How long does it take to wash, polish and then wax grubby oxidised gelcoat?

OOOPS

34 ft sailboat on the club slip each year:-
- high pressure wash below WL - one person 4 hrs.
-clean and polish topsides - son and friend 6hrs.
-apply antifouling -one person - 3 hrs.
 
I can wash, T-Cut and polish the hull of my Sadler 25 in about 5-6 hours on a dry day. This is not using any power tools apart from the jet wash to start with.
The use of colour restorer can lengthen the process,
 
Skylark said:
What sort of platform do you use?

My boat is 9 years old. I usually hand polish the top sides twice per year but they are now looking a bit grubby. I’ve just bought a DA polisher and plenty of 3M light + wax. Not a job that I’m looking forward to.

Apologies for slight drift…..
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Platform like this:

Tower.jpg


Hired from Robert at CLyde Tool Hire (who I happily recommend): Clyde Tool Hire: power tool hire in Inverclyde
 
Remember it’s described as grubby and oxidised gel coat. That’s means a lot of work and effort.

People do still work and hard for £100 a day. It’s a misconception everyone earns a fortune even on the south coast.
Steveeasy
 
steveeasy said:
Remember it’s described as grubby and oxidised gel coat. That’s means a lot of work and effort.
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indeed. I would use 3M Restorer & Wax for the first pass. Machine polisher essential otherwise it’ll be a nightmare. Once a decent finish is achieved future years will be a breeze in comparison. Don’t skimp on the wax application. Stick to one manufacturers products, don’t mix and match.
 
Robih said:
Platform like this:

Tower.jpg


Hired from Robert at CLyde Tool Hire (who I happily recommend): Clyde Tool Hire: power tool hire in Inverclyde
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WE invested in a similar tower last year, it was about £600 or £700 but it should pay for itself soon. Never keen on renting tower or polisher in Inverclyde since it rains so much, but I see you are polishing in summer:-)
 
yotter said:
WE invested in a similar tower last year, it was about £600 or £700 but it should pay for itself soon. Never keen on renting tower or polisher in Inverclyde since it rains so much, but I see you are polishing in summer:)
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We live in west Devon - we’re experts in dodging rain :)
 
KenF said:
OOOPS

34 ft sailboat on the club slip each year:-
- high pressure wash below WL - one person 4 hrs.
-clean and polish topsides - son and friend 6hrs.
-apply antifouling -one person - 3 hrs.
Click to expand...
Perfectly doable. It is an attitude of mind. Some people just do not have the correct work ethic & actual manual skills to do the jobs. They keep stopping for cups of tea & chats etc & get tired very soon.. I had several employees working for me that would have met that target with ease. But I would have charged you a lot more than £100 per day for their services.
What you need is a couple of wayward illegal immigrants on £ 80 per day cash . Supply the kit & put them on job & finish. Just keep the cabin locked & take them some cod & chips at lunch time.
I no longer know the score, but there must still be areas where they hang out waiting to be picked up in mornings for casual work. Find out where & get there nice & early & you will find a couple.
 
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What size boat and how heavily oxidised. Could be anywhere between 2 man-days and 2 man-weeks
 
yotter said:
WE invested in a similar tower last year, it was about £600 or £700 but it should pay for itself soon. Never keen on renting tower or polisher in Inverclyde since it rains so much, but I see you are polishing in summer:)
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Do you have a link to your tower?
I’ve contacted Clyde Tool Hire but it’s good to consider alternatives. Likely to be doing it in March/April before season launch so inclement Scottish weather is always going to be a gamble ?
 
Daydream believer said:
Perfectly doable. It is an attitude of mind. Some people just do not have the correct work ethic & actual manual skills to do the jobs. They keep stopping for cups of tea & chats etc & get tired very soon.. I had several employees working for me that would have met that target with ease. But I would have charged you a lot more than £100 per day for their services.
What you need is a couple of wayward illegal immigrants on £ 80 per day cash . Supply the kit & put them on job & finish. Just keep the cabin locked & take them some cod & chips at lunch time.
I no longer know the score, but there must still be areas where they hang out waiting to be picked up in mornings for casual work. Find out where & get there nice & early & you will find a couple.
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I get tired very soon. I had no idea that it was due to lack of moral fibre and had assumed that age had something to do with it. My routine for a 34 is wash the topsides, then do other jobs for the rest of the day while it dries.
The next two days are spent buffing the blue line with cutting compound, followed by colour-restorer polish, wax, and wax sealant.
The fourth day is spent waxing the hull below the blue line and applying sealant, as the gelcoat doesn't need polish.
Antifouling takes either one or two days for two coats according to mood. The hull sections are done with a platform, which just about halves the time.
 
johnalison said:
Antifouling takes either one or two days for two coats according to mood. The hull sections are done with a platform, which just about halves the time.
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Well there you go. When you get a roller with paint on it just tell yourself to move your arm back & forward a lot faster. Then slap it in the tray & get it filled again . Gets the job done quicker. ?
No good getting all moody. That is were the attitude of mind I was talking about comes in to play;)
You need to liven yourself up, run about a bit.? ? ? ?
 
Daydream believer said:
Well there you go. When you get a roller with paint on it just tell yourself to move your arm back & forward a lot faster. Then slap it in the tray & get it filled again . Gets the job done quicker. ?
No good getting all moody. That is were the attitude of mind I was talking about comes in to play;)
You need to liven yourself up, run about a bit.? ? ? ?
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Run? Are you trying to kill me off?
 
I think Daydream believers ‘moral fibre’ is a bit OTT, yes I agree there seem to be those who prefer to stand around chatting rather than getting on with the job, but the advancing years are a major factor in the time it takes to do the various tasks.
Although I can still manage to wash, T-Cut and polish the hull of my Sadler 25 in about 5-6 hours, I have to be honest and admit that it becomes harder each year. The same goes for the anti-foul, I can still manage it but I certainly know the next day that I have done it.
 
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