Gel coat question

[gtmoore]

Some advice please.

My Moody is over 20 years old and the deck and cockpit area gel coat is in pretty good condition. When I use Wipe Out or other oxalic acid to clean it it comes up like new (sort of). My problem is that after a couple of weeks (or 1 day out with the family dropping food and applying sunscreen!) it looks dreadful. There are grubby smudges and stains everywhere. The gelcoat has a sort of matt feel and it's as if the surface isn't smooth enough to let the dirt roll off. I've tried various polishes but nothing seems to help. Do I need something stronger like a rubbing compound with an electric mop to bring the shiny surface back or is it something one just has to live with when owning an older boat.

Cheers

<hr width=100% size=1>Gavin

 

[david_e]

Either live with it or get it resprayed/painted.

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[Guest]

found the same prob with mine, the previous had used jif!
fine cleaner but leaves minute scratches which fill up with dirt, 3M fibreglass cleaner and restorer is the answer, has very fine cutting paste in it which polishes out the deeper scratches and it contains a wax which makes it shine, it takes for ever to do but it will bring it up as new and then 3M wax on top and it will stay like that
stu

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[andy_wilson]

Use Farecla (C45 I think is the right grade for GRP).

Obtained from specialist car body refinishing suppliers.

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[Moose]

Totally agree, use the 3M stuff, it is expensive but it works,,,,well,,,,very well....e.t.c

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El Alce

 

[SDR]

I think I bought the 3M restorer/wax stuff a few weeks ago in Port Solent, but on returning to m'boat I found that I couldn't quite bring myself to open it! It was covered in so many dire warnings about cancer, hair loss, socialism and what-not that it seemed I may as well just cut to the chase and enjoy a nice pint of bleach.

Does this sound like the same stuff recommended here?! If so, is it really that good (at restoring shine, not killing - better than the terribly boring T-cut I've used to date?) and are 3M being overly American about the warnings, or are we all about to suffer what the cigarette packets promise us (a slow and painful death)?!

Any thoughts appreciated, from this world or the next....


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