Regular compounding can’t be a good thing, I never use a cutting compound unless absolutely necessary. Polish only. The key to longevity, I think, is multiple coats of wax. Never wash with detergent.
I wouldn’t use an abrasive unless definitely needed. As I said, my topsides still only need cleaning and waxing after 22 years but my HR blue line went a bit dull from ten years ago. The ultimate cure for this is to overpaint it, as many have done, so I started using a cutting compound from that time and have got it back to looking pretty good through the season, in fact it doesn’t look noticeably dull even now. My reasoning was that I can be as rough as I wish because the worst that could happen is that it will need painting, which would have happened anyway.
It depends very much on the quality of the gelcoat. I have seen a number of dark blue Beneteaus where after a number of years the colour faded to a much lighter blue, while at the same time the gelcoat became dull.
Sorry for the delay, I am having trouble pasting the link. Its something like the one in the link below but slightly higher. The allow tubes are quite thin and light which is good but may be a bit light for commercial use. It should be on view at Kip Marina and also in the shed at JWD some time from Feb onwards.
I met a chap earlier in the year who had just taken delivery a of a new blue topsided yacht . It was hard to tell, but it was vinyl wrapped . He reckoned he would get three to five years before the wrap had to come off. After five years he planned to buy a new different yacht anyway. His thinking was when it was time to sell he could still get top dollar.
Fibreglass polish is an abrasive isn't it?
For many years I assumed that ‘polish’ is what one used, because that’s what one did with the car. Only later did I realise that all good gelcoat needs is wax. Some of my boat, such as the stern, is in less good condition, from exposure to sun probably, so I treat this and some stained bits of cockpit, with Starbrite Color Restorer (sic) polish first which is like a mild cutting compound and very effective and easy to use, before waxing over it. I generally use polish on the coachroof because it tends to absorb dirt.
Yes, I belive you are correct, though there is serious stuff and very light stuff. I try to match the product to the problem.
Fast work. Wanna job?
I guess it depends, if you are hobby “working” on your own boat in your own time a lazy days “working” is wonderful. If I am working a paid days work then the former ! 0800-17:30 essential breaks only.
