GRP Polishing

[Norfolknick]

Having scanned through the latest edition of YM I noticed they were promoting a valet service for £450 to polish a typical 35' boats GRP.

Not having anywhere near that amount, and routinely still trying to add polish moments before the boat gets put in the cradle for relaunch - I am going to plan ahead this year (yeah right!)

Does anyone have any good tips for polishing up both the hull and the deck? I have a 1988 Sadler 32 which is in pretty good nick. I am looking at investing in a 12v car polisher with a few pads an either some of the old Blue Bottle Mer or Starbrite Polish?

All suggestions welcome...

 

[gjgm]

Having scanned through the latest edition of YM I noticed they were promoting a valet service for £450 to polish a typical 35' boats GRP.

Not having anywhere near that amount, and routinely still trying to add polish moments before the boat gets put in the cradle for relaunch - I am going to plan ahead this year (yeah right!)

Does anyone have any good tips for polishing up both the hull and the deck? I have a 1988 Sadler 32 which is in pretty good nick. I am looking at investing in a 12v car polisher with a few pads an either some of the old Blue Bottle Mer or Starbrite Polish?

All suggestions welcome...

You could scroll down 10 threads...
12v car polisher is totally useless. Cheapest rotary is the Silverline at about £55. A random orbital (maybe a bit more car orientated) about £120, and a pro rotary about £180+.
foam /wool pads £8-30 each.
Compound/polishes £10-15 each 500ml.
And allow 10-20 hours with a decent machine to do it properly

 

[pvb]

Does anyone have any good tips for polishing up both the hull and the deck? I have a 1988 Sadler 32 which is in pretty good nick. I am looking at investing in a 12v car polisher with a few pads an either some of the old Blue Bottle Mer or Starbrite Polish?

All suggestions welcome...

If your boat is in "pretty good nick" as you've said, I'd forget about electric polishers and just spend your money on decent polish and wax and apply them by hand. It needn't take ages, but it depends very much on which products you choose. I do my 35ft boat by hand every couple of years. By far the easiest and most durable products I've found are from Meguiars. I clean the boat, using lots of sudsy water and own-brand "creme cleaner". Then apply Meguiars #45 Boat/RV Polish - it goes on easily and polishes off very easily by hand (although you'll need a copious supply of cotton polishing cloth). Then I repeat the polish. Then I apply Meguiars #56 Boat/RV Pure Wax, which again is very easy to apply and polish off. Then a second coat of that. I can do my 35footer by hand in a couple of days without knocking myself out too much. And it seems to last well, I only do it every 2 years.

 

[alahol2]

I do mine every year using a Farecla foam compounding head and/or sheepskin bonnet on an ordinary electric drill (slowish variable speed). You have to make a spindle for the foam head out of an old bolt.
I also find that a random orbital sanding 'mouse' with a wodge of cloth tied onto the bottom is ideal for compounding/polishing the intricacies of the coachroof/cockpit.
It works for me and doesn't cost a fortune. I'd love to be able to afford a proper rotary polisher but there are more important claims on the cash.