SoCal Jet Boats
Tech Talk => Gelcoat / Paint / Fireberglass Repair => Topic started by: CenCalCruiser on August 19, 2009, 09:50:54 PM
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Alright guys, heres the deal. The guy I purchased my boat from was the second owner and only had the boat about a year before selling it to me. The orig. owner kept the boat on a private dock on a private lake the majority of the year for the first few years he had it. The guy barely used it and it just sat there! There is a distinct water line that has turned part of the orig. navy blue gelcoat a baby blue color. When I run my finger over the water line, there is a layer of "scum" that has covered the orig gelcoat.
I called a buddy who works for 3m marine tech and he said that its a "heavy oxidation" which is caused from sitting in the water for a long duration of time. He recommended I use a specialized imperial rubbing compound of theirs with a 100% wool pad. He says it is designed for removing 600-800 grit sand paper swirls from gel-coats. He then told me to use a high quality wax to follow up on. It should be here Friday so I'll post a few pictures of before and after. I really hope it works.
Also, I have another paint/gelcoat issue that I will address as soon as I try and solve this one. Hopefully one of you guys can lend a few ideas.
Anybody ever gone through a process like this?
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Alright guys, heres the deal. The guy I purchased my boat from was the second owner and only had the boat about a year before selling it to me. The orig. owner kept the boat on a private dock on a private lake the majority of the year for the first few years he had it. The guy barely used it and it just sat there! There is a distinct water line that has turned part of the orig. navy blue gelcoat a baby blue color. When I run my finger over the water line, there is a layer of "scum" that has covered the orig gelcoat.
I called a buddy who works for 3m marine tech and he said that its a "heavy oxidation" which is caused from sitting in the water for a long duration of time. He recommended I use a specialized imperial rubbing compound of theirs with a 100% wool pad. He says it is designed for removing 600-800 grit sand paper swirls from gel-coats. He then told me to use a high quality wax to follow up on. It should be here Friday so I'll post a few pictures of before and after. I really hope it works.
Also, I have another paint/gelcoat issue that I will address as soon as I try and solve this one. Hopefully one of you guys can lend a few ideas.
Anybody ever gone through a process like this?
Before using an abrasive, I think I would try CLR or Lime Away first, just to make sure it just was not scale.
It is probably just oxidized, but you never know. :-\
I would recommend doing a very small area first...That will keep you from busting your ass for little results... :thumbup:
GT
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Ya. I have some sitting under the sink...I'll throw some on a small spot tomorrow morning and see what happens. I really don't know if the orig. colors going to come back even after doing the buff process. It just seems a bit too gone!