CarMan
New member
Just bought a year old Jeanneau Merry Fisher as our first boat and would be grateful for recommendations of a polish to protect topsides and hull please?
Gelcoat polish recommendations please
- Thread starter CarMan
- Start date
orizaba
New member
the best stuff i used was auto glyns ,they use it on show cars etc. it has a small amount of abrasive in it ,it works really well on anything paint ,fibreglass ,goes on really easily and more inportant wipes/polishs of really easily,produces a great shine,if your gel coat is a bit faded it might need 2 goes.and it lasts /protects for ages,
but even if you use it regularily its so easy you don't mind, once you have built up a bit of protection they do a sealer coat version to make it last longer. great product ,maybe not the cheapest but imho one of the best polishs on the market.
available from all motorist shops
but even if you use it regularily its so easy you don't mind, once you have built up a bit of protection they do a sealer coat version to make it last longer. great product ,maybe not the cheapest but imho one of the best polishs on the market.
available from all motorist shops
rovin_turtle
New member
i have a 24 year old Dehler yacht, and recently cut the hull and topsides with 3m Imperial compound and finisher, and topped off with 3m Finesse-It 11 finishing polish. both were relatively easy to apply i used a buffer with compound and polished by hand fantastic finish. Recommended by our shipyard lads and the best the boat has looked since new.
GrowingLad
New member
For the life of me I can't remember the name of the stuff other than it's rated as G3...G5 ect depending on the abrasiveness. They do a sealing polish too. Blooming good stuff.
Nickcf
New member
[ QUOTE ]
For the life of me I can't remember the name of the stuff other than it's rated as G3...G5 ect depending on the abrasiveness. They do a sealing polish too. Blooming good stuff.
[/ QUOTE ]
You mean 'Farecla'. G3 is the usual level for cleaning amd it is excellent. Haven't tried the sealant though.
nick
For the life of me I can't remember the name of the stuff other than it's rated as G3...G5 ect depending on the abrasiveness. They do a sealing polish too. Blooming good stuff.
[/ QUOTE ]
You mean 'Farecla'. G3 is the usual level for cleaning amd it is excellent. Haven't tried the sealant though.
nick
pvb
Well-known member
Meguiars...
You shouldn't need anything abrasive on a year-old boat. Best system I've ever found is Meguiars Boat Polish followed by Meguiars Pure Wax to seal the surface. Best of all, it's really easy to apply by hand! Fox's at Ipswich use it on the Oysters they prepare.
You shouldn't need anything abrasive on a year-old boat. Best system I've ever found is Meguiars Boat Polish followed by Meguiars Pure Wax to seal the surface. Best of all, it's really easy to apply by hand! Fox's at Ipswich use it on the Oysters they prepare.
CarMan
New member
Orizaba, I use nothing else on my cars and agree with everything you say - especially as I am not looking to restore a dull finish. However, I have seen a few comments that suggest you need to be careful about what to use on gelcoat so was nervous of using on the boat?
CarMan
New member
Re: Meguiars...
pvb, I agree it needs nothing abrasive and easy application by hand is a must - I need to polish and then wax?
pvb, I agree it needs nothing abrasive and easy application by hand is a must - I need to polish and then wax?
orizaba
New member
can't see the problem using it on fibreglass ,we used to use it on fibreglass displays etc,it stands the weather etc and i've used it on my hull and the sea and salt don't apear to have affected it.the water still beads off it
i would assume the "need to be carefull on fibreglass" means don't use anything to abrasive as it might scratch it/wear it away .gelcoat on a boat is no different to gelcoat on anything else,its just in a harsher environment,provided you wash her well before polishing to get rid of sand salt etc i don't think it matters in broad terms which polish you use,
g3 is excellent as a restorative but really needs a buffer to apply it.as are also their polishs.
but i still reckon autoglyn is one of the easiest to use, it would be interesting to know if anyone else could think of a reason not to use it on fibreglass though
i would assume the "need to be carefull on fibreglass" means don't use anything to abrasive as it might scratch it/wear it away .gelcoat on a boat is no different to gelcoat on anything else,its just in a harsher environment,provided you wash her well before polishing to get rid of sand salt etc i don't think it matters in broad terms which polish you use,
g3 is excellent as a restorative but really needs a buffer to apply it.as are also their polishs.
but i still reckon autoglyn is one of the easiest to use, it would be interesting to know if anyone else could think of a reason not to use it on fibreglass though
philmayfield
New member
I've used them all over many years and still try others when I see them recommended on this site but I still reckon Autoglym Super Resin Polish is the best for both cars and grp boats. Easy to apply and easy to wipe off. It doesn't leave as much dusty residue as some other polishes. They also do a renovator for dull sufaces.
