First experiences of Gtechniq coating

[scubaman]

Up to now I’ve loyally trusted 3M Marine Paste Wax to provide the final protection for the grp, but after reading MarineReflections excellent product review (http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...94535&mode=linear&highlight=Dulon#post5494535) I decided to find out myself what this nano fuss was all about. I’ve just returned from the boat applying the product, so I thought I’d share my experiences so far.

First off, here is what I bought:

- Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light, 50 ml (‘Light’ indicating a slightly stepped down product for ‘prosumers’)
- Gtechniq EXO v3, 50 ml
- Gtechniq Panel Wide 5 ltrs (for degreasing)
- misc items; two dozens of microfibre cloths, applicator pads, spray bottle, etc.

This kit came down very close to 400€ which I thought was quite expensive.

To prepare the surface, I used 3M Extra Fine Plus polish (yellow cap) which helped in removing the dirt from the surface. The boat is moored practically in the middle of Helsinki which doesn’t really contribute to a clean boat. Neither does the neighbour who uses his wood burning stove to heat the sauna on his boat on a regular basis, but let’s not go there… So, the boat was filthy but came out ok.

Next I wiped the whole boat with the Panel Wipe to remove any 3M residue from the previous step.

I then proceeded to apply the Crystal Serum as per their instructions and using the applicator pad provided. Considering the tiny amount of serum in the bottle, the pad is massive. I discarded the pad and bought non-lint make up remover pads, which worked fine.

The 50 ml bottle was almost enough for the super structure of my 43 ft boat. Almost.

Next up was EXO, which lasted a lot longer and I still have maybe 10 ml left.

Both products were easy to use, but the thing was that with only 50 ml to play with, you are counting drops to make it last, whereas with paste wax you can splash it around like there is no tomorrow which makes it faster.

The finish certainly looked and felt good. I’m looking forward to easier wash downs, etc. but I’m not sure what happens this time next year. I’m expecting the coating to last reasonably well, but can’t foresee a miracle in that there wouldn’t be a layer of contaminants on the surface which would again take a polish to remove, which would mean a new application of coating… We’ll see.

Here are some pics of the finished item:

 

[MapisM]

the neighbour who uses his wood burning stove to heat the sauna on his boat

LOL, I would think that you are joking, if it weren't that I have seen that in some boats, around your cruising grounds...!

Anyway, for what can be said from the pics, the gelcoat is absolutely as nice as you would find it in any brand new boat at a boat show - VERY well done! :encouragement:
Out of curiosity K, can you tell the ballpark amount of manpower hours it took to complete the job?

 

[rafiki_]

Nice shine!

 

[Pinnacle]

Looks great K!

 

[scubaman]

Thank you gentlemen for the kind words.

To be honest, there are some imperfections in the gelcoat which I left out of the pic (as I did the grey teak ). But overall, it looks pretty nice.

P, it took about 26 hours to finish the superstructure.

 

[MapisM]

P, it took about 26 hours to finish the superstructure.

Well, it's actually less that I would have thought, considering the number of "passages", so to speak.

Just to double check if I understood correctly:
1. cleaning with 3m polish
2. wipe out of 3m polish
3. application of Crystal Serum
4. application of EXO

Or am I missing anything else - maybe some other wiping in between?

 

[Trundlebug]

Yes looking good scubaman, I too used the same Gtechniq products earlier in March and I was quite pleased with the results afterwards.
Can't post pics at the mo but might try later if I get a chance. The lighting wasn't very good when I took them so I didn't think it showed up as well as it could (getting excuses in early..).

Having gone round and round the boat repeatedly in a day to get all the treatments on correctly, my arms were aching for days afterwards, but I'm hoping all the effort will save me having to re-polish the hull 3-4 times during the season.

I haven't seen the boat for the last 2 and a half weeks, it's been away having the windows re-sealed. Looking forward to getting it back all done and ready for the season, and enjoying an Easter break on her.

 

[scubaman]

Sorry for the delayed reply, been on the road since 05:30.

P, the boat was washed down when it was lifted out in october and brought into the shed. Before starting, I wiped the whole boat with a damp cloth to remove dust from the surface. From there on the process went as per your post.

TB, I can certainly relate to your ache, although I found using these products slightly easier on the arms (compared to waxes) as you need to apply very little pressure when buffing. But yes, it is a lot of work with difficult working positions. Would't want to start over any time soon.

I hope you get to enjoy the boat over easter and would love to see pics of it.

 

[pks1702]

Looks a great finish SM.

Like you I was very interested the the results of Marine Reflections tests.

Be interested to see what you think in the coming months.

 

[MapisM]

P, the boat was washed down when it was lifted out in october and brought into the shed.
Before starting, I wiped the whole boat with a damp cloth to remove dust from the surface. From there on the process went as per your post.

Thanks K, good to know.
Btw, I was asking because the boat I'm going to buy could definitely use such treatment, and I am considering to give it a try myself.
Just another Q in this respect, is it essential to have the boat sheltered for doing a proper job, or is it OK to do it in several dry and sunny days, even if at night all the surfaces are bound to get wet, in between?

 

[henryf]

A wood burning hot tub on a boat. You don't see many of those in Monaco during GP weekend !!

