mine with a block and 360 g. And then went to 600, 1000, 1500, and finished with 3000 trizact foam discs all on a DA. I hit it with a wool pad on a 7" makita buffer with a medium cut Norton compound. The shine is amazing and after the first trip out, it seems to have held just fine. I have to get carnuba on it soon though.
-
haha yeah I didn't sand through anywhere. It took something that harsh to cut mine. When I bought the boat, I thought it was blue on top white on bottom... its actually blue on both, that's how chalked out it was. I took an old sticker off it, that's the only reason I even knew. Its also original 78 gelcoat.