help needed best stuff for cleaning dull listless gelcoat

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hawthorn2

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hi there due to my other half having a really bad rta, luckily he made it then had a breakdown the boat has been neglected for a year.

I need to try and bring back to its former life, I realise ive been foolish in leaving so long but had so many things thrown at me this last year, I honestly wish I didn't have it

Someone recommended cif, but I think far too abrasive, then a fellow person recommended oxycelian acid? or something but that soons even harsher.

I would ask my other half but he is in a rather fragile place atm he doesn't realise what the boat looks like.

or am I best in just buying marine stuff, the gelcoat needs restored, got the bottom paint to do as well.

So if I go armed with a pressure washer any thing you guys can recommend, don't mind the hard work involved I just need to try and get it back to way it was, also have vultures preying on me to sell or give boat away when they know you have other things going on.

the boat has lost its lustre,
 
Hi, sorry to hear of you other half's bad year.
The best way to restore dull or faded Gel Coat is to either hand or machine compound followed by machine or hand polish finished with a couple of coats of good wax.

Did mine earlier in the year and took me about 4 days of hard work on a 37" mobo but incredible results. If you don't fancy doing it yourself there are plenty of companies that will do it for you, I would also expect them to anti foul the boat as well.

Hope you get her looking nice and shiny and good luck with his recovery
 
Hi

I have used Farecla G3 rubbing compound and was very impressed as it really brought the dull gel coat to life. It is best to use the machine as the finish is much better than by hand. Either way, it takes lots of hours of hard work!

Most chandlers sell the product but it is very expensive and you can normally pick it up much cheaper at an automotive retailer or online.

After using the compound I wax using MER car polish (bought from halfords etc.) and the overall result has been fantastic.

Good luck,

Joe
 
Hi, sorry to hear of your and your partners troubles. Where is the boat at present? presume she's out of the water. i'm just thinking that rather than you do this work with the stresses you're currently going through, maybe a couple of willing forumites with a kind heart and some spare time can get your boat looking good again with half a days work on the gelcoat with a rotary polisher and compound leaving you to go over with a coat of wax at your leisure. With all respect, a rotary polisher in the inexperienced hands can end up damaging the gelcoat (brown burn marks etc). Hand waxing on the other hand holds no risk.

cheers Gary
 
oGaryo said:
Hi, sorry to hear of your and your partners troubles. Where is the boat at present? presume she's out of the water. i'm just thinking that rather than you do this work with the stresses you're currently going through, maybe a couple of willing forumites with a kind heart and some spare time can get your boat looking good again with half a days work on the gelcoat with a rotary polisher and compound leaving you to go over with a coat of wax at your leisure. With all respect, a rotary polisher in the inexperienced hands can end up damaging the gelcoat (brown burn marks etc). Hand waxing on the other hand holds no risk.


cheers Gary
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+1 for Gary's suggestion would be happy to lend a hand if local ish to Devon
 
Do not use CIF on the gelcoat, this is too abrasive. You can use marine or auto compounds. I used Farecla this year, and was really impressed, then waxed/polished with Sliverywax. Got a fantastic finish.
 
thanks guys, for kind offer, I just need a plan too tackle it,

im up north too far away, and probably to cold lol

But I don't mind hard work

, have family now going to help, just the boat hasn't been a priority, infact had it at bottom of list, at times wish I didn't have it at all.

Was down last week, it had been broken into gps taken etc totally gutted, marina useless they not bothered aslong as getting mooring fees. realise should of removed them but I aint technically minded had hoped it would be safe in marina, just grateful it wasn't trashed inside.


I think some people prey on you when vunerable.

unfortunately the boat has been left in water, I don't even know how it will be mechanically, was supposed to have someone start engines but was let down, so batteries at best probably need replacing imagine seacocks stuck on, will probably need tow out for lift, but im now having nightmares that need new engines.

I will get some of that farecla stuff what grade is best??? have seen it at auto shops.

I got told boat meant bring out another thousand and so true it is.

I just need best tips to try and get boat back to its former glory,

cant afford to pay someone to do it when its basically elbow grease, and knowledge on best application, as money tight atm as he has been unable to work, and it aint good when self employed. BUt hey I have to look on bright side he nearly died and has made a great recovery but still away to go.
 
hawthorn2 said:
the boat has been neglected for a year.

I need to try and bring back to its former life,
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A year isn't that long, especially in the sun starved north, and most boats only get polished once a year anyway, if that. Have you washed it with hot soapy water yet to see what you're dealing with?

Assuming all it needs is a good polish, I guess you're looking for the most bang for buck in terms of cost and elbow grease, so i'd use something like this that's reasonably abrasive and has a wax included. The boat wont look like a showroom Ferrari, but will have a nice gloss finish with relatively little effort.

http://www.3mdirect.co.uk/p-2568-bo...s-restorer-and-wax-1-litre-bottle-09006e.aspx

It doesn't have to be 3M, most manufacturers offer something similar, and there's nothing to tell between them in my opinion.
 
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hawthorn2 said:
so am I best washing in hot soapy water first then go with that rather than the g3.

whats the best in polish and wax?
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try caravan cleaner first and see how you get on with that to remove the surface muck. if there are any rust stains then oxalic acid will shift it, don't worry, it's fine to use on the GRP and stainless fittings. what colour is the boat GRP, all white or coloured? may be an idea to post some pictures up here to gain specific advice on the extent of any oxidation, coloured GRP tends to suffer more than white
 
now been looking at farecla stuff the 3g stuff seems to be for car, it comes in liquid paste form, they do have a marine section but imagine price be a lot more.

have some caravan cleaner, will that be similar to boat shampoo.

boat is off white.

bit wary of using the oxalic acid, sounds scary the acid lol


any tips for cleaning vinyl seating
 
hawthorn2 said:
now been looking at farecla stuff the 3g stuff seems to be for car, it comes in liquid paste form, they do have a marine section but imagine price be a lot more.

have some caravan cleaner, will that be similar to boat shampoo.

boat is off white.

bit wary of using the oxalic acid, sounds scary the acid lol


any tips for cleaning vinyl seating
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As Gary says, caravan shampoo is great stuff. You are OK to use auto paste, as long as you are sensible and don't go through the gelcoat. Oxalic acid is also fine to use, as long as you quickly wash it off any metal parts. It is a very mild acid, naturally found in rhubarb. You can buy it off E Bay for not a lot. Some of us use it for cleaning teak decking.
 
might give it a wash with caravan cleaner first.

in rhubarb cant be that bad then lol.

I don't mind hard work, just wondering the best steps to take, just want to do job right first time.

is it worth using the farecla marina stuff rather than g3 car stuff as imagine its for metal
 
hawthorn2 said:
so am I best washing in hot soapy water first then go with that rather than the g3.

whats the best in polish and wax?
Click to expand...

If it hasn't been touched for a year or more then definitely the first thing to do is give it a good wash with hot water and washing up liquid. You'll need to clean it before you polish anyway, so you've not wasted any time. After that it depends how professional you want the finish to look and how much time you're prepared to spend on it. I'd gathered from your original post that the boat is a bit of a millstone, and you just want to get it looking good to either sell it, or to give hubby a lift as he's been through a tough time. On that basis I recommended a product that will give quick results and leave some wax protection afterwards.
 
if doing it want it to be as professional as possible, for a novice if that's possible.

its me dad he is retired and now in good health, his friends have said they will call down and see him, as long as weather ok lol

hes just never been on a boat before, not a lover of water.

I just need to buy the right stuff and give them a step by step guide to do.(idiots guide)
 
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