Gel coat detailing

[badluck]

Now that the the upholstery thread is pointing me in the right direction. What are people using to detail gel coat? I have a Makita car polisher. What pads and what products?

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Now that the the upholstery thread is pointing me in the right direction. What are people using to detail gel coat? I have a Makita car polisher. What pads and what products?

Fresh crisp hundreds paid to the detail shop

 

[RiverDave]

Now that the the upholstery thread is pointing me in the right direction. What are people using to detail gel coat? I have a Makita car polisher. What pads and what products?

How oxidized is it? I always used 3M products that I bought down at Harbor Freight (or other places) and medium / fine pads depending on oxidation.. Always use a little bit of water while you are doing it.. (mist the pads)

RD

 

[badluck]

Not really oxidation but more water spots and grey looks like it has a tan hue to it

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Not really oxidation but more water spots and grey looks like it has a tan hue to it

On amazon they sell some "kits" that have a series of pads. I don't remember the exact ones I bought but I used them on my last saltwater boat and it wasn't crazy expensive to get...

 

[hallett21]

Fresh crisp hundreds paid to the detail shop

I’ve bought all the gear and products. And it’s worth every cent to have a pro do it. I’ll spend 6 hours on the boat and be pissed at the outcome. I’ve accepted I don’t know what I’m doing and I’ll just work a little harder at my job lol.

 

[Havasu Rehab]

Here’s a classic.

 

[Gelcoater]

Not really oxidation but more water spots and grey looks like it has a tan hue to it

Does it have pearl of flex in it?
May not be the grey, but the clear yellowing.

 

[hallett21]

Does it have pearl of flex in it?
May not be the grey, but the clear yellowing.

If you’re shooting a new boat for someone that plans on keeping it for 30+ years is there anything you can do to help extend the “detail” life?

Could shoot extra clear so that the boat has more cut and buffs in its life? Or can you only shoot that layer so thick?

 

[badluck]

Does it have pearl of flex in it?
May not be the grey, but the clear yellowing.

?

 

[badluck]

The white seems a bit yellow

 

[F.U.IRS]

Is a clay bar useful on Gelcoat?

 

[boater250s]

 

[Justsomeguy]

if its light defects, wake up with an hdo orange foam pad will work. Thats what i plan to do this year. Heavier oxidation or defects I use chop top or flat top on gel.

Wake-Up - 32oz

Remove stubborn water spots & oxidation, add gloss & protection in one step. The hot summer sun is brutal and quickly breaks down traditional waxes. Wake Up is your answer for great protection, whether your boat is new or old. Wake Up ceramic fortified one-step polish & protection is loaded...

shinesupply.com

 

[wzuber]

Lots of good video's and info on youtube to learn from. It's easy to burn your gel/paint etc. By going at it the wrong way. A little time investment there will yield major dividends in the end......
Good luck.

 

[Gelcoater]

?

The grey you say has a tan hue to it.
Does it have pearl or flake?

 

[Gelcoater]

If you’re shooting a new boat for someone that plans on keeping it for 30+ years is there anything you can do to help extend the “detail” life?

Could shoot extra clear so that the boat has more cut and buffs in its life? Or can you only shoot that layer so thick?

Laying down extra won’t stop the UV inhibitors from failing.
Some clears seem to last more than others but doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to which.

Many people come in wanting pearl white. We have to float the pearl in clear.
It never presents as true white compared to out of the can white. Always a yellow or brown tint to it.
Seems to show on lighter shades of gray as well.

 

[counterpart7]

if its light defects, wake up with an hdo orange foam pad will work. Thats what i plan to do this year. Heavier oxidation or defects I use chop top or flat top on gel.

Wake-Up - 32oz

Remove stubborn water spots & oxidation, add gloss & protection in one step. The hot summer sun is brutal and quickly breaks down traditional waxes. Wake Up is your answer for great protection, whether your boat is new or old. Wake Up ceramic fortified one-step polish & protection is loaded...

shinesupply.com

I second this. By far the best results I have seen on heavily oxidized gel!

Wake Up is a Ceramic Wax. Apply it once or twice a season and your wipe downs will be easier than ever. I typically wait until I get home, rinse with hose water and it wipes down with basically no water spots.

 

[rivermobster]

I’ve bought all the gear and products. And it’s worth every cent to have a pro do it. I’ll spend 6 hours on the boat and be pissed at the outcome. I’ve accepted I don’t know what I’m doing and I’ll just work a little harder at my job lol.

X1000

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[DarkHorseRacing]

I have a DeWalt dual action polisher and I use all the meguiars products for gel coat oxidation, polishing and wax.

It’s not perfect but it’s damn close. People don’t believe me when I tell them it’s an older boat.

 

[badluck]

What will acetone do to gel coat?

 

[Yoshiro]

I was having trouble getting the desired results on my Nordic. Then I found the right combo. A DA orbital polisher with a Rupes Bigfoot medium wool pad (Amazon) and 3M perfect it polish with wax. Finding the right speed was the key too. My gel is getting very thin in spots as the boat is old so I have to be careful, so I use a polish and go lightly. I'm no pro but was pleased as it looks great outside.

Before and after shots.

 

[RiverDave]

The white seems a bit yellow

If it has that pearl in it from the late 90's early 2000's you are fucked.. That was a Mfg defect. My old 270 was turning yellow and there's nothing you can do about it other than Regel the damn boat. It was the single biggest reason I sold the boat.

RD