How much polish do I need - for topsides?

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dovekie

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I am planning to polish the gelcoat topsides - having read through the various useful discussions on the forum. 38 foot boat - oldish, so low freeboard. Probably 1200 wet and dry on the bad bits, then 3M medium and finishing compounds, using a big slow polisher and some elbow grease.

How much of each compound might I need - seems to come in 1 litre and 4-5 litres quantities?
 
I use K&H fibre glass extra cut ,comes in a 750ml bottle then I use K&H fibreglass glaze wetlook polymer also 750ml bottle works a treat! Usally have 50ml left in each bottle per 37ft topsides......
 
If in direct sunlight i use a squirt bottle with water and a slower speed when applying the polish as a high speed can burnish it.....and clean lambswool pad constantlly carefully with a bluntish screw driver
 
No, No, No, if you want to work on fibreglass gelcoat you need a slow speed polisher, an angle grinder is far too fast and will simply generate heat and damage the gelcoat. Proper polishers are cheaper now but be wary of the weight they can be murder to use for a long time. The little plastic reciprocating ones are only good for finishing, they don't really clean.
Good luck this is a hard job but well worth doing.
 
Southace26 Do you have a link, to "I use K&H fibre glass extra cut" tried Googling but nothing.

Thanks
 
On a 35-footer I use about 2/3 a bottle of Starbrite teflonny stuff each year: seems to work well for me, but topsides are relatively new and shiny to start with. The liquid Starbrite stuff is fairly easy to use, unlike some waxier gloops that really take a lot of hard work.
 
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but be wary of the weight they can be murder to use for a long time.

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Agree fully. It is sometimes possible to rig some lengths of bungee cords to take some of the weight. It does help, once you get used to it.
 
Thank you all. Prompt and useful. I already have a slow polisher - it is indeed heavy so I shall experiment with the bungee cord trick.
 
I'll try the bungee trick too.

I remember my 28 footer being back breaking 2 days worth of work for one pass of medium/fine paint polish.

My aching back (and re-launch timescales) meant I couldn't face waxing it - what a mistake. the shine was gone in a matter of weeks.

Make sure you plan plenty of time to Wax after - so you can enjoy the shine & provide additional defense against moisture ingress for months to come.

A professional Yacht maintenance guy, well respected on the UK South Coast, swears by Meguires Liquid Wax (in a good way) and I've seen the results of rich deep crisp shines.
 
[ QUOTE ]
A professional Yacht maintenance guy, well respected on the UK South Coast, swears by Meguires Liquid Wax (in a good way) and I've seen the results of rich deep crisp shines.

[/ QUOTE ]I've been using Meguiars products for about 6 years. I polish the topsides twice with Meguiars #45 Boat/RV Polish, then do it twice with Meguiars #56 Boat/RV Pure Wax to seal the surface. Both the wax and the polish are very easy to apply and buff by hand - I do my 35 footer by hand in about a day (actually 2 half-days!).
 
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