Having your boat in the shed is a lovely way to do the surface work. You don't get interrupted and don't have to keep going backwards. Mentally I think you approach the job more scientifically. The results look good and if my experience is anything to go by you will see results.

Our supplier specifically warns against using large / microfibre cloths to apply. They soak up product at an alarming and very expensive rate. You supplier should have given you small make-up type applicator pads.

No you don't have to apply inside but it makes the job a lot easier. We have done it both ways (inside & out).

Henry

 

[scubaman]

Lol, It was a sauna stove . Not that they would be any more common in Monaco, but saunas on boats are quite popular around here as MapisM says. Great fun to have one on a boat but not very neighbour friendly. Below is an example of a modified Island Gypsy.

The microfibre cloths were for buffing. There were applicator pads included but they were, in my view, unnecessarily bulky (maybe 6 cm's dia and 1,5 cm's thick) and absorbed way too many of those precious drops without giving enough back. The regular make-up type pads are very thin by comparison and imho more suitable for the purpose. In fact, looking at one of their youtube vids, they were using these thin ones as well which leads me to think that the thicker pads provided in the package are just there to boost sales.

 

[Freeloader]

Last year I tried the Dulon 1 & 2 sealants that also came out well in the Marine Reflections test. This stuff is WAY cheaper, goes a long way, is very easy to apply and lasted very well on all white GRP areas of the hull and decks - it kept beading water for months. At several hundred Euros for a tiny bottle of the Gtechniq, I would be constantly worried about knocking it over! With the Dulon, I simply mix a small quantity of the two parts together in a small plastic bottle and it is then pretty much unspillable but, equally, no great loss if it were to go over the side...

 

[henryf]

We use very thin applicator pads.

In a former life I had a girlfriend who's dad had a wood burning stove on a coastal boat kept around Frinton on Sea. Sadly she broke my heart whilst camping some time later

I lived on a boat for a number of years with a wood burner and indeed built a 70 foot narrow boat with a Morsø Squirrel providing heat. I still have an identical stove in our sitting room at home. I'm not sure Princess are thinking of adding "multi fuel stove heating system" to the options list in the immediate future

Henry

 

[scubaman]

I'm not sure Princess are thinking of adding "multi fuel stove heating system" to the options list in the immediate future

Henry

How about "Bioenergy onboard comfort package". Would sound very socially acceptable.

Saunas on GRP boats are not that common for their sometimes self-igniting tendencies. They tend to be found typically on 'Dutch type' steel boats.

 

[henryf]

How about "Bioenergy onboard comfort package". Would sound very socially acceptable.

Now that does sound good.

All we need to do is form a company which has an unpronounceable Nordic name and sell special wood which is actually just the stuff Ikea couldn't use.

This time next year we will be millionaires. What could possible go wrong ?

I'll start looking for a company jet.....


Henry

 

[jrudge]

There is also a spray on coating by the same people. I used to do the squadron 65 in about an hour and the water sheeted off for about 3 months. About £30 a litre from memory.

Quick cheap and very effective.

 

[scubaman]

Now that does sound good.

All we need to do is form a company which has an unpronounceable Nordic name and sell special wood which is actually just the stuff Ikea couldn't use.

This time next year we will be millionaires. What could possible go wrong ?

I'll start looking for a company jet.....


Henry

Brilliant! I can so see the promotional vids of it all.

I'm already browsing San Lorenzo's site for my next yacht...

 

[scubaman]

There is also a spray on coating by the same people. I used to do the squadron 65 in about an hour and the water sheeted off for about 3 months. About £30 a litre from memory.

Quick cheap and very effective.

That would probably be the Liquid Crystal?

Their web site states 8 months protection vs. 3 - 5 years for the Crystal Serum Light, but impossible to tell what that would mean in real life. Otoh, the easiness of application is a big bonus, so assuming that the surface stays in A1 condition for, say, 2 months, one could repeat the process bi-monthly and stay on top of things without having to go back to cleaning with polish. Maybe someone could give it a try?

 

[Dino]

Interesting discussion. I recently started restoring a Broom 37 Continental from the 1970's. It's bare gelcoat and needed serious gelcoat restoration. I filled and sanded a lot of scratches and then I went over a lot of the hull with wet & dry sandpaper. I went looking for a good range of compound and polish/wax and thought about going with the Farecla Profile range. It's not stocked locally and a lot of online retailers didn't have everything I needed in stock. So I looked further and discovered Nanotech Marine online. The reviews seemed good and after a phonecall I got great advice and put in an order. I also got a rotary polisher and lambswool and foam pads. The hull needed a lot of compounding but it really came up well. Then I polished it and it gave it a great shine. The biggest improvement was with the compound called Speed Cut as the hull was very badly oxidised.
My next job is to apply their Nanotechnology Yacht Shield http://www.nanotechsst.co.uk/Protective-Coatings/Yacht-Shield-250ml.html
I'm guessing it is something like the products mentioned. I tested a small area of the hull and the microfiber soaked up too much of the product and I couldn't really see the haze that it should leave. Maybe it was too cold out. So I will try a wax applicator pad or a cotton make-up removal pad this weekend as the temperatures are due to rise.
I have no connection with the company but I am very happy with the results so far. The couple who run the business are very helpful.