How to get the shine back on a navy hull ??

M

Matt341

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I hope someone can help me with this, we have a 28 foot yacht with GRP hull, gradually over the years it has faded more and more. I polish at the beginning of the season but it lasts only a couple of weeks. When done though it looks good -
HPIM0360.jpg


I have used Farecla G3 Rubbing compound but it didn't do anything.

This is the hull at the moment -
HPIM0361.jpg


It looks like clouding and is worse nearer the water line.

I have also seen a website called Shurhold.com, a product called Buff magic. - http://www.shurhold.com/chemicals_buffMagic.asp

Is this any good ?

Suggestions will be greatly appreciated for something to prevent this.

Thanks
Ian
 
This might cause a few palpitations and shouts but..my hull is Navy blue too. I tried Farecla as you did. I then used stuff called 3 M, expensive but easier to apply and a reasonable improvement on an old hull. Then the local car body shop told me to go to Halfords and buy the liquid blue tinted car wax. I did and the result was very noticable. It covers hairline scratches after a couple of applications. Seems to have lasted quite well too so nothing lost by trying it. The 3 M doesn't like being applied in hot sun I found, dries too quick and makes it hard work.
 
The hull of my boat is black. It used to dull very quickly but I was able to get the shine back with Farecla. (I am surprised that you are unable to do this) However I found that I had to do this regularly so I bit the bullet and had her Awlgripped.
Here she is...
Relaunch013.jpg
 
Thank you both for your replies. Did you have to polish the hull first before applying the blue tint wax or do I simply wash the hull first then apply the blue tint wax ?? It sounds brilliant and even if it only lasts a few months it is better than what I currently do. And i expect it won't cost the earth like some other alternatives.

I really don't want to paint the hull yet. We had a close friend to put her name on the side, unfortunately he died last year so the artwork on the side is sentimental.

Thank you both again for the suggestions. I'm going to have a look for the wax tomorrow now.

Anymore suggestions ???

Thanks
Ian
p.s. do you have any pics of the hull after being treated with the wax?
 
Ian, I originally washed the hull with warm water and a liquid soap (by hand), tried the Farecla on the whole of her starboard side and was not overly impressed with the result considering the effort I put into it. I then tried the 3M, a liquid form which comes in two applications, the last one being a kind of 'sealer' The first coat brought the shine back and brightened up her faded patches. I was wondering about waxing when the car polish was suggested.Without bothering with the sealer coat, I put the car wax straight on the 3 M'd surface and it seemed to just irradicate those little hairline scratches that the 3M had left. I'll see if I can find a before and after photo for you..watch this space!
 
That's the same manufacturer Neil but mine came in a plastic bottle and more more a "Cream liquid texture" The 3M was in fact white in colour and reminded me of a very thick old fashioned 'Brasso' if that makes sense?
Sorry about the layout, not computer wise. The first (left pic is before, the other two are after the 3M and Halfords wax job.
Ian like most owners I suspect any photos I take try to show her at her best so the before and after is not great.
003-2-1.jpg
DSCF0193.jpg

DSCF0194.jpg

She's nearly 33 years old now, never been painted and a lot of sea miles under her keel.

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Farecla G3 is a product from their automotive refinnishing range and should be used with a foam compounding mop on a polishing machine.

They also do a Marine range that incudes "Gel Coat Restorer" which can be used by hand or with a lambs wool polishing mop.

I had excellent results with a Farecla compound and a compounding mop but that was many moons agao and the products available have changed.

Farecla Marine webpages

3M do a vast range of products

3M Marine Brochure
 
Suggest you have a look at POLYTROL by Owatrol,£16+ per litre, it seeems to penetrate the gel and restore some of that 'new look' when colour gel has 'powdered' easy to apply and you do not remove any of whatever gel coat is left, GL /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif (No connection, used it on blue band on Westerly)
 
If you are trying the G3 by hand you will get nothing but very sore arms.

I have a slow revving compounding machine with a sponge head (Not a polisher - too fast and not up to the job). I simply dip the head into a bucket of water and apply to dabs of G3 splashed on a smallish area of the hull. Befre I bought my own (in Malta) I used to hire every few winters.

NEVER let the sponge get dry or you will burn the surface.

Worked for me on a blue GRP Vertue, much more cloudy and oxidised than yours.
 
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I polish at the beginning of the season but it lasts only a couple of weeks. When done though it looks good -

[/ QUOTE ]

It sounds as though you are getting the shine back but not protecting it. Compounding or polishing cuts the surface of the gel coat, but puts nothing back, so your new surface is even more susceptible to erosion and attack.

Apply a good carnauba wax like our Best Brazilian Boat Wax or a glaze system like UltraGlaze and it will last all season. Don't waste time and money on cheap car products though as they won't last.
 
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