Fixing light scratches in my gelcoat

[antcollins]

Hi,

As the weather gets a bit better I wanted to give the hull on my Beneteau First 211 a good clean and polish.

There are some light dulling/scratches where fenders have rubbed against the pontoon and a couple of light marks here and there. Non are down below the gelcoat. Can anyone recommend a good product to fill them and polish up? Is adding new gelcoat and colour matching the only 'proper' solution?

I suppose I want a tougher version of colour magic that will hide light marks and polish up the hull?

 

[Marsupial]

CIF bath creme on a polishing mop does it for me. (super market own brands a slightly more abrasive and cheaper win win)

if its very bad AJAX powder is good cheap "first cut" remedy - followed by the CIF

finish off with polish

OR spend lots on FARCLA and achieve the same result.

 

[Obi]

I had some heavy tarnishing on my hull from boat yard staff not being that great at handling my yacht. I used 3m cutting paste (like t-cut) there are different levels of how course the cutting compound is, I used the most gentle, I think it was called 1000 or 3000 - a glass fibre specialist will now. I got mine form the GRP guys at Birdham. Then I used staybrite marine polish.
Have a look at the picture here:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=223916

It looked like new. This pic may even be before it was polished.

 

[antcollins]

Cutting paste and elbow grease then?

Thank for the tips on Ajax and CIF Marsupial.

I guess rubbing compound is the obvious solution but I am trying to avoid removing gelcoat! May have to use a light grade though.

 

[markdj]

Depends how deep the scratches are. Here's a corner of a speedboat we are currently restoring...




The only thing that restored this was 320 - 500 - 1200 - farecla marine rubbing compound (2 grades) and it did come up like glass...



But I'd only recommend doing this if you are absolutely sure what you are doing as you can end up with lots of comet tails if you are not careful.

Mark
www.boatdoctorni.com

 

[DipperToo]

Although very sceptical when I saw this at a boat show, it actually works surprisingly well in removing scuff marks and very light scratches.

http://www.marineaglaze.com/eradicator_sponge.asp

My mainsheet came adrift during the winter and all the small scratches and marks on the cockpit coaming were removed using this sponge. I think it has minute particles of melamine in it?

No connection - just a very happy customer.