Gludy
Active member
Use Rejex.
Easy to apply and offers a superb coating with a deeper shine than any wax and last a season.
Intened for helecopters it forms a hard wearing coat that helps cleaning making insects etc easy to wash away.
I have done trilas with it and it really works offering the same type of coating that you can pay many hundreds for whilst costiong next to nothing.
Easy to apply and offers a superb coating with a deeper shine than any wax and last a season.
Intened for helecopters it forms a hard wearing coat that helps cleaning making insects etc easy to wash away.
I have done trilas with it and it really works offering the same type of coating that you can pay many hundreds for whilst costiong next to nothing.
SnaxMuppet
New member
I have a boat that is 6 years old and I would doubt that it has been polished at all during that time.
I would like to bring it back to as near new as I can. Of all these which should I use? Or are there others you'd recommend for a boat that old?
The hull still has a shine but the deck is a dull, powdery-looking finish. It looks shiny when wet but dries dull.
Also, is it worth using an electric, handheld polisher or getting a polishing attachment for my electric drill?
I would like to bring it back to as near new as I can. Of all these which should I use? Or are there others you'd recommend for a boat that old?
The hull still has a shine but the deck is a dull, powdery-looking finish. It looks shiny when wet but dries dull.
Also, is it worth using an electric, handheld polisher or getting a polishing attachment for my electric drill?
Nick_Pam
Member
Arny
Don't use anything attached to a drill...at the very most, buy a low-speed polishing machine....high speed stuff generates far too high internal temperatures in the material...better by hand/arm if you have the muscles and stamina!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Don't use anything attached to a drill...at the very most, buy a low-speed polishing machine....high speed stuff generates far too high internal temperatures in the material...better by hand/arm if you have the muscles and stamina!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
SnaxMuppet
New member
Thanks for that.
I have a friend that has a prooper low speed hand polisher so I'll borrow that I think. It is a 32ft and a bit big for my arms alone /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I have a friend that has a prooper low speed hand polisher so I'll borrow that I think. It is a 32ft and a bit big for my arms alone /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
stefan_r
New member
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MBM or MBY did a study a while back and 3M came out trumps...not used it myself but the photos certainly told a story...was a red/brown hull (I think) and the difference between the original "milky" untreated surface and 3M was like new.
Having said that it was on something a fair few years old and not a new-ish boat.
Having said that it was on something a fair few years old and not a new-ish boat.
orizaba
New member
if you use a polisher most of the polish,cutters recomend that you keep the area wet that you are polishing, worth checking
orizaba
New member
check before using the polish etc wether the surface should be kept wet while you apply it,
some polishs ,restores require this to keep the heat down etc
some polishs ,restores require this to keep the heat down etc
GrowingLad
New member
Arny,
If you can get your hands on a proper polisher go for it. I did mine with a couple of battery drills as I could get the right ishh speed. Although the batteries didn't last too long.
Also, I tended to use a fair amount of water, made the job a lot easier and end result was good....although you and everything else gets covered in crap...
Once dry i'd rub that off with an old t-shirt, go over it again with a damp shirt whilst there was a bit of the g3 powder still on and then polish off with another clean rag...it was my first attempt so I'm no expert but the end result I thought was pretty damn fine on a 30 year old boat.
If you can get your hands on a proper polisher go for it. I did mine with a couple of battery drills as I could get the right ishh speed. Although the batteries didn't last too long.
Also, I tended to use a fair amount of water, made the job a lot easier and end result was good....although you and everything else gets covered in crap...
Once dry i'd rub that off with an old t-shirt, go over it again with a damp shirt whilst there was a bit of the g3 powder still on and then polish off with another clean rag...it was my first attempt so I'm no expert but the end result I thought was pretty damn fine on a 30 year old boat.